Research for credit

[radioactive15]

Lots of people at my school do "research for credit", where you basically show up to do research 10-15 hours/week and get a free A in a 3 credit course.
Many inflate their science GPA through this method.

There are also many fellowships and research programs available to do research in, which you have to get selected for after applying to them.

Are these the preferred way medical schools want research to be done (course or program) because it is "explicitly shown"?
Can you volunteer in a lab while taking a regular schedule load? Does this look bad because you don't get credits or recognition from a program?

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[DrHart]

At my university, you are only allowed so many credits of research that count towards graduation. In fact, at my university research for credit is P/F and hence cannot affect GPA. I would imagine that medical schools don't care if the research shows on your transcript as "credit" or whether you volunteer in the lab. As long as you can talk about your involvement, the hypotheses/results of your projects, and the type of work you did - I doubt adcoms will recognize it any differently. Certainly not in a negative way.

 

[gettheleadout]

Medical schools don't have a preference between for-credit and not-for-credit research experience. My undergrad required research experience to be accompanied by graded credit hours. And yes, everyone understood that students only got A's for these hours and it's dumb.

 

[lifetothefullest]

Can you volunteer in a lab while taking a regular schedule load? Does this look bad because you don't get credits or recognition from a program?

If you're truly interested in research, you shouldn't be asking this question. That's like saying "Do I get a gold star for volunteering? Otherwise it's not worth it" or even worse, "Will medical schools see my volunteer experience? If not, then it's not worth volunteering."

 

[Glandzburg]

Medical schools are much more interested in what you got out of the experience (and I don't mean credits). Learn about the scientific method and how to reason like a scientist.

 

[Dr. Death]

Nobody inflates their science GPA through this method. Science GPA for med school purposes is calculated from a select list of classes. Research is not one of those classes. They might inflate their cGPA but are a few credits out of 120 going to make much of a difference?

 

[Lucca]

Research for credit is more of a reflection of the fact that time out of your schedule that semester was being devoted to the lab. I think it's pretty dumb tbh but, hey, free A's right? If nothing else the very, very small bump it'll give you might bring you from a X.X9 or X.9 GPA to the next level if that kind of thing keeps you up at night but if it does then you have bigger problems.

 

[lifetothefullest]

Nobody inflates their science GPA through this method. Science GPA for med school purposes is calculated from a select list of classes. Research is not one of those classes. They might inflate their cGPA but are a few credits out of 120 going to make much of a difference?

This is incorrect. If your research "class" is listed as a science course (chemistry, biology, physics), it can be counted in the AMCAS science GPA. Medical schools might discount the class once they read the transcript, but that doesn't affect how you calculate the AMCAS BCPM GPA.

 

[NeuResurgens]

They don't care how you counted the experience; they care that it taught you something.

 

[radioactive15]

Research for credit is more of a reflection of the fact that time out of your schedule that semester was being devoted to the lab.

This is my main point.

Do they only regard "for credit" research seriously because it is explicitly shown that you took time out of your schedule to devote to the lab? My concern is that people who volunteer research and give equal commitment may not be viewed the same as "for credit".

If they only care about your accomplishments and what you learned from research, I guess either one would be acceptable, but I'm just making sure

 

[Lucca]

This is my main point.

Do they only regard "for credit" research seriously because it is explicitly shown that you took time out of your schedule to devote to the lab? My concern is that people who volunteer research and give equal commitment may not be viewed the same as "for credit".

If they only care about your accomplishments and what you learned from research, I guess either one would be acceptable, but I'm just making sure

Yes you answered your own question there at the end. What you accomplish and what you learn is always more important than what your transcript says. If you spent a summer in the lab and a poster came out of it then people will know that you were a productive member regardless of what your transcript says. If your PI writes in your LOR that you were an excellent team member and really added to the lab's work then even better.

 

[ZedsDed]

Research for credit is more of a reflection of the fact that time out of your schedule that semester was being devoted to the lab. I think it's pretty dumb tbh but, hey, free A's right? If nothing else the very, very small bump it'll give you might bring you from a X.X9 or X.9 GPA to the next level if that kind of thing keeps you up at night but if it does then you have bigger problems.

I know this thread is old, but I just want to point out that research can significantly inflate your GPA. I know a few individuals who both went from I believe 3.58 or so to a 3.64 or so. I believe this is a meaningful jump. The thing is, after doing research for like three years, with 5 units a quarter, they have 45 units of easy A's. I'm curious if AdCom's (looking at you @gyngyn @Goro @LizzyM @mimelim) recognize this kind of artificial grade inflation.

 

[Doudline]

45 credits of research? That's more than a third of your baccalaureate. Don't you think adcoms will notice and judge accordingly (aka badly, especially if all your other science classes are Bs, Cs, etc.)?

 

[ZedsDed]

45 credits of research? That's more than a third of your baccalaureate. Don't you think adcoms will notice and judge accordingly (aka badly, especially if all your other science classes are Bs, Cs, etc.)?

45 quarter units, not semester. Still alot though

 

[Gandyy]

Not everyone's A is easily earned in research for credit. Granted there are no tests or anything, but there is a LOT of work for getting credit in research. At least in my school there was.

Its about time consumed too.

Of course getting an A in research isnt going to be as hard as getting an A in orgo, but more than likely (i know I did) you will have to put in so much work.

 

[ZedsDed]

Not everyone's A is easily earned in research for credit. Granted there are no tests or anything, but there is a LOT of work for getting credit in research. At least in my school there was.

Its about time consumed too.

Of course getting an A in research isnt going to be as hard as getting an A in orgo, but more than likely (i know I did) you will have to put in so much work.

Mileage may vary obviously. In my experience, some students work harder than others, some earn their A's, everyone gets an A irregardless.

 

[mathnerd88]

In my school, you get research for credit and your PI gives you a grade. However, you have to write a thesis at the end of your research to present to the department where you have done research (in my case, the cell biology and neuroscience department.)

It isn't as easy as it sounds.

 

[Gandyy]

Mileage may vary obviously. In my experience, some students work harder than others, some earn their A's, everyone gets an A irregardless.

I had to analyze charts and data tables even over my summers... I had homework and had to "study" for research. My PI was strict about giving out credit.

I spent a part time job's worth of hours in the lab during my entire 4 years of undergrad. It depends on who your PI is too.

 

[ZedsDed]

In my school, you get research for credit and your PI gives you a grade. However, you have to write a thesis at the end of your research to present to the department where you have done research (in my case, the cell biology and neuroscience department.)

It isn't as easy as it sounds.

I had to analyze charts and data tables even over my summers... I had homework and had to "study" for research. My PI was strict about giving out credit.

I spent a part time job's worth of hours in the lab during my entire 4 years of undergrad. It depends on who your PI is too.

I never said it was easy guys, I put in about 20 hours a week. I'm just saying that the majority of students that I know are guaranteed A's unless they are massively incompetent. This holds true for most of the other students I know at other schools. I'm just curious what the perspective of AdCom's are.
The difference (again, in my experience) between research and Orgo, is that you can bust your butt in Orgo and still end up with a B.

 

[Gandyy]

I never said it was easy guys, I put in about 20 hours a week. I'm just saying that the majority of students that I know are guaranteed A's unless they are massively incompetent. This holds true for most of the other students I know at other schools. I'm just curious what the perspective of AdCom's are.
The difference (again, in my experience) between research and Orgo, is that you can bust your butt in Orgo and still end up with a B.

Yea I guess. But I cant imagine 3-6 credits ( all my school will allow you to do) is really going to put a dent in science gpa for better or worse.

 

[ZedsDed]

Yea I guess. But I cant imagine 3-6 credits ( all my school will allow you to do) is really going to put a dent in science gpa for better or worse.

5 credits/quarter X 2 years= 30 credits of A. If I had to guess I would say this is the average (totally just guessing here.) That would certainly dent your GPA, especially if your GPA is on the lower end of acceptable.

 

[Gandyy]

5 credits/quarter X 2 years= 30 credits of A. If I had to guess I would say this is the average (totally just guessing here.) That would certainly dent your GPA, especially if your GPA is on the lower end of acceptable.

Ok yea thats ridiculous then.

But if you are getting destroyed in normal science classes and all you have is a bunch of A's for research every semester, that already looks pretty bad.

I had research for 6 total semester hours divided up between two semesters. With over 120 credit hours, that doesnt do much for your gpa.

 

[gyngyn]

Yes, we know that an A is the usual and expected grade in a research block.​

 

[ZedsDed]

Ok yea thats ridiculous then.

But if you are getting destroyed in normal science classes and all you have is a bunch of A's for research every semester, that already looks pretty bad.

I had research for 6 total semester hours divided up between two semesters. With over 120 credit hours, that doesnt do much for your gpa.

Right, and nowadays this has to be something that AdCom's are seeing regularly, so they have to have some opinion on it.

 

[ZedsDed]

Yes, we know that an A is the usual and expected grade in a research block.​

How about the GPA inflation that comes along with 30+ units of those A's?

 

[Gandyy]

Right, and nowadays this has to be something that AdCom's are seeing regularly, so they have to have some opinion on it.

Oh my god if I saw someone with a 3.3 scgpa with An A in research padding every semester, lolllllllllllllllll.

 

[gyngyn]

How about the GPA inflation that comes along with 30+ units of those A's?

An individual who makes it to an interview will have every aspect of their application reviewed by several examiners. Student evaluators, in particular, will be quick to point out grade padding.
It will only be one of several factors considered in the ultimate decision.

 

[Lucca]

I know this thread is old, but I just want to point out that research can significantly inflate your GPA. I know a few individuals who both went from I believe 3.58 or so to a 3.64 or so. I believe this is a meaningful jump. The thing is, after doing research for like three years, with 5 units a quarter, they have 45 units of easy A's. I'm curious if AdCom's (looking at you @gyngyn @Goro @LizzyM) recognize this kind of artificial grade inflation.

We are only allowed to take two research for credit courses no matter how much research we may or may not do at my university. So about 6 credits total even for 4 years of dedicated lab time or just two semesters. It would seem kind of silly to me to have so many research-for-credit courses though.