research worth

[nateriver]

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Does the type of research i do matter to the med schools? I can't get into any med related labs at my school because they're all filled up, I've been lucky enough to even get a spot in a lab which does some marine bio research and there might be a genetic component, i honestly want to do genetics research but thats filled, so anyway, will it matter that I'm doing research that isn't directly med related, or is all research worth the same to the schools? will it be perceived as worth less because its not health related research?

 

[RedPhys]

Does the type of research i do matter to the med schools? I can't get into any med related labs at my school because they're all filled up, I've been lucky enough to even get a spot in a lab which does some marine bio research and there might be a genetic component, i honestly want to do genetics research but thats filled, so anyway, will it matter that I'm doing research that isn't directly med related, or is all research worth the same to the schools? will it be perceived as worth less because its not health related research?

No. In fact, at least in my case, my research (which was in engineering physics of fluids, and had zero relation to medicine) really interested my MD/PhD interviewer and helped me really make a connection with him. In another interview, the interviewer was interested because she thought it was a really different project from the usual biology stuff she had ran into with other applicants.

Do what you're passionate about, or at the very least, something that interests you

 

[nateriver]

No. In fact, at least in my case, my research (which was in engineering physics of fluids, and had zero relation to medicine) really interested my MD/PhD interviewer and helped me really make a connection with him. In another interview, the interviewer was interested because she thought it was a really different project from the usual biology stuff she had ran into with other applicants.

Do what you're passionate about, or at the very least, something that interests you

thank you very much for your input, that makes me feel better

 

[Ismet]

Moving to pre-allo forum

 

[sat0ri]

MD: no, it doesn't matter. They want you to understand the process, but having hyper-specialized knowledge won't help you in med school (I've heard directly from residents and attendings).
MD/PhD: You should consider what you'll study in your PhD program. For example, if you want to go into synthesis and have only done say psychology research, you might be hardpressed for programs/professors that will take you. Your research in undergrad should sort of be a preamble to what you'll study for a PhD. However it's not 100% mandatory as picking up skills that can translate (for instance, Zebra Fish are a common model) also helps, and getting general exposure will help you write a coherent answer to the "what research have you done" and "Why MD/PhD" question. Again it's not 100% necessary, but you should have an answer for why you did research in marine biology but now you're going into neurodegenerative diseases or whatever the case is. Not being directly med related though is sort of the whole point of MD/PhD.