Type of Research

[wolfram241]

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[NapeSpikes]

Better than nothing, but I say if you are only doing it for adcoms, then you should pursue some other opportunity more closely related to medicine or humans at least. If you like fish, but all means, go for it. I would think adcoms look favorably upon those who pursue genuine interests.

 

[DrMike24]

I'm a sophmore, so I'm starting to think about adding research to my application. However, does the type of research really matter? For example, I may have a chance (and maybe my only chance) to do research with a prof who works with fish. Now, I know that what I'll get out of it will have nothing to do with what I'll do in med school, but I'd like to have it on my resume, considering the vast majority of accepted students have resrearch experience (as per MSAR). Will adcoms care that I didn off-topic research, or simply appreciate that I did some. In other words, is it worth it? Thanks.

I am doing research with fish, and have been asked about it at all interviews. It has a genetic approach, so it has something to do with medicine. If you are very passionate about a topic that is not related to medicine, I would say go for it, but if you have the chance to do something medically related I would do that. However, it might make you stand out that you are doing something non-medically related? Not too sure... I dont think its a big deal though.

 

[DarkFark]

I also did (and am still doing) research in fish. Academic research is academic research- do what you want to do.

 

[Bluntman]

Can you grill up the fish after you research them? That could be a potential bonus for this line of work. 😉

 

[DrBowtie]

I do high energy physics research....whatever floats your boat.

 

[Seona]

Schools just want you to have research experience in the basic sciences (so, yes, fish research does count) doing something that you enjoy. And I can say from personal experience that interesting "off-topic" research is definitely a plus. I mean, adcoms must review thousands of applicants who seem to only do medically-related research to fluff up their resumes -- and I am sure they will notice during interviews if these candidates seem uninterested in their own research. Personally, I work with fungi and many of my interviewers immediately recognize me from my file and call me the fungus lady. Not a great nickname, but at least it makes a positive (and hopefully lasting) impression.

 

[g3pro]

Schools just want you to have research experience in the basic sciences (so, yes, fish research does count) doing something that you enjoy.

ADCOMs want to recruit individuals who are passionate about research and will pursue it in medical school. It's not a checklist item.

 

[Booyakasha]

Do research because you want to do research, not because you want to add it to your resume. It will probably show if the latter is your reason.

That being said, do something that INTERESTS you. It does not really matter what it is, just make it be something that you are passionate about.

 

[potato51]

Do it... it's unique. Even if it's not human medically related, it shows your interest in science research and demonstrates your ability to be an investigator.

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

I'm a sophmore, so I'm starting to think about adding research to my application. However, does the type of research really matter? For example, I may have a chance (and maybe my only chance) to do research with a prof who works with fish. Now, I know that what I'll get out of it will have nothing to do with what I'll do in med school, but I'd like to have it on my resume, considering the vast majority of accepted students have resrearch experience (as per MSAR). Will adcoms care that I didn off-topic research, or simply appreciate that I did some. In other words, is it worth it? Thanks.

I think you're going about this the wrong way. What topics are you interested in? You're going to enjoy your research more and do better with it if you choose the topic based on your interests, not based on what you assume ADCOMs will be interested in.

EDIT: I guess there's an echo in here. Sorry for repeating what most others have said.

 

[wolfram241]

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[novawildcat]

I am currently doing research in computational/theoretical chemistry. Research whatever YOU find intersting. Doing research on a particular subject just to make adcoms happy is stupid.

 

[santoukie]

sorry to interupt-
im a junior with no research....im devouting my time towards clinical exp.
is that really bad?

back on topic- do what you want to do, i konw people who got into calif. med schools that did research on fruitflies, to primates, to aggriculture, to jellyfish, and etc. clearly im not a expert, but i think they want us to do research so that we can have different perspectives at approaching problems.
DUDE-im a junior with no research experience...kill me haha.

 

[themadchemist]

Perhaps you understand it more than you reveal in your posts, but I'm a little worried that you're jumping into research without having a clear idea what you'll be doing. In your hopes to satisfy some admissions committee, you're forgetting you're going to be spending a major chunk of time on the research. But the way you describe it, you don't exactly sound like you even know what the research is.

You say it's ecology, so maybe it really just is about fish. But usually, usually, when I think about research and someone tells me what the animal is, I say, that's nice, now what did you do? I imagine this is much different in ecology, but in most of the rest of biology, the animal is just the model, and the exciting part is what you're using that model to test. That's what you want to find out. What is the question being asked? How are they going about answering it? Is this something that excites you?

I spent far too much time being unproductive in labs that I didn't enjoy to watch others do the same. It took until the fourth try until I found my fit, and now I know what I'd like to study for years and years. Better to try to find that the first time around.

 

[wolfram241]

Perhaps you understand it more than you reveal in your posts, but I'm a little worried that you're jumping into research without having a clear idea what you'll be doing. In your hopes to satisfy some admissions committee, you're forgetting you're going to be spending a major chunk of time on the research. But the way you describe it, you don't exactly sound like you even know what the research is.

You say it's ecology, so maybe it really just is about fish. But usually, usually, when I think about research and someone tells me what the animal is, I say, that's nice, now what did you do? I imagine this is much different in ecology, but in most of the rest of biology, the animal is just the model, and the exciting part is what you're using that model to test. That's what you want to find out. What is the question being asked? How are they going about answering it? Is this something that excites you?

I spent far too much time being unproductive in labs that I didn't enjoy to watch others do the same. It took until the fourth try until I found my fit, and now I know what I'd like to study for years and years. Better to try to find that the first time around.

I know exactly what I'm doing, I just didn't say so.

 

[pre-medUSF]

If you are interested in fish research I would go for it. Med schools really like to see students with diverse interests and talents. If your not really interested in this type of research but are only concerned about getting research experience you still have some time to get some experience in something that you are more interested in your junior year. Depending on where you go to school there may be many research opportunities that you may not be aware of. I would make an appointment with your research department. I currently do research in spinal surgery outside of school. If you're meeting and shadowing doctors you may develop chances to join their research.