Research or Volunteering?

[nabeel76]

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If all of your EC's where in the realm of Research and you had no volunteering, assuming that your GPA and MCAT are Competetive - would your EC's be considered competetive at Top schools such as a Hopkins or a Stanford?

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

It depends. Volunteering is not a requirement to get into medical school. I think that the lack of clinical experience (which most people gain through hospital volunteering) would hurt an MD/DO applicant, less so for an MD/PhD applicant. But if the research was, say for example, clinically based, then the lack of volunteering may not be a problem at all.

 

[neuropower]

agreed. i had one tiny semester of non-medical volunteering and a couple years of paid research during college. its been no problem for getting interviews at top schools.

 

[kenmc3]

Clinical experience is the most important, whether it is volunteering or shadowing a physician. Many schools will not count your research (even if it is clinical) as clinical experience, because it isn?t what doctors do on a regular basis. They want you to get out there and have contact with diagnosing and treating sick people.

 

[opinionkitten]

i am way research top heavy on my application, was going to apply last year with no clinical or volunteering and was told by several people, two career services people, and a lot of premeds that this would be an app killer. get even a little bit if possible

 

[Khenon]

i am way research top heavy on my application, was going to apply last year with no clinical or volunteering and was told by several people, two career services people, and a lot of premeds that this would be an app killer. get even a little bit if possible

True. Keep in mind that research IS NOT a requirement to applying to med school, and clinical experience IS a requirement (whether it be volunteering, working, shadowing, whatever). Research is a great "extra" to have on your app, but should not be a replacement for at least some clinical experience.

 

[nabeel76]

Thanks - I will try and get some in before I start to apply.