The Importance of Research?

[commonwealth ki]

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How important is research in obtaining competitive residencies?

NRMP lists the mean number of 'research contacts' for each specialty?

What qualifies as a 'research contact'?

 

[DrQuack247]

I like this question. Does anyone have input?

Thanks

 

[TMP-SMX]

Depends if you want a competitive specialty. I wish I did something after M1, but I'll try to get a chart review or something in M3 or early M4. Though I'm not really planning on doing something competitive unless I end up with an exceptional Step I. If I do well on Step I and get a lot of honors in M3 maybe I'll attempt derm otherwise I'm doing IM then a subspecialty.

Supposedly the research listed on publications about the specialties also includes undergrad research. Individuals that match into competitive specialties also tend to have "the whole nine yards" so in order to separate yourself from the others you have to have something unique. Most of them are going to have research experience.

 

[DCDAWG]

How difficult is it to do research during M3? I have a lot of away rotations around the state in my upcoming 3rd year, I imagine this would make it more difficult...

 

[Pinkertinkle]

Goods:
- research can be very interesting
- builds connections with faculty in departments of interest
- strengths residency application and career via publications
- demonstrates interest in specialties

 

[Pinkertinkle]

How difficult is it to do research during M3? I have a lot of away rotations around the state in my upcoming 3rd year, I imagine this would make it more difficult...

M3 year is almost too late to do research IMO.
- Anytime you're putting into research is coming out of rotation time. Rotation grades are more important than research, so its a zero sum game.
- Publications, especially good ones, take a long time to publish. They are unlikely to be in press by the time residency applications start

Research is ideally done during the first two years so its not eating into rotation grades and your work stands a good chance of publication.

 

[TMP-SMX]

I agree. That's also why research electives were created. (Though only a month long usually).

Still, getting anything published at all is an accomplishment.