Why do you like research

[janderson001]

Why did you decide to do research, other than for your resume?

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[TheWildcat08]

Why did you decide to do research, other than for your resume?

because it was an easy way to get an "A" to boost my BCPM gpa.
and to get experience on the academic side of medicine....so i could realize how much i dont want to do it.

 

[FlowLimited]

Not so fast! You're planning on stealing our reasons for a secondary essay or something, aren't you?

 

[Perrotfish]

Why would you do research, other than for your resume?

Seriously, this is one of the few things that even the most self rightous of medical professionals won't expect you to be doing for the 'right reasons'.

 

[shiftingmirage]

Since research is focused on things that haven't been done, or are new to science, it exposes you to things you would not see in the classroom. What I like most is encountering problems, which is a guarentee in the research lab, and devising a way around the problem that will not affect the results.

It is also so different from the normal chem/bio/physics lab. The prof, in this case the PI, doesn't know all the answers so you can actually add your two cents and they are (or should be) openly accepted for discussion, versus when you make a comment to your TA that would better the lab and they tell you you are an idiot.

 

[FlowLimited]

Why would you do research, other than for your resume?

Seriously, this is one of the few things that even the most self rightous of medical professionals won't expect you to be doing for the 'right reasons'.

True, you may not be expected to do research for the right reasons, but plenty of people do. Clinical medicine and research aren't two mutually exclusive bodies; plenty of physicians who aren't even physician-scientists walk the line between hospital and laboratory.

 

[ntp021]

For me at least, one reason for doing research is that you actually get to apply a lot of the stuff you learn in lecture that at the time seemed abstract.
The main reason I like doing research though is the problem solving and troubleshooting that goes on and the feeling of satisfaction that comes when you figure out what was wrong.

 

[Lukkie]

i'm more interested in research than helping people... reason im going for MD is because i like translational research

 

[135892]

Why would you do research, other than for your resume?

Seriously, this is one of the few things that even the most self rightous of medical professionals won't expect you to be doing for the 'right reasons'.

Are you serious? I think plenty of people do. Maybe I'm just not aware of the "right reasons"... what would they be?

 

[CCLCMer]

Are you serious? I think plenty of people do. Maybe I'm just not aware of the "right reasons"... what are they?

There's a whole physician scientist forum full of people who want to do research for a career. Those of you who are looking for answers about why people like doing research might want to try scrolling down and looking through the awesome stickies that the physician scientist forum mods have put together.

 

[janderson001]

Not so fast! You're planning on stealing our reasons for a secondary essay or something, aren't you?

Not really. I'm going to be participating in a poster competition and most students who partake in it will be people who do research for the right reasons (eg. really loving research). What I realized from doing my first summer research was that I ABSOLUTELY HATE RESEARCH. I'm worried about looking like a weirdo or idiot during conversations with other students and profs at poster session and banquets because I'm not really into research and it'll be impossible for me to talk about research with them.

 

[enjoydrywax]

I loathe every aspect of research and I have no intention of continuing it once I am finished with med school. The problem is that I have spent most of my undergraduate work in a major that emphasizes research and came out of it with two second-author papers. I even have a 9-6 paid research associate position right now in my year between UG and med school. Additionally a lot of my ECs focus on a common theme which ties into the type of research I was doing. Needless to say I am just bull****ting/lying my way through secondary essays and plan on doing the same in interviews: "oh yea I love research, it is my life's passion, the pursuit of scientific knowledge and medical therapy advacement!!!"

I can't wait to drop this facade and do more patient-related medical things.

 

[Retsage]

I really find it enjoyable.

 

[MilkmanAl]

I find research insufferable. No MD/PhD for this guy.

drywax, high five for playing the game like a pro. Spoonfeed that BS, boy!

 

[Adamska]

wow, the first place I've met so much disdain for research rofl (expected I guess)

 

[janderson001]

I loathe every aspect of research and I have no intention of continuing it once I am finished with med school. The problem is that I have spent most of my undergraduate work in a major that emphasizes research and came out of it with two second-author papers. I even have a 9-6 paid research associate position right now in my year between UG and med school. Additionally a lot of my ECs focus on a common theme which ties into the type of research I was doing. Needless to say I am just bull****ting/lying my way through secondary essays and plan on doing the same in interviews: "oh yea I love research, it is my life's passion, the pursuit of scientific knowledge and medical therapy advacement!!!"

I can't wait to drop this facade and do more patient-related medical things.

I'm totally with you. Just worried--you may be able to bull**** your way through secondaries, but are you confident that you can also do that for interviews? I heard interviewers can see through BS, unless you are a PRO at bull****ting.

 

[gasdf1234567]

Why would you do research, other than for your resume?

Seriously, this is one of the few things that even the most self rightous of medical professionals won't expect you to be doing for the 'right reasons'.

Agreed. Research sucks.

 

[enjoydrywax]

I'm totally with you. Just worried--you may be able to bull**** your way through secondaries, but are you confident that you can also do that for interviews? I heard interviewers can see through BS, unless you are a PRO at bull****ting.

I'd like to think if you've made it this far into the pre-med/want-to-be-a-doctor game, you've probably acquired your MS (or at the very least a BA) in bull****ting.

And when it comes to research, as long as you can throwdown the minute details about your methodology, data, results etc you can probably navigate whatever gauntlet they throw at you.

 

[enjoydrywax]

I find research insufferable. No MD/PhD for this guy.

drywax, high five for playing the game like a pro. Spoonfeed that BS, boy!

Hell yes brother, I can't believe I bull****ted my way this far to tell you the truth. Maybe you can shed some light on this, but I assume that most of med school is a bunch of bull**** too?

I've said it once and I'll say it again: becoming a doctor is like joining a frat - you just have to deal with the hazing until you actually make it to the other side.

 

[FSAP]

I like research cause I had a rough childhood with no toys. and now I have my own playground to play at in the form of my bench. How about that for a BS answer?

 

[footballrules]

Why did you decide to do research, other than for your resume?

Why? I was involved with research for a short while. Reasons? Baby is born with a genetic condition. What causes this condition? Which gene? How does this gene function? Can we target this gene with medication? Why do I work as a Clinical Research Coordinator? Well, after the lab made important findings and a drug has been developed, some person needs to do the trial data collection and all the other stuff that us clinical research coordinators do.

Have a person close to you born with a defect and you will want to do research for the right reason.

 

[MilkmanAl]

Maybe you can shed some light on this, but I assume that most of med school is a bunch of bull**** too?

Not really so far. I mean, orientation is a load of crap and a waste of time, but at least you get to meet people. It's not a total loss. Classes are pretty straightforward, and there isn't a whole lot of room for administrative or bureaucratic stuff. I expect that to change quite a bit come 3rd year.

becoming a doctor is like joining a frat - you just have to deal with the hazing until you actually make it to the other side.

Yep, pretty much.

 

[footballrules]

Agreed. Research sucks.

Translation....research isn't for me.

 

[footballrules]

I loathe every aspect of research and I have no intention of continuing it once I am finished with med school. The problem is that I have spent most of my undergraduate work in a major that emphasizes research and came out of it with two second-author papers. I even have a 9-6 paid research associate position right now in my year between UG and med school. Additionally a lot of my ECs focus on a common theme which ties into the type of research I was doing. Needless to say I am just bull****ting/lying my way through secondary essays and plan on doing the same in interviews: "oh yea I love research, it is my life's passion, the pursuit of scientific knowledge and medical therapy advacement!!!"

I can't wait to drop this facade and do more patient-related medical things.

You can hate research. There isn't anything wrong with that. But do give respect as a doctor to the people who are doing the research.

 

[Adamska]

So much for interdisciplinary respect...

 

[MilkmanAl]

I don't hate people who do research. If anything, I have more respect for them than ever. I'm not cut out to do what they do. The fact that I would probably choose a prairie fire enema over participating in a research project doesn't really have any effect on hoew I view the researchers themselves.

 

[enjoydrywax]

You can hate research. There isn't anything wrong with that. But do give respect as a doctor to the people who are doing the research.

Hm I don't know where you picked up the notion that I was hating on researching physicians - nowhere in my post does it say anything like that. I am just going to echo Milkman's sentiments because they are the exact same as mine: I am just not cut out to do that kind of work - I think it's boring and goes at much too slow of a pace for me to stay interested. However I completely acknowledge the necesity of research in just about every field of medicine.