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research - how much do you think is "enough?"
Started by pinkzebra
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Many successful applicants (like myself) had none at all. For some schools (Vanderbilt/Duke) it is almost a requirement, for others, it's frosting. I got an immediate refusal at Vanderbilt because I had no research. I got interviews at other selective schools without it.
On the other hand. Make sure that you have the rest of your application in order. Research will not make up for a poor MCAT or insufficient clinical experience and shadowing.
great response, thank you!
during my undergrad years (i graduated this past may) i had one semester of clinical research and a year of bench research through an internship.
right now i am a research assistant (have been here for several months now) and although there are many aspects of the job i like, there are many i do not. research has never been something that ive really enjoyed that much, but i figured it was a good use of my "gap years" and my degree. the work is definitely fulfilling in many ways, but very tedious in others.
i am debating right now whether this is something i want to do until i matriculate or if i want to do a post-bacc/other volunteer work and shadowing (my weaker areas, i only have 40 hours of hospital experience)/spend this time focusing on the MCAT, which i plan to take in june.
either way i am going to complete more volunteer work and shadowing hours (squeezing them into my schedule), this would just be a more efficient way to do it since i wouldn't be working 40 hours/week.
anyway...just thinking out loud, sorry!
during my undergrad years (i graduated this past may) i had one semester of clinical research and a year of bench research through an internship.
right now i am a research assistant (have been here for several months now) and although there are many aspects of the job i like, there are many i do not. research has never been something that ive really enjoyed that much, but i figured it was a good use of my "gap years" and my degree. the work is definitely fulfilling in many ways, but very tedious in others.
i am debating right now whether this is something i want to do until i matriculate or if i want to do a post-bacc/other volunteer work and shadowing (my weaker areas, i only have 40 hours of hospital experience)/spend this time focusing on the MCAT, which i plan to take in june.
either way i am going to complete more volunteer work and shadowing hours (squeezing them into my schedule), this would just be a more efficient way to do it since i wouldn't be working 40 hours/week.
anyway...just thinking out loud, sorry!
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great response, thank you!
during my undergrad years (i graduated this past may) i had one semester of clinical research and a year of bench research through an internship.
right now i am a research assistant (have been here for several months now) and although there are many aspects of the job i like, there are many i do not. research has never been something that ive really enjoyed that much, but i figured it was a good use of my "gap years" and my degree. the work is definitely fulfilling in many ways, but very tedious in others.
i am debating right now whether this is something i want to do until i matriculate or if i want to do a post-bacc/other volunteer work and shadowing (my weaker areas, i only have 40 hours of hospital experience)/spend this time focusing on the MCAT, which i plan to take in june.
either way i am going to complete more volunteer work and shadowing hours (squeezing them into my schedule), this would just be a more efficient way to do it since i wouldn't be working 40 hours/week.
anyway...just thinking out loud, sorry!
I got put on hold at Creighton for lack of clinical experience (I had about 60 hours shadowing). They said nothing about research.
Research is the currency of prestige in the scientifc-medico-indistrial complex. And by prestige what we really mean is money.
The question is are you a money maker. The platitudes of which have you done this sort of thing to whatever inconseqential amount.
Script yourself to get a spot on the team in whatever way you think will be most successful for you.
I went for back-up down lineman. And was perfect for the job. Didn't need research. Won't need research. Won't do research. And F! research and all of its puppetized waste of talent. From the deans on down.
The question is are you a money maker. The platitudes of which have you done this sort of thing to whatever inconseqential amount.
Script yourself to get a spot on the team in whatever way you think will be most successful for you.
I went for back-up down lineman. And was perfect for the job. Didn't need research. Won't need research. Won't do research. And F! research and all of its puppetized waste of talent. From the deans on down.
i totally agree it is not always necessary and that many people do great without it...just wondering if the current position i am in (research assistant) is worth it or whether i should just take time to focus solely on volunteering/shadowing. i am also taking a MCAT prep course, planning to take the test in june.
