Research poll on those who applied and got accepted...

[cure0008]

---

Members do not see this ad.

How many years of research did you have? Did you have a paper published?

(How do you guys make a poll?)

 

[austinap]

How many years of research did you have? Did you have a paper published?

(How do you guys make a poll?)

4+ years, a PhD, and yes.

 

[cure0008]

4+ years, a PhD, and yes.

Really??? you have a PhD.
Now don't I feel uncompetitive 😱

 

[austinap]

Really??? you have a PhD.
Now don't I feel uncompetitive 😱

Sorry for the snarky reply. Yes, I do, but the vast majority of applicants don't. I was also accepted once before I had the PhD, and only ~1 year of research experience and no pubs. This is just off the top of my head, but I'd guess that ~70% of accepted applicants (more at highly ranked research schools, e.g. the US News top 10) have research experience, with about half of these with <= 1 year of experience. Most do not have publications. A summer research program (REU, SURP) is a great way to get your hands dirty.

It really depends on what you want to do. I think adcoms want to see that you understand how science works in practice, but outside of that they don't expect you to be a superstar bench scientist. I know very few premeds that meet that standard. If you absolutely abhor research, you can make up for it in other areas. It is nice to see that you tried though.

 

[harvman11]

Will have had 4 semesters of part time (~15 hours per week) and 2 summers of full time (~50 hours per week) when I matriculate. I've worked in 3 different labs (1 during the year and then 2 different summer labs), no publications yet (though have a couple in the process). I have a couple of poster presentations and an abstract that was presented by my PI at an international conference though.

Also, this is probably overkill for most people... I applied MD/PhD, so lots of research experience is required.

 

[BlueElmo]

Couple of years, on and off.

 

[TaylorMDhopeful]

2 summers of undergrad (1 presentation for each), 2 years at time of matriculation into medical school post-undergrad in a neuroscience lab (1 publication, not first or second author)

 

[PureMotivation]

Five semesters, about 20 hours per week, which includes 4 hours of group meetings. No publications...so close! =(

 

[bannie22]

One summer during app season. No poster, no presentation, no publication. But yes $$$.

Yes, of course.

 

[silverhorse84]

I had no research on my application. Didn't seem to affect me. But, then again, my med school isn't exactly research oriented.

 

[s1lver]

I should make a poll: "Those who got accepted with no (or very little) research experience"

 

[mybubbles14]

2 years of laboratory research +1 summer of clinical before my senior year...no publications 🙁

I just started a new clinical position tho so hopefully I'll have some before school starts in august. And so begins the never ending cycle🙂

 

[MiniMoo]

2 years (clinical & straight bench work). No pubs, but did have abstract & presentation. Lack of pubs hasn't seemed to affect me, but I'm not aiming to get into heavily research focused schools.

 

[vcfor3]

I didn't have any research, was never interested in it so I just spent my time clinically which I don't regret at all.

 

[teenmachinery1]

3 years or so of research. 2-3 coauthorships, 2-3 contributing authorships, acknowledgment in journal. They're all published posters and abstracts though. no journals. presented at society for neuroscience, american society for tropical medicine and hygiene, and keystone symposia.

 

[archimedesxx]

4 yrs (throughout undergrad in the same lab). Two summers ( in different labs other than my own in the US and abroad). 1 yr research post-graduation by the time of matriculation. Presentation/Abstracts at a gazillion meetings. 1 non-ISI publication and 1 currently submitted as first author.

 

[mvenus929]

Zero research. Lots of clinical experience on my second application, and some awesome volunteering gigs, though.

 

[organdonor]

0 research experience. Zip. Zilch. Nada. It was asked in my interview if I was ever interested in doing it in the future, and pretty much said that I would if the right opportunity came along, but by no means was I all "gung ho" about it.