Stem cell research, too late?

[BlueElmo]

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hey guys, so I was just accepted to work in our California school's stem cell facility as a undergraduate researcher.
I will be applying to medical schools this summer, and I was wondering if I start working now about 10 hours/week, is that enough in adcoms' eyes? I plan to keep at it until the end of this year, but obviously AMCAS opens in June.
I know adcoms like sustained activities and continuity, but I didn't learn about the open position until last week.🙁
Thanks!

 

[Greonis]

Well, ask yourself this: would your application be better off without the research?

Of course not. Go for it! It can only help you.

 

[dragonfly99]

You should totally do it. You'll have been doing it >6 months by the time you interview for schools, so yes, I think you can definitely put it on your application. You are an undergrad...nobody expects you to have reinvented the wheel yet. Just have interesting things to talk about at your interview.

You need clinical volunteer experience too, so that they know you have a clue about what medicine entails.

 

[BlueElmo]

Do you guys think it would be brash of me to ask for a letter of recommendation around June?

On a more general note, once you submit the primary, do schools immediately mail you the secondary? If I submit in June 1st, do they mail you the very next day?

 

[Red Leader]

lol 10 hours a week. What are you doing, washing beakers? If you're in it for a recc/experience go for it. If you want to publish, stay where you are.

 

[pietachok]

If you've only been working there for 3 months, 10 hrs/wk, you may not have the basis to get a good LOR even if they are willing to write one. Getting a LOR isn't just about fulfilling the requirement to have one, it is about its content--it isn't good when it doesn't say much. Truly think about what that LOR is going to say at the point when you consider asking.

Prior to June, I would ask for all of the other LOR's you can to fulfill your required LOR's. If you think the stem cell LOR might supplement your packet and/or is simply necessary for the handful of schools that require one in the research field, then go for it...but definitely just ask for the others beforehand.