First off—huge congrats on your acceptance! That’s a milestone worth celebrating before diving into what’s next. And honestly, just the fact that you’re asking this question now shows an impressive level of foresight.
You’re right—competitive specialties like ortho and derm often expect some degree of research involvement. And yes, starting early can help. But what’s even more valuable than a head start is starting with intention.
If a project presents itself and you’re genuinely curious—interested in what ortho research looks like, or excited about a specific topic—great. But if it’s just about “checking a box,” it’s 100% valid to pause, get grounded, and let your authentic interests take shape.
That said, here's a pitfall I’ve seen too many students run into: they go all-in on research in one specialty—only to realize later (often during third-year or an away rotation) that they’re actually in alignment with something else entirely. Suddenly, they’re short on time to pivot, they don’t have the specialty-specific experiences to back up their interest, and they regret how much of their early med school bandwidth went into a field that ultimately wasn’t the right fit.
To be clear, research in any field is still valuable—if you did dermatology research but ultimately pursued ortho, no one’s going to throw out your application. But what you ideally want to show is a sense of longitudinal alignment—that your choices reflect an authentic and sustained interest in the field you’re pursuing.
And the real key to building that clarity? Getting exposure not just to residents and peers, but to attending physicians. Attendings are the ones who can tell you what life looks like after training—how the job changes, what the long-term lifestyle and career trajectory really entail. That’s the kind of insight you can’t Google, and it’s what helps you invest your time (research included) in ways that align with who you are and what you want long-term.
So yes, explore research if it lights you up—or if it’s the best opportunity available right now. But also make it a priority to talk to the people doing the job you think you want. That’s where the real clarity comes from. And the earlier you start, the more strategic you can be with everything else.
You’re asking all the right questions at the right time. Keep that curiosity burning—you’re on a great path.