Type of Research

[deleted767916]

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Sorry guys if this question has already been answered but does it matter what kind of research a pre-dental student does?
I have the following options:
Pathology
Oncology
Dermatology
Ophthalmalogy

Also clinical is better or does it now matter?

 

[DOC YANKEM]

First thing I want to mention is that research is not required for Dental applications, because it is recommended. Any type of research you can accomplish will be beneficial to your applications, especially private dental schools and ivies. A huge portion of their school funding is through research grants and stipends are usually given to dental students who continue to do research.

Personally, I tried research and loathed it throughout undergrad. At least try it or take a research class so you can see yourself enjoy doing it.

 

[TeethAreMyThing]

I did organometallic chemistry research in undergrad and it was a great talking point during my interviews. I wouldn't worry too much about which you pursue, pick the one that interests you the most.

 

[Michael_Scott]

I did research and got published. Why did I do research ? - I loved the topic I did research in and gave it my best and then result was publication.

Which of these do you like ? Research is not required for app and one should not do it or pick a topic based on which sounds good

 

[Kouneko]

I did a year of research and hated it a lot... It even somewhat affected my classes because I became depressed due to bad data, and not meeting expectations of PI. I was not selective with the field of research and just did it in any lab that is willing to take an inexperienced student like me. That is a really bad way to choose a lab to do research in.

You should only do research in a field that you truly have interests in. It makes it much more enjoyable, and you will be willing to put in a lot more time which would result in obtaining better data and higher probability of participating in a publication.

After a year of taking a variety of upper div biology classes, I have new-found passions in oncology so I will pursue that for research when I do a Master's or post-bacc.

 

[TrevorwestDDS]

To echo what has already been said, only do research if you find something you are interested in. Because it isn't mandatory, I don't think being miserable for a semester or two is worth it just to have the research box checked on your application.

Also, there are lots of other research opportunities that do not involve sitting in a lab all day doing electrophoresis on proteins that you don't care a bit about. I was able to do 3 semesters of research where I designed an app to help anatomy students study more effectively in the cadaver lab. I was asked about it in every interview. Because I put in a lot of effort, and was genuinely passionate about it, I feel the interviewers got to know me much better as a person while we talked about it.

It might take a little while to find something you enjoy, but it's well worth it in the end.

 

[2jz]

Like others have said, choose what interests you the most. Your PI will likely become a mentor to you, it's always great having someone like that to talk to and get life advice from. They also usually make excellent recommendation writers too. I fully anticipated my interviewers to ask about my research and when they didn't and I asked if they'd like to know more about it, they responded saying my PI had written an excellent letter and didn't need my input lol (later accepted there).

Just make sure that you can talk intelligently about your research, understand why you're doing what you're doing, don't answer with "my PI had me do this because they said so."

 

[minionphil]

I did research and got published. Why did I do research ? - I loved the topic I did research in and gave it my best and then result was publication.

Which of these do you like ? Research is not required for app and one should not do it or pick a topic based on which sounds good

Hi, I have a quick question for you if you don't mind.

You said you got published. I am wondering where in the application did you mention that? In your personal statement, or in the activity section under research experience? Thanks!

 

[Michael_Scott]

Hi, I have a quick question for you if you don't mind.

You said you got published. I am wondering where in the application did you mention that? In your personal statement, or in the activity section under research experience? Thanks!

under research exp
great stats btw

 

[minionphil]

under research exp
great stats btw

Oh thanks! 🙂 I was having trouble describing my research and putting down my publications there because of the 175 character limit. Did you put down the full title of your paper, together with the journal and all the author info?

 

[amariesa]

See what you are into. The area doesnt matter so much as your understanding of the scientific method. Adcoms prefer to see people light up when talking about their research than just "I did research on teeth because I wanna be a dentist". You worked with mice to understand a biochemical process to alleviate Alzheimers? Nothing to do with dentistry but sounds really interesting and if you deliver it with passion, it'll win them over too 🙂

 

[Michael_Scott]

Oh thanks! 🙂 I was having trouble describing my research and putting down my publications there because of the 175 character limit. Did you put down the full title of your paper, together with the journal and all the author info?

topic, journal name and when published or approved for pub. No need to put all author info

 

[minionphil]

topic, journal name and when published or approved for pub. No need to put all author info

Got it. Thanks a lot!