Research….?

[Ash_723]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

From your experience/opinions do you think that doing research or not doing research in undergrad plays a large roll in medical school acceptances? Thanks!!

 

[chillinillinkillin007]

From your experience/opinions do you think that doing research or not doing research in undergrad plays a large roll in medical school acceptances? Thanks!!

depends if you do research or if you "do research". One is actual research. One is bitch work in a lab like cleaning test tubes, etc.

 

[RTC19]

I think it is one of those things that is helpful because so many matriculants have it. I can't remember the exact number, but I think it was in the neighborhood of about 70%.

 

[Ash_723]

I think it is one of those things that is functionally a requirement because so many matriculants have it. I can't remember the exact number, but I think it was in the neighborhood of about 70%.

So do you think that the other 30% would be looked down upon for not doing research?

 

[RTC19]

So do you think that the other 30% would be looked down upon for not doing research?

I would think it would handicap one's application when comparing two very similar candidates. This of course is within the context of a traditional, end of junior year of college student. Non-trads have a bit more leeway.

From what I understand, you don't have to go too crazy with the research experience, but should have some notion of how new knowledge is generated through research.

 

[AlteredScale]

From your experience/opinions do you think that doing research or not doing research in undergrad plays a large roll in medical school acceptances? Thanks!!

I think it def plays a role in upper tier medical schools or medical schools where research is a very big component of their institution (UCSD or Vanderbilt). When you think about, many of the grads from these particular schools will go into competitive residency programs where research may be a requirement of the program. So in those cases yes.

I think in other schools research is always a good thing to have, you understand the importance of scientific inquiry and how that advances the field of medicine one way or another.

 

[derpina]

If you did research on it, you would know. 😉

 

[wanderer]

Many students in my class hadn't done research prior to med school. It's good to have, but by no means is it a requirement.

 

[Lucca]

I think research provided the research is meaningful to the university, science in general, and, most importantly, you as a student is instrumental into being accepted into a research-focused medical school. It shows that you can do a very important part of your future profession A) Well and B) With gusto.

I definitely don't think it's necessary but I do tell all underclassmen to give it a shot if they are pre-med because, just like shadowing, it shows you a different world you have probably never encountered before and it is a serious part of medicine. If it is not your cup of tea, you know that, and you don't do it then I don't think it'll be the one thing that keeps you from getting into medical school. If you have an otherwise competitive application then you should be just fine. The number of schools where research is an important part of having a competitive application to begin with is small compared to the total number of US MD/DO.

 

[ProMed13]

I didn't have research in my application and it did not affect me. LizzyM was also 64. Applied to 3 schools and so far 1 II and 1 MD acceptance. One of my interviewers actually asked what I thought my weakness was in my application and I said research. He seemed to not even care really, but n=1 here and my other ECs are very unique.

 

[Uafl112]

From your experience/opinions do you think that doing research or not doing research in undergrad plays a large roll in medical school acceptances? Thanks!!

I have heard it really depends on the school you apply to. For example, my school has SEVERAL research buildings and institutes. Therefore, academic medicine is a priority at my universities medical school. Ive heard of people getting rejected because they simply didnt do enough research.

 

[Blue Blood]

I don't think it's needed, but as it becomes more and more common it is becoming an unwritten requirement, at least for some of the more research focused schools.

I'm sure people do fine without it. I would imagine they have some other experience in its place though.

 

[sat0ri]

More and more, research seems to be expected, but it has not reached that status of an unspoken requirement in the same way shadowing has. However, if you're going to forego research (which I don't personally recomend: you'll do research in med school most likely; it is a good backup if medicine doesn't pan out; it's super awesome; so on), then I suggest balancing out your application in other places, like unique EC's or really good clinical exposure.

 

[KN.MD]

In my experiences applying for undergrad, med, then residency... I think that experiences that really define a person are far more interesting than experiences that round out a person. You may be the person that only shadowed or only did research, but if you loved it and became in an expert in whatever you did, it shows and it makes you stand out. Compare that to the person that dabbled in everything but can't really say anything meaningful...that person doesn't really stand out in my mind for long. But hey, if you've got time and energy and skill for multiple passions, you should pursue whatever you find meaningful.

 

[Radon XP]

I have a question for any adcoms here, is research with no pubs/posters worth putting on your app?

 

[barca4ever]

I have a question for any adcoms here, is research with no pubs/posters worth putting on your app?

I am no adcom but speaking from personal experience that I learned from reading many threads on SDN. Many people do research but never have publications/posters, but whatever you do, make sure you are ready to talk about the research that you have done.

 

[AlteredScale]

I have a question for any adcoms here, is research with no pubs/posters worth putting on your app?

If your research entailed just dishwashing and genotyping mice then I don't think it's worth putting your application.

If you actually contributed and really no the science behind what you did then I would put it down.

 

[bluejay456]

If you have the opportunity why not do research. Regardless of the 'quality' of research it's still a benefit to your application.

 

[FutureOncologist]

I think research provided the research is meaningful to the university, science in general, and, most importantly, you as a student is instrumental into being accepted into a research-focused medical school. It shows that you can do a very important part of your future profession A) Well and B) With gusto.

I definitely don't think it's necessary but I do tell all underclassmen to give it a shot if they are pre-med because, just like shadowing, it shows you a different world you have probably never encountered before and it is a serious part of medicine. If it is not your cup of tea, you know that, and you don't do it then I don't think it'll be the one thing that keeps you from getting into medical school. If you have an otherwise competitive application then you should be just fine. The number of schools where research is an important part of having a competitive application to begin with is small compared to the total number of US MD/DO.

This. I did organic research a bit (nothing much because I never took organic at that point), but I learned that I would hate it. Nothing fascinated me about it and I would never see myself doing it if I didn't go to medical school. So I switched to a neuroscience lab and loved it. I almost considered taking the GRE and getting a PhD in Neuroscience.

My point, OP, is that if you don't like it, don't stick with it. Also consider that a good number of state medical schools don't tend to care as much as others about research. It's always nice, no matter where you apply, but some schools accentuate clinical volunteering (my school), shadowing (UTHSC for example), or life outside of college and studying (Dartmouth (seriously, the average accepted age there is 26.))

 

[user12]

it's an important box to have checked, just like community service, shadowing, and clinical volunteering. it's not ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY, but it would certainly help you out if you had it, especially if you had some sort of publication. out of the 4 things I mentioned above, research was the only thing I had ZERO of and I think it messed me up a little bit. but, you know, whatever.

 

[cs24]

I have a question for any adcoms here, is research with no pubs/posters worth putting on your app?

Not an adcom. But the answer is yes, unless you have 15 other amazing activities crowding it out.