Research vs. Volunteering

[tchan]

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I'm not really into research and would much rather spend my time volunteering in both clinical and non-clinical settings. Is research something crucial I must have on my application, or can I just focus on my love for volunteering?

 

[Mike7704]

I'm not really into research and would much rather spend my time volunteering in both clinical and non-clinical settings. Is research something crucial I must have on my application, or can I just focus on my love for volunteering?

I guess the consensus around here is that research is not critical to an application, albeit, you will probably need some research if you have a desire to attend a research heavy (usually the "top ranked" schools, but that take with a grain of salt) school.

Keep up with the volunteering, come application time you will have a great reason to tell the committee why you are lacking in research.

 

[shindotp]

I guess the consensus around here is that research is not critical to an application, albeit, you will probably need some research if you have a desire to attend a research heavy (usually the "top ranked" schools, but that take with a grain of salt) school.

Keep up with the volunteering, come application time you will have a great reason to tell the committee why you are lacking in research.

On the contrary, a lot higher % of acceptees have research experience than volunteer experience according to the MSAR.

 

[loveoforganic]

I'm volunteering doing psych research, best of both worlds kinda 😛

 

[whatuthinkin]

hey loveoforganic, nice Frankl quote.

I only did volunteering, just wasn't interested in research.

 

[MaryLennox]

i really think that the main reason to go to a high-ranked school is if you are interested in research. isn't that mostly what the rankings are based on anyway? if you are wise enough to not care about school rankings, then i wouldn't worry about research much if you don't like it. research is hard enough, it's even harder if your heart isn't in it, which makes it not that valuable of an experience at the end of the day. i think if you have really strong clinical experience (volunteering and shadowing) that will go a long way at more primary-care oriented schools. i wish i had more volunteering, instead i have research but i'm not applying to many research-heavy schools because i don't really like it.

do what you like and do it well and i think it all works out.

 

[shindotp]

i really think that the main reason to go to a high-ranked school is if you are interested in research. isn't that mostly what the rankings are based on anyway? if you are wise enough to not care about school rankings, then i wouldn't worry about research much if you don't like it. research is hard enough, it's even harder if your heart isn't in it, which makes it not that valuable of an experience at the end of the day. i think if you have really strong clinical experience (volunteering and shadowing) that will go a long way at more primary-care oriented schools. i wish i had more volunteering, instead i have research but i'm not applying to many research-heavy schools because i don't really like it.

do what you like and do it well and i think it all works out.

Medical school reputation is a factor for the residency match, no?

 

[Contrarian]

Medical school reputation is a factor for the residency match, no?

based on what people have said here, it doesn't seem like it is a huge factor, though it probably plays some role.

 

[MaryLennox]

Medical school reputation is a factor for the residency match, no?

i would guess that maybe all other things being equal, it might be a factor. but if you do really well at ANY u.s. med school, and get high enough step scores, you should be able to get into the specialty you want. also i don't know if this is the case- maybe someone can chime in- but i would think that people who get residencies at the BEST programs (like Mayo or something) are people who have been doing research all along and plan to continue doing it. so again, if you really don't LIKE research than why would you go through all those hoops?

 

[oaklandguy]

I didn't think I was going to like research before I started mine. I turned out to love it. You just have to find research that interests you, whether it's counting frogs or studying ganglion tissue or finding the effects of UV rays on DNA strands. There's so many different types of research out there and I'm almost positive that there's something out there that you will enjoy.

That being said, if you want to volunteer you should volunteer. There isn't anything you "have" to do to get a Med-School acceptance other than do amazing on the MCAT and have a ridiculously high GPA. Seriously though, give research a shot, I know it sounds boring, but I have so much more fun doing research than volunteering in the hospital (albeit both are panning out to be great experiences).