Research summer before M1

[gratitude3333]

Has anyone done research at their medical school pre M1? Before anyone says spend your summer relaxing, I 1) love research and am hoping to transfer to MD / PHD at my school and 2) will go crazy if I'm home with my fam all summer (the dynamic there isn't great for my mental health). If you did do research summer before M1 do you recommend it / have any tips?

Thank you for any insights!

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[operaman]

Don’t recommend it obviously but it isn’t a bad idea if it’s something you really like doing.

I’d reach out now to potential mentors and see who May have room and especially who might have some funding for you. Obviously you’d be very attractive to any PI in your field of interest as someone who may be around awhile and with an interest in doing productive work. Start making contact and see where things go!

 

[baltimoreman]

I did this and would recommend. I joined the formal summer research program that the rising M2s participate in and even got paid. Start planning your summer as soon as you pick a school.

 

[StarDancer]

When I was a PhD student, we had two incoming MS1s doing research in our lab. One had just been accepted to our school, and one did summer research with us for the past two years and came back for one more before starting med school. I know that the latter was paid.

 

[puahate]

Do you think this would be ok or worth it for a month to month and one half of research. I have to travel before school starts my orginal plan was to use the whole summer for research but apparently this trip is vital.

 

[NicMouse64]

Enjoy the time between realizing you are going to become a doctor and actually starting the path to becoming a doctor. The path is long, find ways to take care of yourself and relax as you won't have much time once it starts.

 

[StarDancer]

If you already have some skills and you can jump onto a graduate student’s project, I’d say you can get something done in 8 weeks. 6 is pushing it.

I had a student come work under me for two summers, 12 weeks each. The first summer, she was learning techniques and getting a feel for research and the next summer, she did all my western blots, produced a figure, contributed at lab meetings, and got her name on my paper.

But ask the professors anyway, they might have something you can jump right into.

 

[700825]

Current M1 who did this (well technically with one of our affiliated hospitals). My only suggestions would be:
1. Don't kill yourself with hours (I would say limit it to 25 or so per week). Otherwise you'll be exhausted before your start medical school (me).
2. Find a way you can contribute to an already running project. This gives you some chance of actually having a productive summer (papers, pubs).

My opinion: I enjoyed the research, enjoyed getting out of my parents house, and adjusting to the city for medical school. Also, making money so that I could afford to 'have fun' was a big plus. Feel free to reach out with any other questions!