Research

[murfettie]

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Eh...
I pushed through ochem, gchem, physics, bio in one year + one summer, with a 3.95 GPA...
I'm applying now and realized that like 97% of all accepted students have research according to MSAR book in the schools I want to apply to (not brand name or anything, just in a few states close to family).

I didn't do any research because i was just barely learning about the primary structure of proteins like... 2 months ago, I'm not sure how helpful I could be in a lab at that time...
Now I'm a little stressed out about this no research stuff.

I worked in international health.
Traveled.
Work as a medical interpreter
Has a small business
Am preparing for the MMMM! CAT!
I just don't like washing beakers until I could do something about it...

Feeling sketchy...

 

[krs881]

I think that as non-traditionals it is totally acceptable that we have a different mix of experiences, and that perhaps some of these unofficial requirements apply differently. We don't look like 97% of applicants in many ways, why not in research too?

It sounds like you have a lot of other interesting experiences very much related to medicine, and particularly since you aren't looking for research heavy schools, it might not be a big deal (though would be good to hear what the professionals have to say about this). How long out of UG are you, were those international health and interpretation experiences fairly long-term? It seems like your interest in medicine is more along those lines, not basic science, so make your application speak to that, tell the story of why medicine interests you, not just show that you jumped through some hoops. If you worked in a lab it might seem a little odd in fact, like you were just filling a prereq but not actually interested... If you don't like it, it will show in interviews. Do what excites you, and that excitement will shine.

There are lots of other types of research that might interest you more based on the experiences you listed, such as clinical or public health. You still have time to get involved in something for the next year that you can talk about during interviews, even if you don't start in time to list it on amcas.

I have never worked in a lab, but have worked in public health research for many years, and I am starting at a top research school in the fall. Test tubes are not required!