Summer research question

[TurkSurg]

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If I submit my AMCAS app by June 1st and start doing research in the same summer, which starts in June 15-Aug 15, should I list this as one of my ecc activities on the 15 activities list? I just want to know if its ok to put something down that I havent started yet, but will start 2-3 weeks later...

 

[shindotp]

I am curious about this as well. I'm planning on not doing a specific program, but getting involved with research again with a professor whom I worked with previously.

 

[Stratego]

The Experiences section will not accept future dates. As a general rule, you should not mention something you haven't done yet. LizzyM, SDN's member who is on an adcomm, feels strongly enough about this that she has put a comment about it in her signature section:

"To those of you wondering about listing things in the experience section that haven't happened yet: it looks as silly as a Kleenex padded training bra on an eleven year old."

 

[apumic]

lol... How true, how true.

if you haven't done it yet, you can't say you've done it. Period. You have no way of knowing whether or not it'll work out as planned.

Might I also suggest getting an RA position that will last longer than a summer?
Along the same lines as Lizzy's comment, I'd say an RAship limited from the beginning at 1 summer is like asking someone out "until the day before your birthday, then we'll just break up, ok?"
I really have trouble believing you'll get much out of a summer of research when it takes at least that long to even train a new RA much less get a project done. Being a summer RA is practically worthless to the lab and, consequently, you as well. (Esp. since/if the lab is aware you'll be leaving so soon -- why bother training you? Basically, I doubt anyone's going to want to invest much in you.)
This really is, IMHO, one of the major reasons everybody tends to hate premeds.

 

[TurkSurg]

lol... How true, how true.

if you haven't done it yet, you can't say you've done it. Period. You have no way of knowing whether or not it'll work out as planned.

Might I also suggest getting an RA position that will last longer than a summer?
Along the same lines as Lizzy's comment, I'd say an RAship limited from the beginning at 1 summer is like asking someone out "until the day before your birthday, then we'll just break up, ok?"
I really have trouble believing you'll get much out of a summer of research when it takes at least that long to even train a new RA much less get a project done. Being a summer RA is practically worthless to the lab and, consequently, you as well. (Esp. since/if the lab is aware you'll be leaving so soon -- why bother training you? Basically, I doubt anyone's going to want to invest much in you.)
This really is, IMHO, one of the major reasons everybody tends to hate premeds.

Just wondering, then how come people list senior honors thesis as one of their activities on MDApplicants? Then those applicants must be the ones who applied after they graduated or something :/

 

[lstone13]

The good news is that although you shouldn't mention this on your primary application, most secondaries ask for your plans for the upcoming year. Insert research here.

 

[bellakk]

or just wait and submit on june 15 and then you can list it and you'll still be plenty early.

 

[apumic]

or just wait and submit on june 15 and then you can list it and you'll still be plenty early.

It'd still look pretty silly if they see "June 15, 2010-Present" and the submission date is "June 15, 2010." Once again, you have no way of knowing how it will turn out. Things fall through and the worst thing would if an interviewer asked about that project and you had to say, "Well, the PI and I didn't get along that well, so ended up leaving a week into the project." It happens, but most people simply don't put it on their app if something like that goes down! (That's one reason why most jobs have "probationary periods" during which you're still being evaluated to see if they want to keep you.)

 

[LizzyM]

It'd still look pretty silly if they see "June 15, 2010-Present" and the submission date is "June 15, 2010." Once again, you have no way of knowing how it will turn out. Things fall through and the worst thing would if an interviewer asked about that project and you had to say, "Well, the PI and I didn't get along that well, so ended up leaving a week into the project." It happens, but most people simply don't put it on their app if something like that goes down! (That's one reason why most jobs have "probationary periods" during which you're still being evaluated to see if they want to keep you.)

It doesn't look silly.... and being asked during an interivew about summer research and getting an honest reply is fine, too.

 

[bellakk]

It'd still look pretty silly if they see "June 15, 2010-Present" and the submission date is "June 15, 2010."

Summer research programs usually starts by June 1, so by mid-june, you'd have two weeks under your belt to get a first impression of how you're going to like it.