Research in Med School

[raca1111]

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Hi SDNers! Incoming MS1 here. I know that I want to get involved in research this upcoming year. People have been telling me that I should get involved in research in a field that interests me and is in line with the specialty I plan to pursue after med school. However, as someone who has NO idea about the specialty I plan to enter, how should i proceed? Does the research you conduct have to align with your specialty of interest? Can I just get involved with basic science or clinical research that interests me at the current moment? Thanks!

 

[tessellate]

I'm an incoming MS1 too, and I've been wondering the same thing! reading the other threads on here, it looks like it's best to do research in something that translates easily across many fields and then get involved in something more specific once we figure out the direction we want to go in, but I wonder if it's the same for the competitive specialties. talking to other first years, no one seems to know what they want to do yet, which makes me feel better.

 

[AcademicNeurosurgery]

Hi SDNers! Incoming MS1 here. I know that I want to get involved in research this upcoming year. People have been telling me that I should get involved in research in a field that interests me and is in line with the specialty I plan to pursue after med school. However, as someone who has NO idea about the specialty I plan to enter, how should i proceed? Does the research you conduct have to align with your specialty of interest? Can I just get involved with basic science or clinical research that interests me at the current moment? Thanks!

I'm an incoming MS1 too, and I've been wondering the same thing! reading the other threads on here, it looks like it's best to do research in something that translates easily across many fields and then get involved in something more specific once we figure out the direction we want to go in, but I wonder if it's the same for the competitive specialties. talking to other first years, no one seems to know what they want to do yet, which makes me feel better.

Yes, doing something that translates across many fields is the best option if you aren't set on a specialty. You should make time to explore specialties though so you can transition to specialty-specific research at some point. Specialty-specific research is the most desirable.

With regards to your question about research for competitive specialties, I would recommend getting away from the idea of competitive versus non-competitive specialties when thinking about research. Many people say "I definitely want to go into FM/IM/Peds so I don't really need research". That's true that you don't need substantial research to match in those fields but research helps your app in every field and the stronger your app, the more control you have over where you match. Down the road, you may want to do Peds in a specific city, at a specific program, etc and the better your app, the better chance you have.

It is really just a general rule of life a mentor once told me - if you give everything 100% effort, you will have more control over your life.

 

[gcuddles]

Same advice as the above poster. However, I'll say that if you're deciding between a competitive field and a not so competitive one, do research in the more competitive field. Easier to step down than to step up.

 

[The white coat trainer]

Don't worry about doing research in the field you are going to pursue because many people don't know as an MS1. I personally did 2 years of orthopedic research and wound up going into OBYN. My application had no OBGYN research at all. It's more important for programs to see that you are dedicated to getting involved in research rather than the field you are working on. If you decide to go into a really competitive field by your third year, then it's probably in your best interest to try and squeeze in some research in that field.

 

[yaka]

You should make time to explore specialties though so you can transition to specialty-specific research at some point. Specialty-specific research is the most desirable.

Is shadowing the way to go if you want to get some exposure to a field before 3rd year? When is shadowing usually done? Is there time during the academic year of MS1, or is it mainly a summer thing?

 

[Goro]

Hi SDNers! Incoming MS1 here. I know that I want to get involved in research this upcoming year. People have been telling me that I should get involved in research in a field that interests me and is in line with the specialty I plan to pursue after med school. However, as someone who has NO idea about the specialty I plan to enter, how should i proceed? Does the research you conduct have to align with your specialty of interest? Can I just get involved with basic science or clinical research that interests me at the current moment? Thanks!

Start with whatever interests you.

 

[SilverLining1853]

Don't worry about doing research in the field you are going to pursue because many people don't know as an MS1. I personally did 2 years of orthopedic research and wound up going into OBYN. My application had no OBGYN research at all. It's more important for programs to see that you are dedicated to getting involved in research rather than the field you are working on. If you decide to go into a really competitive field by your third year, then it's probably in your best interest to try and squeeze in some research in that field.

I'm an M4 in a similar situation with different specialties. Was your interest in OB/GYN ever doubted/questioned in light of your extensive research in another field during residency interviews?

 

[The white coat trainer]

I'm an M4 in a similar situation with different specialties. Was your interest in OB/GYN ever doubted/questioned in light of your extensive research in another field during residency interviews?

It actually came up once- the interviewer thought that I was applying to two specialties and that OB was a "backup." I actually took the time to address the situation a bit in my personal statement, and many interviewers commented on it and were excited to have seen me grow and make that transition.

 

[AthleteDoc7]

to add one thing, i'd make sure you adjust to what will be expected of you in the classroom prior to starting any research. make sure you can chew whatever you bite off first, then follow the above advice. good luck!

 

[gcuddles]

Is shadowing the way to go if you want to get some exposure to a field before 3rd year? When is shadowing usually done? Is there time during the academic year of MS1, or is it mainly a summer thing?

Yes. I go to a school where lecture isn't mandatory, so I would take a day every other week or so during the school year and shadow in different specialties. Student interest groups may have coordinated shadowing, and definitely should have contacts within a department to get you in to shadow. If you can coordinate what specialty you shadow with what subject you're studying, it can actually be really helpful (i.e. shadowing an interventional cardiologist during the cardio module, if you go by modules). Most nay-sayers of shadowing will tell you to spend your time studying instead, but I think shadowing can be reinforcing and, when you find what you're passionate about, it can help keep you focused and driven.

 

[raca1111]

Thanks to all who replied!
@AthleteDoc7 yes! definitely not trying to get involved in research right off the bat

 

[AcademicNeurosurgery]

Is shadowing the way to go if you want to get some exposure to a field before 3rd year? When is shadowing usually done? Is there time during the academic year of MS1, or is it mainly a summer thing?

Yes, it is best to shadow if you want to explore specialties. And as others have mentioned, academics come first. If you are doing well or achieving your goals, then you can look at maybe adding other stuff (research, shadowing). In my experience, it is better sometimes to wait until a break or summer to shadow if you really want to get a feel for a specialty. When I first shadowed in neurosurgery, I treated it like a rotation - went in multiple days in a row, did full days, stayed on-call, etc. This gave me a better idea of the lifestyle compared to signing up for a few hours of shadowing squeezed in around my class schedule.

 

[Labrat07]

Is it bad if I have zero interest in research? 🙁. I rather spend that time volunteering helping people. That give me more joy. Is that the right way to look at it? Wise @Goro input please.

 

[Goro]

Is it bad if I have zero interest in research? 🙁. I rather spend that time volunteering helping people. That give me more joy. Is that the right way to look at it? Wise @Goro input please.

Nope, but do keep in mind that the uber specialties LIKE research. If you're aiming for Primary Care, you'll be fine.

 

[bananafish94]

OP, I faced a similar situation going into medical school. I think that the general consensus is that is doesn't really matter what research you do, although it's obviously better if you do research in the field you ultimately apply to. Realistically, a huge number of people come into medical school without knowing what they want to do. But demonstrating proficiency in navigating the IRB process, analyzing data, and generating quality results translates across all specialties.

Is it bad if I have zero interest in research? 🙁. I rather spend that time volunteering helping people. That give me more joy. Is that the right way to look at it? Wise @Goro input please.

It's mandatory for the really competitive specialties and it's helpful for the less competitive ones, though not completely necessary.