Which Research To Pursue

[Rockhouse]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hey all,

I am accepted and heading to med school this fall, and I am primarily interested in EM, with an extra interest in Child Nuero (I have a sister with some severe nuero problems). Anyhow, my question for the residents MS IV or whoever would know is: Would I be better to start looking for research opportunities in EM, or would research in a different specialty still look fine on an app if I decided to drop the Child Nuero thing. So in a nutshell, would it look worse/better for an EM applicant to have Child Nuero research, or a Nuero applicant to have EM research, or am I damned if I do damned if I don't. Thanks in advance.

 

[EctopicFetus]

Do what interests you, MOST people in my MS4 class had NO research and we will probably match 20 or so people. I think only 2-4 had EM research. So do what interests you, if research doesnt interest you then dont do any of it. Hope this helps.

 

[rxfudd]

Do what interests you, MOST people in my MS4 class had NO research and we will probably match 20 or so people. I think only 2-4 had EM research. So do what interests you, if research doesnt interest you then dont do any of it. Hope this helps.

I don't know if you had been keeping a lid on it, but I think I know what school you're from. There's only one school in Chicago that places twenty people into EM...

 

[EctopicFetus]

Nah no secret.. I post on the pre-allo board if people have Qs about the school.. CMS it is.. 🙂

rxfudd did you guess right?

 

[EctopicFetus]

By the way I wonder what is says about our school that over 10% of the class does EM.. I think only Pitt has more people go into EM than we do.. Hmm not sure what that statements says about us.. Thoughts appreciated!

 

[BKN]

By the way I wonder what is says about our school that over 10% of the class does EM.. I think only Pitt has more people go into EM than we do.. Hmm not sure what that statements says about us.. Thoughts appreciated!

It says you're very smart. 😀

Rockhouse, don't worry about this. Do whichever you desire. Believe me, the research credentials are a very small part of the package.

The thing that would interest me about your app is the two very different fields that you are considering. Almost opposite personalities required.

Peds Neuro: slow, deliberate, patient relationships last for years, very intellectual

EM: fast, take a decision on often very incomplete info, patient relationships last for minutes, also very intellectual

You've got some thinkin' to do. 🙂

Don't stress, the odds are very good that 3.5 years from now when you have to apply, you'll be interested in something else entirely. Congrats on your acceptance, You've got a long road ahead, but most of us who have done it say it's the best thing in the world.

 

[JackBauERfan]

By the way I wonder what is says about our school that over 10% of the class does EM.. I think only Pitt has more people go into EM than we do.. Hmm not sure what that statements says about us.. Thoughts appreciated!

for my class I think its 17 out of 155-165 students. Not sure how many in previous years, but 10% is a nice amount.

 

[MedDeac]

Rockhouse - as mentioned above, its hard to blend child neuro and EM. But at this point you don't have to.

Your best approach if you're interested in research is to find a good summer program between your first and second years (neuro bench research, clinical, whatever). I would stay away from research during your first year until you get the swing of things. Hopefully your summer experience will help with your decision about what you like.

Medical school is long enough for you to get involved in multiple projects and if you decide you want to do EM research you will have time during your clinical years.

You can always take time off to do more research if that's what turns you on. I took an entire year off after my second year to do basic research on squamous cell cancers... nothing to do with EM. But I didn't have a single interview where I didn't have to talk about it. Being interested in something (even if its not directly EM related) is never going to hurt you... IMO.

Good luck whatever you decide.

 

[rxfudd]

Nah no secret.. I post on the pre-allo board if people have Qs about the school.. CMS it is.. 🙂

rxfudd did you guess right?

Yeah, that's the only school I can think of in the area that has those kind of numbers. Honestly, I think a big part of it is that you guys do a third year rotation in EM. At Rush, we only have 5-6 people go into it each year, and I think it's because 1) we don't have a required third year EM rotation, and 2) we don't have a residency program. We have tried in the past to convince the curriculum committee to incorporate 2-4 weeks in the third year, but they aren't going for it.

I know a few of the people from your class going into EM who I rotated with during my many county rotations. Matter of fact, for all I know, you may be one of them...

 

[EctopicFetus]

As we discussed before (you prob dont remember) you were there before me. I was @ County in Sept. I did meet one of your colleagues however who I also happened to do medicine during 3rd yr with. First name starts with a C.. dont want to give her up on here.. She is real nice.