Research?

[Binarian]

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I am looking for an answer to a question about researching in your undergrad year - should it focus (mostly) on science?

I ask because the humanities courses I am taking have interested me in social and logical aspects of culture, languages, art, religion, and similar areas. I've been doing a lot of independent research in those areas (on my own, not required and not for a grade or extra credit) and was wondering if I should references to such things on my application (in a few years).

 

[DW]

doing some actual science is all well and good, but think how many applicants are doing that already. Doing some research in the humanities will differentiate you from many candidates. Of course, balance it with the obvious (GPA,MCAT,clinical/lab exposure) but a large part of this seems to be making yourself not look like every other pre med, and you might be on the right track

 

[trouta]

The important thing is to show that it is some actual research with a point (not just you looking into something a little more b/c you are interested). Can you get someone to advise you on an independant project? Can you get a paper out of it, or something to show for it? This will make it more meaningful as "research".

 

[Cydney Foote]

Trouta is absolutely right -- try to get a project out of it somehow.

Also, you don't say what kind of humanities research you're doing, but if you're interested in the large research institutions (I was at the University of Washington), I think that quantitative research is valued much more than qualitative. Individual case studies were far less compelling than larger clinical studies. I don't know if this is the case at other schools.