What is the average number of years for research for premeds?

[premedicine555]

I'm a sophomore and was wondering 1) how many years I should do research 2)how many years of clinical experience/ECs? My volunteer/clinical experience has already started since freshman year, and will probably go until senior year.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[YouNeverKnow22]

most people would say 2-3 years of solid research with the same lab/P.I

 

[Blesbok]

most people would say 2-3 years of solid research with the same lab/P.I

Average is probably 0.5 years.

 

[alexfoleyc]

Unless you are applying to top tier schools, research is not THAT important.

 

[Naijaba]

I didn't start doing research until the end of my sophomore year, but I wish I had started earlier; then again I didn't decide to apply to medical school until the end of my sophomore year.

 

[apumic]

depends... Everybodys different. I will have had 4 years of research & 1000s of hours of clinical; others get in w/ as little as 1 semester of research & 100-200 hrs clinical but 12 months each is probably a good rule for min exp in clinical & research.

 

[Mattabet]

I didn't do any research* - I think (clinical exposure > volunteering > research) with volunteering and research on about the same tier.

I agree with above though, top tier (and select other schools) schools do tend to emphasize research more heavily, so some of this comes down to the 'mission' of the school. If you're looking to be in research or academic medicine, I'd make sure to get research under my belt in a big way. If you're looking to be a clinician, you can probably get by with less (try anything once though).

*at the time I applied. I ended up doing a little independent study my senior year, hence the "try anything once" bit.

 

[Nomdeplume]

Is strengthening your application your primary reason for wanting to pursue research?

Either way, I wouldn't recommend going into research with a set (or minimum) amount of time in mind. Instead, I'd recommend committing yourself to do it for at least 2 to 3 months, so you have a chance to really get into it. At that point, evaluate how you like it and whether or not you'd like to continue.

Research can be an incredible experience, but it's not for everyone, and it can be quite time consuming. If you get into it, but don't really enjoy it, then I think you should reinvest the time somewhere else, like into shadowing, volunteering, or following some other hobby.

My logic here is that the schools who value research most heavily are research-oriented schools. If you find you don't enjoy research, then you might not enjoy going to a research-oriented school, thus lowering the value of research in your record.

 

[KeyzerSoze]

depends... Everybodys different. I will have had 4 years of research & 1000s of hours of clinical; others get in w/ as little as no research & 100-200 hrs clinical but 12 months each is probably a good rule for min exp in clinical & research.

ftfy.

 

[redlight]

quality over quantity.

i think most premeds with research have at least a year of it.

but most are just assistants and are not involved with thesis-generation so their work isnt really conducting research but rather just helping out.

 

[Narmerguy]

Many premeds don't have research and like red said, most of the ones that do have about a year.

 

[red10]

if you like it, do it as long as you want/can
if you don't like it, find some other hobby.

Don't make yourself miserable trying to fit the pre-med mold. Schools want diversity

 

[premedicine555]

thanks for the responses, everyone..

yeah i'm trying to find research this year! wish me luck.

 

[TexasFight]

Does it make a difference if you have 3 years of research split between two P.I.'s? This is assuming you wouldn't have gotten published either way (3 years split vs. no split).

 

[mmmcdowe]

Does it make a difference if you have 3 years of research split between two P.I.'s? This is assuming you wouldn't have gotten published either way (3 years split vs. no split).

Not much, but they might ask why you switched. If you had a good letter from both, that would help because they won't assume you had a falling out with the first.

 

[FeatherPen]

i know this is a bit off-topic, but you can definitely get published after a couple of years of research.

find a successful p.i. and then work your way into a publication.

emerging fields are probably a better bet than stagnant fields (if there is such a thing).

 

[Mattabet]

emerging fields are probably a better bet than stagnant fields (if there is such a thing).

"Water Chemistry" - alright, just about done, we've tried to react it with everything.

 

[movax]

Zero years here; sorry for bringing the average down