Should I add some research to be competitive?

[lancecorpsman]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Ive noticed all of these summer research programs and fellowships. I haven't really given any thought about applying or anything like that. I personally think you can't do any meaningful "research" in 8-weeks especially as an undergrad.

Since my undergrad institution offers no research opportunities, I would have to travel a long ways (pretty rural school). Instead of the research experience, I would like to think that both my clinical & volunteer experience is sufficient. I work as tech in the ICU and also do the volunteer fire & EMS (on the ambulance and fire truck). Me and two other paramedics and an ER doc have just started a new MIH program (a first in my county). Our focus is on reducing healthcare costs by preventing unnecessary ER visits and preventative measures for high risk patients to reduce readmission. I may even have a chance to co-author an article about our program with the medical director (we still need lots of data). Oh yeah and I have clinal experience in the military as well...

So far my undergrad cGPA is around 3.8. Do you guys think I would be competitive applicant as long as I pull off a decent MCAT? Or should I be looking to do some scientific research?

 

[efle]

I personally think you can't do any meaningful "research" in 8-weeks especially as an undergrad.

What's this opinion based on? Not even saying I disagree, just wondering if it's based on an experience of your own or what

So far my undergrad cGPA is around 3.8. Do you guys think I would be competitive applicant as long as I pull off a decent MCAT? Or should I be looking to do some scientific research?

The schools that love (or in some cases essentially expect/require) research are the top places that are very competitive. Unless you are expecting a very high MCAT and are gunning for those schools I think you are fine just staying active with paramedic/tech work and volunteerism!

 

[lancecorpsman]

What's this opinion based on? Not even saying I disagree, just wondering if it's based on an experience of your own or what


The schools that love (or in some cases essentially expect/require) research are the top places that are very competitive. Unless you are expecting a very high MCAT and are gunning for those schools I think you are fine just staying active with paramedic/tech work and volunteerism!

No experience, just an opinion. I don't think a college kid who just took o-chem could do some meaningdul scientific research...
A lot of people ask me what med school I want to go to... My answer is usually "anywhere that would take me". Im really only gunning for public MD schools and my top choice is OHSU (I'm an Oregon resident).

 

[efle]

No experience, just an opinion. I don't think a college kid who just took o-chem could do some meaningdul scientific research...
A lot of people ask me what med school I want to go to... My answer is usually "anywhere that would take me". Im really only gunning for public MD schools and my top choice is OHSU (I'm an Oregon resident).

The big counterpoint there would be that undergrads do get published! It's rare but it happens.

I wouldn't sweat the research too much then, it's not something stressed that heavily by OHSU or a lot of similar schools.

 

[westsidestoryz]

I was a business major and switched to premed junior year. Started research right away and will have my name on a paper soon. So yeah...it was pretty meaningful...
You just have to put in A LOT of work. You dont have to get published but its a good experience to have.

 

[Luka75]

Never heard of anyone not get into med school because they didn't have research... you're probably fine.

 

[Catalystik]

Ive noticed all of these summer research programs and fellowships. I haven't really given any thought about applying or anything like that. I personally think you can't do any meaningful "research" in 8-weeks especially as an undergrad.

Since my undergrad institution offers no research opportunities, I would have to travel a long ways (pretty rural school). Instead of the research experience, I would like to think that both my clinical & volunteer experience is sufficient. I work as tech in the ICU and also do the volunteer fire & EMS (on the ambulance and fire truck). Me and two other paramedics and an ER doc have just started a new MIH program (a first in my county). Our focus is on reducing healthcare costs by preventing unnecessary ER visits and preventative measures for high risk patients to reduce readmission. I may even have a chance to co-author an article about our program with the medical director (we still need lots of data). Oh yeah and I have clinal experience in the military as well...

So far my undergrad cGPA is around 3.8. Do you guys think I would be competitive applicant as long as I pull off a decent MCAT? Or should I be looking to do some scientific research?

Thank you for your military service. From what you've presented here, I think you're a competitive candidate (pending the MCAT score) without adding research.

 

[Beezlebub]

spend that research time studying for the MCAT

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

No experience, just an opinion. I don't think a college kid who just took o-chem could do some meaningdul scientific research...
A lot of people ask me what med school I want to go to... My answer is usually "anywhere that would take me". Im really only gunning for public MD schools and my top choice is OHSU (I'm an Oregon resident).

I haven't even taken ochem, and I've done research that has resulted in pubs and in presentations at national conferences. And the projects each took an average of 8-10 weeks. It wasn't wet lab bench research, but that doesn't mean it isn't meaningful or that it doesn't count.

 

[Lucca]

Ive noticed all of these summer research programs and fellowships. I haven't really given any thought about applying or anything like that. I personally think you can't do any meaningful "research" in 8-weeks especially as an undergrad.

Since my undergrad institution offers no research opportunities, I would have to travel a long ways (pretty rural school). Instead of the research experience, I would like to think that both my clinical & volunteer experience is sufficient. I work as tech in the ICU and also do the volunteer fire & EMS (on the ambulance and fire truck). Me and two other paramedics and an ER doc have just started a new MIH program (a first in my county). Our focus is on reducing healthcare costs by preventing unnecessary ER visits and preventative measures for high risk patients to reduce readmission. I may even have a chance to co-author an article about our program with the medical director (we still need lots of data). Oh yeah and I have clinal experience in the military as well...

So far my undergrad cGPA is around 3.8. Do you guys think I would be competitive applicant as long as I pull off a decent MCAT? Or should I be looking to do some scientific research?

So there's no need to do research to get in. It's only a big deal for the schools near the top of the rank list. If you are not interested, having an otherwise strong application will still allow you to meet your goals.

One note about research: summer research programs are not really about producing publications. You are right that it is unlikely that undergrads will publish something coming from an 8 week project (although some people do! Depends on the project, timeline, level of involvement, luck, etc. Personally, when I was at one of these if all of the experiments had worked from the beginning of the summer I would've had more than enough data to get a paper but hey that's science). The programs are more about helping undergrads get exposure to how research is done, get them familiar with the research environment, and to an extent providing them with mentorship so they can continue on in science if they want to. Much in the same way that a freshman CS student is not likely to contribute massively to Apple's next software update, but it doesn't stop companies from wanting to hire them over the summer. This is because companies recognize that molding good employees and engineers as early as possible will pay off for them in the long run (especially if they can get the people they train to come back and work for them post grad). So it is with science.

That being said, there are also other ways to do research that are not bench science where you can definitely make a very big contribution in 8 weeks. Clinical research projects, computational projects, humanities research projects -- all of these can provide that experience. There is more than one way to do research.

I'm very biased because I love research and I would suggest applying to these summer programs just to see what science is like (it's an important part of medicine) and start learning how to think like a scientist in terms of observing a problem and figuring out a way to tackle it and then troubleshooting as new problems arise along the way (summer program can definitely teach you at least that much). This will also round out your application. Of course, like I said at the beginning, if you really want to have nothing to do with it then it won't kill your app.

 

[Gurby]

If gunning for top 10, research becomes a big deal IMO. It doesn't seem like that's your goal, so just do well on the MCAT and you'll have a beast application for schools in the #10-50 range.

 

[cookiemonster1234]

I do not feel you need research to get into medical school However, as others stated, if you want to get into the Top schools then yes research becomes important. I did not have any research but still got accepted to medical schoool by working hard on other aspects of my application! Hope it goes well for you!

 

[lancecorpsman]

If gunning for top 10, research becomes a big deal IMO. It doesn't seem like that's your goal, so just do well on the MCAT and you'll have a beast application for schools in the #10-50 range.

Have you decided on your school yet?

 

[Gurby]

Have you decided on your school yet?

Still waiting to hear from a few schools that value research experience highly when I don't have any... I'm fortunate to already have some really great options though even if my top picks don't work out.