Research prior to MS1

[CyrusHabs7695]

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Hey all, Im an incoming MS1 and was just wondering if any of you had participated in research at your school the summer before MS1? I would be interested in getting involved in possibly radiology or a surgical research project, but I don't really know if any physicians would welcome me without starting school yet? If any of you have done this prior to MS1, how did you go about getting the opportunity, just sending a bunch of emails?

Thanks in advance

 

[Chibucks15]

Hey all, Im an incoming MS1 and was just wondering if any of you had participated in research at your school the summer before MS1? I would be interested in getting involved in possibly radiology or a surgical research project, but I don't really know if any physicians would welcome me without starting school yet? If any of you have done this prior to MS1, how did you go about getting the opportunity, just sending a bunch of emails?

Thanks in advance

Gonna be honest I strongly doubt you'd be able to get onto a clinical research project before you start unless you have some connection. Obviously there are exceptions but enjoy the summer and don't worry about getting started too early.

Also, if you wait till you're in school your school may pay for your malpractice insurance that you'll need to do anything

 

[theonlytycrane]

If you don't get a pub + 1 full pass through First Aid before M1 starts you'll be behind

 

[Oso]

I've heard of people doing this. Usually they have some type of connection or just send out emails to several researchers.

Honestly though, I would just chill and hang out with friends and family. You likely won't have time during the first few months of school to do any meaningful research. So unless you are aiming to start and complete a small project during that summer, I would just chillax to the max.

 

[ERDOC555]

Hey all, Im an incoming MS1 and was just wondering if any of you had participated in research at your school the summer before MS1? I would be interested in getting involved in possibly radiology or a surgical research project, but I don't really know if any physicians would welcome me without starting school yet? If any of you have done this prior to MS1, how did you go about getting the opportunity, just sending a bunch of emails?

Thanks in advance

This is a far better use of time than pre-studying. They may be reluctant to take you before you start, but if you email a bunch of faculty/residents, someone will eventually respond. I say go for it, especially if you don't have anything better to do.

Don't worry about not being qualified; you're just as knowledge-less as an MS0 as you will be for most of MS1 so there's really not a good reason not to start early.

 

[coldcase331]

Hey all, Im an incoming MS1 and was just wondering if any of you had participated in research at your school the summer before MS1? I would be interested in getting involved in possibly radiology or a surgical research project, but I don't really know if any physicians would welcome me without starting school yet? If any of you have done this prior to MS1, how did you go about getting the opportunity, just sending a bunch of emails?

Thanks in advance

Do...not....do...anything....school....related...before...M1. Trust me when I say that you’ll regret doing any sort of work/non-relaxing activities this summer.


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[Dro133]

I would recommend it. You can still do research and chill with your family/friends during the summer -- you don't have to do research 80 hours a week.

I did computational research basically 40 hrs a week during my summer before M1, and I've parlayed that into ~7-8 pubs/abstracts/posters. It depends a lot on you though -- I'm the type of person who would get bored if I was relaxing 24/7 all summer anyways. I'd much rather have some work to do, as long as it's somewhat interesting and I can do it at my own pace. You can work leisurely from like 9-4 on a project and still be able to sleep in and do whatever you want to do in the evening and on weekends. Highly personal decision though.

 

[Yorick]

I don't think you'll have much problems, especially if you're at a research powerhouse school. Plenty of people in my class are doing research during the year, some started summer before MS1, mainly those interested in surgical specialties, derm, etc.

You don't know anything but so what? Med school is largely self-directed learning anyway and just show whoever you're interested/speak to that you're willing to learn whatever knowledge/skills you need and will put in the effort.

And yeah, cold-emailing people probably is fine, at least in my experience.

 

[CyrusHabs7695]

Thanks everyone for your opinions! Im definitely not planning on pre-studying, so no worries on that. My only concern with emailing a bunch of people is if that looks bad or not? If I were to email a bunch of people in lets say, the rads department and some surgical subs, will that look bad?


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[WhittyPsyche]

I started in late spring before matriculation in the summer. Moved early and it was a good move. No regrets whatsoever help me set up several projects that were mature by the time school started and led to a lot of productivity this year.


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[RockMcat520]

Thanks everyone for your opinions! Im definitely not planning on pre-studying, so no worries on that. My only concern with emailing a bunch of people is if that looks bad or not? If I were to email a bunch of people in lets say, the rads department and some surgical subs, will that look bad?


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It will definitely makes you look like a gunner! trust me on that. I say dont go for it. Keep it low for the first semester in med school, get amazing grades, and get your study habits down then start emailing Jan 2019.

 

[jcorpsmanMD]

I had a friend that did it, I'd go for it. Sounds like a smart idea, makes you trying to balance research and such much easier later on in medical school if you jump the gun as an MS0. Contrary to what other people will say, you aren't a gunner, you're using your time more wisely. Even if you do research in the summer you will more likely than not still have plenty of time to relax. Go for it!

 

[Kr#36]

It will definitely makes you look like a gunner! trust me on that. I say dont go for it. Keep it low for the first semester in med school, get amazing grades, and get your study habits down then start emailing Jan 2019.

You can’t match into a competitive specialty unless you put in the work. Doing research doesn’t make you a “gunner” any more than working hard to do well on step 1, it’s just part of the process.

OP if you want to get involved then go for it. You may be able to get your name on some stuff and you can always scale back once school starts.

 

[RockMcat520]

You can’t match into a competitive specialty unless you put in the work. Doing research doesn’t make you a “gunner” any more than working hard to do well on step 1, it’s just part of the process.

OP if you want to get involved then go for it. You may be able to get your name on some stuff and you can always scale back once school starts.

Yes sure! Everyone knows how important research is. But sacrificing the last summer before med school is a stupid idea. Go relax, play video games, watch movies, and travel. Most people who wants to get into competitive specialty take a year off for research anyways. I don’t think u will be able to get a pub or a presentation in less than 3 months. Just my 2 cents.

@CyrusHabs7695 if you are graduating from college this year, I think it’s very very important to relax before med school. If you are non-tradition and been out of school for a while, then go ahead and start research. Good luck.

 

[Kr#36]

I’ve got some tough news: being lazy now won’t make not being lazy later any easier.

I don’t have a problem with taking it easy but to say it’s a “stupid idea” to make a good career decision is just that: stupid. If your opinion is that you wanna relax this summer then feel free but don’t pawn your opinion off as objective fact to someone asking a forum question who obviously has the motivation to do some research.

 

[ERDOC555]

Yes sure! Everyone knows how important research is. But sacrificing the last summer before med school is a stupid idea. Go relax, play video games, watch movies, and travel. Most people who wants to get into competitive specialty take a year off for research anyways. I don’t think u will be able to get a pub or a presentation in less than 3 months. Just my 2 cents.

@CyrusHabs7695 if you are graduating from college this year, I think it’s very very important to relax before med school. If you are non-tradition and been out of school for a while, then go ahead and start research. Good luck.

I don't get why some people think that everyone enjoys doing absolutely nothing school related for 3-4 months. Honestly it gets boring and not all of us have the money to spend 4 months abroad or whatever else people do. There's a point of diminishing returns when it comes to the free time before med school.

I'm all for taking some quality relaxation, but I was bored to tears the last month to month and a half before school started.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with adding in some research or shadowing on the side during the summer before medical school, and people need to stop acting like this is the worst idea ever.

 

[Dr. Scribe]

I got published ~3 times this past year working with professors at my COM and will be an M1 in a couple of months. Honestly, I feel good being slightly “ahead of the game.”

 

[CyrusHabs7695]

I got published ~3 times this past year working with professors at my COM and will be an M1 in a couple of months. Honestly, I feel good being slightly “ahead of the game.”

How did you go about getting the opportunity, just email a bunch of people off of their department website?

 

[Dr. Scribe]

How did you go about getting the opportunity, just email a bunch of people off of their department website?

I got accepted to the medical school which also gave me my MS degree, so I already had connections.

I’d think that cold emailing people would be a good option as well though.

 

[WhittyPsyche]

How did you go about getting the opportunity, just email a bunch of people off of their department website?

OP, I cold emailed two labs including that I was an incoming student and interested in the field. Interviewed with both, took one.

I am now finishing M1, and happy to PM you re😛roductivity being worth it. One major advantage is I figured out what I was doing long before class started, so balancing class with my lab work was easier than you think.

Additional thought, doing research during M1 isn’t no more a time suck than people that commit to running 10 student groups, organizing, events, and leading committees. Tons of my classmates do that and are high stressed, strapped for time, and constantly busy. I rather be busy with my research, which actually benefits my career.


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[CyrusHabs7695]

Thank you to everyone who took the time to give some advice, I really appreciate it.

Last question: Would it be better to email the head of the department and ask if there are any projects going on in the department that I could get involved in, or email 4-5 different people within the department?

 

[jcorpsmanMD]

OP, I cold emailed two labs including that I was an incoming student and interested in the field. Interviewed with both, took one.

I am now finishing M1, and happy to PM you re😛roductivity being worth it. One major advantage is I figured out what I was doing long before class started, so balancing class with my lab work was easier than you think.

Additional thought, doing research during M1 isn’t no more a time suck than people that commit to running 10 student groups, organizing, events, and leading committees. Tons of my classmates do that and are high stressed, strapped for time, and constantly busy. I rather be busy with my research, which actually benefits my career.


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Amen to that. S/O to all the people running committees and organizing events, because I'm not going to do it haha

 

[jcorpsmanMD]

Thank you to everyone who took the time to give some advice, I really appreciate it.

Last question: Would it be better to email the head of the department and ask if there are any projects going on in the department that I could get involved in, or email 4-5 different people within the department?

Usually they have some sort of research coordinator in the department, they're pretty good about pointing you in the right direction!

 

[WhittyPsyche]

Thank you to everyone who took the time to give some advice, I really appreciate it.

Last question: Would it be better to email the head of the department and ask if there are any projects going on in the department that I could get involved in, or email 4-5 different people within the department?

My personal feeling about this is the chair does not want random emails from first years asking for help on the very first step. Do the work. Emailing a few people is not that hard.

Someone in my class scheduled a meeting with the chair to ask for guidance on finding research in the department and it was not seen positively. It seems lazy and entitled. The chair has better things to do.


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