Research vs. Shadowing Experiences - absolutely necessary for medical school?

[studentdoctor08]

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I know that both are important for medical school, but if you had to pick one over the other, which would look better for medical school? And what types of shadowing are medical schools expecting you to have now and how frequent?

 

[blackarrowmoose]

I know that both are important for medical school, but if you had to pick one over the other, which would look better for medical school? And what types of shadowing are medical schools expecting you to have now and how frequent?

you can answer this yourself, do doctors spend more time treating patients or researching how to treat them?

 

[the duck]

Heard of google, or the search function?

But since you posted. You need shadowing, about 50 hours. Preferably with some different people, but you want to spend a decant chunk (like a few days) with the person.

Research is a plus, but far from needed. It becomes more "required" at the higher ranked schools. 93% of dukes matriculants had research experience, while the overall average for all medical schools is far lower.


Haha I must compliment you on your highly original name!

 

[iusesharpies]

^^ What's the answer?

 

[Barcu]

^^ What's the answer?

Umm. It's shadowing.

OP, if you had to choose one, shadowing is the way to go, but you only need 50-80 hours (at most). Research is becoming a quasi-requirement and is pretty much necessary at top med schools.

If you get a chance, you should shoot for both.

 

[Forthegood]

Hmmm I wonder if the ranking itself has something to do with research?

Shadowing is 100% critical. Research is probably right about there as well. Thank God you don't have to pick just one.

You do realize this (right now) is the most free time you will ever have, right? Every year in UG will get more and more busy. Then med school is worse than you could ever imagine. Then internship and residency? Residency means you are a resident in the hospital... like you will live there. Then as an attending you may be 60hrs a week or more.

 

[NickNaylor]

Research is generally only thought of as important for the more well-known schools.

 

[normtheniner]

See Question #17

 

[gettheleadout]

See Question #17

Except shadowing isn't "volunteer service," so you fail.

 

[studentdoctor08]

well I have heard that research looks better because there is substance. For example, you could be a published author out of it, while shadowing doesn't really prove much

 

[CADupin]

Stop obsessing over doing things you think med schools will like.

You obviously want to be a doctor; shouldn't you be absolutely dying to see exactly what they do on a daily basis? Most professions don't allow shadowing, mostly because they sit behind a desk all day. Medicine is cool. Shadow because it's amazing, not because medical school admissions likes it.

Same goes with research, it's one of the few chances that you'll have to contribute to the progression of the field before becoming a doctor. Do it because you want to.

If you dont actually want to do these things, maybe you should reevaluate your career path. But to answer your question, yes these things are pretty much mandatory unless your stats are well above the curve for that particular school.

 

[blackarrowmoose]

Stop obsessing over doing things you think med schools will like.

You obviously want to be a doctor; shouldn't you be absolutely dying to see exactly what they do on a daily basis? Most professions don't allow shadowing, mostly because they sit behind a desk all day. Medicine is cool. Shadow because it's amazing, not because medical school admissions likes it.

Same goes with research, it's one of the few chances that you'll have to contribute to the progression of the field before becoming a doctor. Do it because you want to.

If you dont actually want to do these things, maybe you should reevaluate your career path. But to answer your question, yes these things are pretty much mandatory unless your stats are well above the curve for that particular school.

i completely agree, you'll have a much more enjoyable time if your doing it because you want to. However OP is on SDN asking so im guessing hes somewhat goal oriented and does want to become a physician. So even if research isn't his thing, if he wants to apply to hopkins he does have to do it even if he doesn't want to

 

[thespazz]

i completely agree, you'll have a much more enjoyable time if your doing it because you want to. However OP is on SDN asking so im guessing hes somewhat goal oriented and does want to become a physician. So even if research isn't his thing, if he wants to apply to hopkins he does have to do it even if he doesn't want to

Excellent point. From what I've found, though, going into research without the passion to do it WILL hurt you. If your heart is set only on completing your goal of getting 200 hours of research, you won't get anything done. However, if it's something the OP really, REALLY wants to do---it will be worth it. If I could counsel some entering-UG pre-meds, I'd tell them to do as much as possible of what they enjoyed, first. Second, try to branch out and do things that are good for med school, but something you may not be interested in.

 

[nolookpass]

How many hours of research is a good amount? Not too interested in it.

 

[gettheleadout]

How many hours of research is a good amount? Not too interested in it.

There is no benchmark number of hours, research is only useful if you can talk about it meaningfully. One semester of 7 hours/week of involved, engaging research is infinitely better than 1,000 total hours of washing glassware.

 

[hopefuldoc97239]

I agree that you shouldn't obsess over what you think committees want to see.

If you look at page 63 in the MSAR you'll see that > 75% of applicants accepted to MD programs have research experience, and > 80% of applicants accepted to MD programs have medically-related volunteer service.

Both are viewed as important.


That said...

I agree with the people who say shadowing/volunteering is probably more important. The same graph on page 63 of the MSAR shows that a larger percentage of applicants are accepted without research than without medically-related volunteer work. Correlation isn't causation, of course, but this suggests that a lack of research experience can be forgiven more easily than a lack of volunteer experience.