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Hey everyone,
I am a first year medical student and have recently started doing some thinking about radiation oncology. I have been reading a lot on this forum (which has been great - the stickied threads are very helpful) but still have a few questions that I'd appreciate your input on. First, my school has a strong radiation oncology program/department, and from what I gather from this forum, it would be in my best interest to get involved with radiation oncology research specifically (over med onc or anything else) if I want to maximize my chances at matching into it. Provided that's the case (comments on that would of course be welcome), what is everyone's opinion on bench vs. clinical? I'm more interested in basic science research, but I got the sense from some other threads that perhaps publications are most important and those are easier to come by in clinical research. Speaking of which: what exactly are retrospective and dosimetry studies? I have seen multiple references to those but don't quite know what they might entail. Also, how much research during medical school do must successful applicants have? I.e., do many do very well without taking one or more years off to do research? Is there anything else (aside from getting involved in research) that I should be thinking about at this point? And finally, why did YOU decide to pursue rad onc over med onc (or anything else for that matter)?
Sorry for all the questions and parentheses. Feel free to answer as few or as many as you'd like - all input is greatly appreciated!
Cheers.
I am a first year medical student and have recently started doing some thinking about radiation oncology. I have been reading a lot on this forum (which has been great - the stickied threads are very helpful) but still have a few questions that I'd appreciate your input on. First, my school has a strong radiation oncology program/department, and from what I gather from this forum, it would be in my best interest to get involved with radiation oncology research specifically (over med onc or anything else) if I want to maximize my chances at matching into it. Provided that's the case (comments on that would of course be welcome), what is everyone's opinion on bench vs. clinical? I'm more interested in basic science research, but I got the sense from some other threads that perhaps publications are most important and those are easier to come by in clinical research. Speaking of which: what exactly are retrospective and dosimetry studies? I have seen multiple references to those but don't quite know what they might entail. Also, how much research during medical school do must successful applicants have? I.e., do many do very well without taking one or more years off to do research? Is there anything else (aside from getting involved in research) that I should be thinking about at this point? And finally, why did YOU decide to pursue rad onc over med onc (or anything else for that matter)?
Sorry for all the questions and parentheses. Feel free to answer as few or as many as you'd like - all input is greatly appreciated!
Cheers.
