Research Question

[fauxrealist]

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Hello all,

I am a post bacc student, so I have a bit of a weird history: BA in Political Science and History and a JD. Practiced law for a year, hated it, after spending some time in Sloan Kettering with family members realized medicine was the route for me, so here we are.

During law school I was a research assistant for an intellectual property institute and then for my advisor from undergrad on his book about the history of Early American political thought. I also worked in a legal clinic doing research on poaching and conservation laws in Tanzania. Between these I probably have close to 500 or 600 hours of research experience.

My post bacc advisor made it seem like I could use these experiences on my application next year and they would count for research, does anyone have any experience using non-science research on their applications?

I'm working as a scribe, so I have clinical covered, but I'm trying to figure out if I should add more research.

Thanks very much in advance.

 

[Doctor-S]

Did you learn the "scientific method" in your non-science research projects?

Here is why I ask: legal research is a different type of research process because legal research often relies on the "I-R-A-C method" (issue, rule of law, analysis, conclusion). I'm reasonably certain you used the IRAC method for the intellectual property institute, poaching and conservation laws in Tanzania. I'm not sure what you did for the history work - perhaps a literature review or historical summary.

On the other hand, the scientific method involves (simply stated):

1. Making an Observation.
2. Forming a Question.
3. Forming a Hypothesis.
4. Conducting an Experiment.
5. Analyzing the Data.
6. Drawing a Conclusion.

You might want to provide this information to your post-bacc advisor because there is a difference between the IRAC method versus the scientific method and these differences may (or may not) help you when you apply to medical school. Just saying.

 

[thegrind33]

You can do research on any topic you want as long as it is sound research. I had a friend that just got accepted to a good medical school and they did research in a really odd non scientific topic. In your case you might have to explain what you did very well.

 

[fauxrealist]

Thanks so much for your answers!