Value of Clinical Research vs Basic Research and General Gap Year

[deleted936268]

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Hi guys!

I’m a student that’s been heavily involved in basic science research for the last 2-3 years. I’ve gotten 2 mid author pubs so far in high tier journals and plan on taking 2 gap years this coming semester, so need a bit of help in deciding how to best spend that time. For reference, I hope to apply to pretty research intensive MD programs and am honestly aiming for Stanford’s research heavy MD program although I know the chances are abysmal and all.

Option A: Continue doing basic science research in my current lab, great PI and environment and I’m sure I would be able to get 1-2 pubs during the gap years (maybe one first author with some luck) based on conversations with my PI.

Option B: I have the opportunity to do some clinical research, again great PI and environment. I’m thinking (and of course correct me if I’ve done my research wrong here) that I could get a ton more clinical pubs in 2 years than basic science — thinking on the scale of 5-10 although that’s only based on what I’ve seen from 2 friends.

I really think I’ll enjoy clinical research based on lectures I’ve watched and papers I’ve sifted through but I guess my main concern based on what I’ve heard is that adcoms (especially at research heavy schools) value clinical pubs way less than basic science because they know it takes much more work for basic science pubs. Thoughts on this and also on the two scenarios above? Obviously following my newfound passion for clinical research is something I’d like to pursue but it’s not like I don’t enjoy my current basic science lab. If it’s kore productive to adcoms to get those 5-10 clinical pubs, then I think I’d rather do that compared to 1-2 basic pubs.

TLDR: Do adcoms value clinical pubs or basic science pubs more and if so, what does the ratio of pub # to # look like - if that makes sense?

 

[FlyAway10]

No publications are guaranteed. 5-10 publications seems like a lot in 2 years if you're not already a really high publishing/achieving researcher since you'll need time to familiarize yourself with the projects and the data. Instead of trying to guess if adcoms like which type of publication better, just choose the opportunity you like better. This will translate into more passion from you as you write about (and speak about at interviews) the opportunity for your application.

 

[Banco]

I don’t think adcoms value clinical pubs “way less”. A pub is a pub and a your level that is exceptional. This mindset of trying to analyze ratio of clinical pub to basic science pub is completely useless - stop thinking like this. What’s more important is your experience and narrative.

The way I see it is that you are already established at your basic science lab and you can continue there and deepen your experience with more publications.

However you also already have a couple basic science pubs and want to try something new - I can’t imagine how doing clinical research would be seen as a negative. It generally takes less time to publish a clinical paper compared to basic science - this is correct.

So all in all I don’t think you can go wrong. Think about your narrative. If clinical research can improve it and make you more well rounded, then go for it.

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

Are you taking gap years solely to get into schools like Stanford?

 

[deleted936268]

Are you taking gap years solely to get into schools like Stanford?

No, also taking gap years for peace of mind as a break from a pretty stressful undergrad, to increase my worldview by maybe traveling to other places, and to study and take mcat.

However, my hope is that the gap years should allow me to strengthen my app to a top research md level

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

No, also taking gap years for peace of mind as a break from a pretty stressful undergrad, to increase my worldview by maybe traveling to other places, and to study and take mcat.

However, my hope is that the gap years should allow me to strengthen my app to a top research md level

I would say continue with current PI and get stronger LOR. My kid did 3+ years research with same PI. No pubs at the time of app and got into 3 top research schools. One of the reasons is very strong LOR from PI.

 

[deleted936268]

I would say continue with current PI and get stronger LOR. My kid did 3+ years research with same PI. No pubs at the time of app and got into 3 top research schools. One of the reasons is very strong LOR from PI.

Definitely interesting, I’ve heard from people that getting LORs from different institutions and PIs can strengthen app bc it shows you can succeed anywhere. Thoughts? I’m confident the LOR I currently have w my PI is already an insane one since several lab members and the PI himself have talked a lot about how strong his LORs are and he does like my work.

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

Definitely interesting, I’ve heard from people that getting LORs from different institutions and PIs can strengthen app bc it shows you can succeed anywhere. Thoughts? I’m confident the LOR I currently have w my PI is already an insane one since several lab members and the PI himself have talked a lot about how strong his LORs are and he does like my work.

There is no guarantee that you will get equally strong LORs from other PIs. Also there is limitation on number of LORs (3-6) and you need LOR from one science and probably one non-science faculty.

 

[deleted936268]

There is no guarantee that you will get equally strong LORs from other PIs. Also there is limitation on number of LORs (3-6) and you need LOR from one science and probably one non-science faculty.

Gotcha. If I’m confident the clinical research lab has a PI that can give good LORs, how does that sound? I can have 2 PI LOR and 3 faculty still since anyway I’m applying to research heavy schools. I do want to make the switch to clinical and I’ve seen labs that have a high pub output volume, so I feel like trying it out would be cool - but the one line that wouldn’t make it worth it is if clinical pubs are worth less than basic as I’ve heard.

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

Gotcha. If I’m confident the clinical research lab has a PI that can give good LORs, how does that sound? I can have 2 PI LOR and 3 faculty still since anyway I’m applying to research heavy schools. I do want to make the switch to clinical and I’ve seen labs that have a high pub output volume, so I feel like trying it out would be cool - but the one line that wouldn’t make it worth it is if clinical pubs are worth less than basic as I’ve heard.

It's easier to produce a clinical paper than basic science paper so I am not sure how much value it ads to your application since you already have couple of pubs. Is there any chance of continuing in same lab and get a first author paper. That should impress Stanford more than couple of clinical research papers. BTW, my kid's research was first author level (no gap years).

 

[deleted936268]

It's easier to produce a clinical paper than basic science paper so I am not sure how much value it ads to your application since you already have couple of pubs. Is there any chance of continuing in same lab and get a first author paper. That should impress Stanford more than couple of clinical research papers. BTW, my kid's research was first author level (no gap years).

Yep I do think there’s a chance of first author but I would need to talk to PI to confirm that. The lab is located on a not so good city although T10 school while the clinical lab is in a way nicer area. I guess it comes down to that and I also need to understand how big my role would be in the new lab. I guess that’s kinda why I want a “ratio”. I’m trying to quantify how many clinical pubs would be worth 2 mid author basic pubs or even just 1 first author basic.

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

Yep I do think there’s a chance of first author but I would need to talk to PI to confirm that. The lab is located on a not so good city although T10 school while the clinical lab is in a way nicer area. I guess it comes down to that and I also need to understand how big my role would be in the new lab. I guess that’s kinda why I want a “ratio”. I’m trying to quantify how many clinical pubs would be worth 2 mid author basic pubs or even just 1 first author basic.

Quality over quantity when it comes to papers especially clinical ones. Some can churn out clinical pubs every other month.

 

[candbgirl]

Gotcha. If I’m confident the clinical research lab has a PI that can give good LORs, how does that sound? I can have 2 PI LOR and 3 faculty still since anyway I’m applying to research heavy schools. I do want to make the switch to clinical and I’ve seen labs that have a high pub output volume, so I feel like trying it out would be cool - but the one line that wouldn’t make it worth it is if clinical pubs are worth less than basic as I’ve heard.

They aren’t worth less, they are just very different. How are your other ECs?

 

[deleted936268]

They aren’t worth less, they are just very different. How are your other ECs?

My other ECs and stats are strong, I’m just focusing at the moment on making research an x factor and of course need to take the mcat down the line.