What kind of research should i do?

[premeddreamsgone]

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I know this question is asked like every other day probably, but it'd be nice to have it answered directly.

How important is bench research? It seems like all my other premed/phd path friends are doing bench research or some sort of clinical research.

While I'm certainly interested in applications of clinical research, it's harder to find spots b/c i go to a smaller school.

I've worked on research projects thus far in two non science departments that were great experiences overall and I did feel like i got to contribute to the projects. Now, I'm beginning to take interest in the role of digital media and self perspective/ how mainstream outlets affect the etiology of disease and perception. This is clearly not bench. I might have a spot in one of these labs doing this kind of work starting in October. Regardless, I'm going to be doing it just b/c I'm genuinely interested...but to get to my question, how bad is it to not have basic bench research for research heavy schools? Does any form of research from any department suffice?

I know bench research can help and I should only be doing "research I enjoy," but is it something I should try getting into?

Again, sorry for asking this question that's prolly asked like 10000 times.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Goro has the link, but in an AAMC survey, private med schools listed research as only medium importance, and public schools listed it as of low importance. That said, I believe LizzyM once said that most successful applicants have research experience. But that's probably self selection and what seems to be a common misunderstanding that research is mandatory.

 

[Lawpy]

Research is not required, and in fact, some students at top 20 schools say that the research requirements are exaggerated on SDN. Good research experience can be in any area: basic science, clinical, translational, physical sciences, social sciences etc. As long as you know how research is done. And productivity, while not necessary, is always good to have.

 

[eteshoe]

Bench research is really only a strong requirement for the MD/PhD path. Your project sounds pretty cool and as long as you can intelligently (and passionately) write about what you gained from the experience, you should be fine.

 

[mistafab]

If you don't want to do bench research, you do not have to do it. That's it, period.

 

[numbersloth]

I know this question is asked like every other day probably, but it'd be nice to have it answered directly.

How important is bench research? It seems like all my other premed/phd path friends are doing bench research or some sort of clinical research.

While I'm certainly interested in applications of clinical research, it's harder to find spots b/c i go to a smaller school.

I've worked on research projects thus far in two non science departments that were great experiences overall and I did feel like i got to contribute to the projects. Now, I'm beginning to take interest in the role of digital media and self perspective/ how mainstream outlets affect the etiology of disease and perception. This is clearly not bench. I might have a spot in one of these labs doing this kind of work starting in October. Regardless, I'm going to be doing it just b/c I'm genuinely interested...but to get to my question, how bad is it to not have basic bench research for research heavy schools? Does any form of research from any department suffice?

I know bench research can help and I should only be doing "research I enjoy," but is it something I should try getting into?

Again, sorry for asking this question that's prolly asked like 10000 times.

I'm curious based on your research experiences--what are you studying?

 

[premeddreamsgone]

I'm curious based on your research experiences--what are you studying?

Still deciding -- right now political science but might change to international/global relations studies. But a lot of my work that I do is surrounding the role of technology and digital in the developing world as well as the US.

 

[WeAreNotRobots]

Regardless, I'm going to be doing it just b/c I'm genuinely interested.

this is the best reason to get involved with a research project, or any EC activity, in general.

research is helpful, yes--whether bench or otherwise. but it's not so much the fact that it's "research" that makes it an asset to your application...it's that you're doing SOMETHING beyond just studying and going through the hoops. it's that you're pursuing meaningful endeavors that contribute to SOMETHING to a greater goal. for med school apps, meaningful activities need not be simply medical; and for residency apps, research/clinical activities need not always be specialty-specific.

it's about demonstrating skills and attributes beyond just studying, learning, and test-taking. they want evidence of passion, drive, effectiveness, and, even creativity, as these are some of the key attributes that the research-heavy schools need to be able to tap into to fuel their continued progress/advancements.

hope that helps.