Why summer research?

[ruvuitton]

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I've noticed that a lot of people have applied to the summer research programs such as Harvard shurp, Hhmi sip, sr-eip, and etc. I just wanted to know, why do you guys apply to so many of these research programs for med school? I heard that research isn't as important when it comes to med school application. Also, why not just research at your home institution?

 

[gettheleadout]

Research is an extremely important aspect of the application for research-oriented schools (in most cases.) Doing research away from your home institution gives you a chance to travel, participate in research not going on where you are, meet new people, receive good compensation, learn from experts in your fields of interest, acquire prestige, etc...

 

[1TB4RKSB4CK]

Not to mention a good amount of programs allow you to volunteer or shadow doctors over the summer (weekends).

 

[saveourpens]

^^^ lol "acquire prestige"? If the only research an applicant has is some summer program, few adcoms will give two craps about where they went for it. Staying at your home institution gives you a chance to accomplish something long term.

 

[At0mic]

In response to you hearing that research isn't that important to med schools and such...I don't know what you've heard but research experience is a fairly important thing to have under your belt, especially if you're applying to some research-heavy schools. Though it's possible to get into med school without ever setting foot in a lab, working in that kind of setting looks great on your application, especially if you are dedicated to it for a few years.

As for summer away vs. researching at your home institution, you're still doing research so (at least to me) it seems like either option would be fine.

 

[argama]

I'm no expert on this but I hope research at home vs. research at summer program is not any difference b/c I landed my research on first try (1 for 1!! lol) at home institution and I didnt even hear of these summer programs until like 1 month ago.....so if there was a small inherent advantage, that would suck.

 

[deleted393595]

I've noticed that a lot of people have applied to the summer research programs such as Harvard shurp, Hhmi sip, sr-eip, and etc. I just wanted to know, why do you guys apply to so many of these research programs for med school? I heard that research isn't as important when it comes to med school application. Also, why not just research at your home institution?

Also to all of y'all out there who attended these programs, were you'll able to get posters and pubs out of them?

 

[Gigantron]

Also to all of y'all out there who attended these programs, were you'll able to get posters and pubs out of them?

I'm pretty sure most of these programs require that you give, at the very least, a poster presentation on what you've been working on the entire summer.

 

[plumazul]

Also to all of y'all out there who attended these programs, were you'll able to get posters and pubs out of them?

Yes. Last summer I presented at two symposiums (one national) and continued working on the associated paper which was published (first author) the following spring.

During the ten week program, I was easily working 50hrs+/wk. There was also the added bonus of doing rounds with physicians and surgeons. (was able to watch open heart surgery standing in the OR) and using the anatomy lab. I was also able to personally meet top admins from several of the programs where I plan to apply. 😀

 

[pkwraith]

1. It's a job. You get paid. Money is good.
2. Good for the resume for finding jobs, other programs, and graduate applications
3. Gives some structure to your time

 

[gettheleadout]

^^^ lol "acquire prestige"? If the only research an applicant has is some summer program, few adcoms will give two craps about where they went for it. Staying at your home institution gives you a chance to accomplish something long term.

I mean if you don't think the competitiveness/prestige of a program weighs in to how your acceptance and experience is perceived, you have the right to that opinion.

An Amgen program over the summer is more significant, IMO, than working in a school lab (especially if your school isn't prestigious.)

Also who ever said it would be the applicant's only research experience? That's just a confounding variable in trying to determine the effect of the prestige of the program.

 

[scarletgirl777]

I've noticed that a lot of people have applied to the summer research programs such as Harvard shurp, Hhmi sip, sr-eip, and etc. I just wanted to know, why do you guys apply to so many of these research programs for med school? I heard that research isn't as important when it comes to med school application. Also, why not just research at your home institution?

Research is definitely important for what are considered the most prestigious medical schools, though it need not be lab work (clinical research, economics, health services, anthropology, are all just as good to name a few). However, you are correct in wondering about whether doing research at an outside institution as opposed to your home institution is a good idea. You can usually get more meaningful experiences out of doing research at home, such as abstracts, papers, or a thesis, whereas it is very difficult to get something like that out of a 2 month stay at a hospital or lab across the country. Also, ADCOMs do not care about how "prestigious" your research experience is, they care about what you learned from it and if you are one of the hardworking/lucky few who can get an abstract or paper out of it, they are VERY impressed by that. So the frenzy about getting into an official Harvard or Hopkins structured research program in particular may not be justified.

EDIT: All this is from the perspective of applying MD. Perhaps some MD/PhD programs do care a lot about you working for Dr. So and So because his a leader in the field. I really can't speak to that

 

[saveourpens]

I mean if you don't think the competitiveness/prestige of a program weighs in to how your acceptance and experience is perceived, you have the right to that opinion.

An Amgen program over the summer is more significant, IMO, than working in a school lab (especially if your school isn't prestigious.)

Also who ever said it would be the applicant's only research experience? That's just a confounding variable in trying to determine the effect of the prestige of the program.

Once you'll get to applying and interviewing I think you'll realize that people care most about what you did in the lab (like pubs), not the supposed prestige of some summer program.

 

[ineed2stpsmurfn]

Once you'll get to applying and interviewing I think you'll realize that people care most about what you did in the lab (like pubs), not the supposed prestige of some summer program.

exactly.

Research is definitely important for what are considered the most prestigious medical schools, though it need not be lab work (clinical research, economics, health services, anthropology, are all just as good to name a few). However, you are correct in wondering about whether doing research at an outside institution as opposed to your home institution is a good idea. You can usually get more meaningful experiences out of doing research at home, such as abstracts, papers, or a thesis, whereas it is very difficult to get something like that out of a 2 month stay at a hospital or lab across the country. Also, ADCOMs do not care about how "prestigious" your research experience is, they care about what you learned from it and if you are one of the hardworking/lucky few who can get an abstract or paper out of it, they are VERY impressed by that. So the frenzy about getting into an official Harvard or Hopkins structured research program in particular may not be justified.

+11111111111. mucho plus one.

I mean if you don't think the competitiveness/prestige of a program weighs in to how your acceptance and experience is perceived, you have the right to that opinion.

An Amgen program over the summer is more significant, IMO, than working in a school lab (especially if your school isn't prestigious.)

that sounds kinda far fetched...

In response to you hearing that research isn't that important to med schools and such...I don't know what you've heard but research experience is a fairly important thing to have under your belt, especially if you're applying to some research-heavy schools. Though it's possible to get into med school without ever setting foot in a lab, working in that kind of setting looks great on your application, especially if you are dedicated to it for a few years.

As for summer away vs. researching at your home institution, you're still doing research so (at least to me) it seems like either option would be fine.

....pretty sure he is still getting research anyways, but a letter from someone you know for 2 or 3 years is better than someone from so and so supposedly prestigious place that you knew for 2 months and did jack squat with.

^^^ lol "acquire prestige"? If the only research an applicant has is some summer program, few adcoms will give two craps about where they went for it. Staying at your home institution gives you a chance to accomplish something long term.

Yea, i agree 100%.

Not to mention a good amount of programs allow you to volunteer or shadow doctors over the summer (weekends).

what? like you can't volunteer at home? I'd rather be able to shadow these guys many many multiple times than random Doc X 1500 miles away once. my opinion though, ymmv.

Research is an extremely important aspect of the application for research-oriented schools (in most cases.) Doing research away from your home institution gives you a chance to travel, participate in research not going on where you are, meet new people, receive good compensation, learn from experts in your fields of interest, acquire prestige, etc...

acquire prestige from a summer program, lol. it doesn't really do that much to impact your app... I'd put money on that. Sorry i laughed a bit at that aquire prestige comment, was a good one.

 

[gettheleadout]

Once you'll get to applying and interviewing I think you'll realize that people care most about what you did in the lab (like pubs), not the supposed prestige of some summer program.

Obviously the experience is most important, as I have said before (feel free to check my post history) but to discount any effect of prestige or competitiveness is logic of the sort that would make awards like the Goldwater irrelevant for admissions purposes. Since the Goldwater is awarded based on research involvement and not future involvement, "what you do with it" isn't an applicable concern, and your logic would assert that an applicant with significant research experience is at no disadvantage compared to one with similar research experience who has won the Goldwater. That is quite clearly not the case. There is something to be said for how competitive awards speak to prior experience, and being awarded a competitive or otherwise prestigious summer position is no different. Note that I am arguing this is merely a contributing factor, and of course not paramount to the actual experience and productivity gained and achieved while involved.

 

[ineed2stpsmurfn]

Sometimes the pre-allo forum really amazes me. When you see how much ppl get caught up in the whole gunnerus annoyans thing, you kinda wonder if they lead something resembling normal life, i.e. friends, parties, fun. Just an observation of many posts.

on an unrelated note...............

fyi I'd never even heard of the 'goldwater award' until now. I wonder if I had it, would that make me a better doctor able to more skillfully care for my patients...? 🙄

 

[saveourpens]

Obviously the experience is most important, as I have said before (feel free to check my post history) but to discount any effect of prestige or competitiveness is logic of the sort that would make awards like the Goldwater irrelevant for admissions purposes. Since the Goldwater is awarded based on research involvement and not future involvement, "what you do with it" isn't an applicable concern, and your logic would assert that an applicant with significant research experience is at no disadvantage compared to one with similar research experience who has won the Goldwater. That is quite clearly not the case. There is something to be said for how competitive awards speak to prior experience, and being awarded a competitive or otherwise prestigious summer position is no different. Note that I am arguing this is merely a contributing factor, and of course not paramount to the actual experience and productivity gained and achieved while involved.

Sorry for not responding in essay format, but no crap a Goldwater Scholarship will give someone an edge. We're talking here about somewhat competitive summer programs. I'm done here...continue acquiring teh prestigez.

 

[gettheleadout]

Sorry for not responding in essay format, but no crap a Goldwater Scholarship will give someone an edge. We're talking here about somewhat competitive summer programs. I'm done here...continue acquiring teh prestigez.

"Somewhat competitive" is quite vague. Many of these "prestigious" programs have acceptance rates in the low single digit percentages, and evaluate applications based on the same criteria for which Goldwater Scholarships are awarded. Experience and qualifications are being evaluated and recognized by the award of, in the case of summer programs an opportunity to collaborate with the institution and its researchers, and in the case of the Goldwater a monetary scholarship. Are these not analogous? If not, why specifically?

 

[plumazul]

Sometimes the pre-allo forum really amazes me. When you see how much ppl get caught up in the whole gunnerus annoyans thing, you kinda wonder if they lead something resembling normal life, i.e. friends, parties, fun. Just an observation of many posts.

ikr, it's like they think being a doctor is serious or something. 🙄

on an unrelated note...............

fyi I'd never even heard of the 'goldwater award' until now. I wonder if I had it, would that make me a better doctor able to more skillfully care for my patients...? 🙄

Don't worry, I don't think you will be bothered with a Goldwater.

 

[plumazul]

andddddddddddddddddddd neither will you. hey, cool, we're in the same boat. wonder if it affects our ability to have a nice life? 🙄

"Same boat"?? I don't think so. As for a "nice life", I couldn't be happier, however, you seem a little angry.

 

[Gigantron]

yea, the same "neither of us is getting a goldwater award" boat. welcome aboard.. or wait.. since you knew about it and i didint, you should be welcoming me aboard shouldn't you?


lol angry... ah gotta love the pre allo thread this stuff is hilarious. your like graduating from undergrad the year that i'll be an ms1 lmao

anyways, i'm headed to a party. enjoy posting on sdn on a friday night lolol.

*You're

What's so significant about a one to two-year age difference? 😕

You seem insecure with yourself. Hopefully that party helped your ego in need of constant validation. 👍

 

[synthmonsterjax]

andddddddddddddddddddd neither will you. hey, cool, we're in the same boat. wonder if it affects our ability to have a nice life? 🙄

btw, plumazul is probably one of the top sophomores in the country. s/he's got a 4.0, took pchem already, got into multiple amgens, etc. s/he's ridiculously good. s/he's got a damn good shot at goldwater if anyone does.

 

[ineed2stpsmurfn]

*You're

What's so significant about a one to two-year age difference? You seem insecure with yourself. Hopefully that party helped your ego in need of constant validation.

I'm a mid-twenties non-trad, so I counter with this:

- Spend as little time on the Pre-Allo board as possible. There are some seriously malevolent psychotic little bastards on that thing. And a lot of bad/misleading information.

cremaster is continually right.

btw, plumazul is probably one of the top sophomores in the country. s/he's got a 4.0, took pchem already, got into multiple amgens, etc. s/he's ridiculously good. s/he's got a damn good shot at goldwater if anyone does.

plumazul=she

 

[Gigantron]

I'm a mid-twenties non-trad, so I counter with this:
cremaster is continually right.




plumazul=she

That's unfortunate. 🙄

 

[ineed2stpsmurfn]

That's unfortunate. 🙄

yea, so true. I mean, I feel awful that i used to have an 80k/year job at 23 and got a ton of life exp. 🙁 happy? 😛🙄