Would this count as research experience?

[Medigal]

So far I have not been able to get any research experience in my undergrad career and I am a rising senior. When I did get a position at a lab during my sophomore year, the pandemic led my university to shut down all the labs and I lost all contact with my potential PI and as mentioned in my previous post, the said PI is now more interested in training Ph.D. candidates than undergraduates, probably because he just got hired before pandemic at my university and he needs to build his team. So, I contacted some other professors and one of them responded. He said that the labs at a particular research building (in which most of my university professors do their research) are ordered to not allow any undergraduates, for the most part, owing to covid safety standards and he said that no one knows when these restrictions will be removed. However, he is willing to let me do some computerized research work like data entry or data analysis (metagenomics research), as I want to get started with research to be able to work on my honors thesis and also get some experience for med school apps. He advised me to contact other professors in a specific department in the meantime and if I would have no luck with it, he can always accommodate me and give me some work to do virtually. Since I will be graduating next year and have to finish an honors thesis to be able to graduate with honors, I only have until this summer to decide on what kind of research I need to work on, as I have to submit a prospectus. So, my question is, would medical schools look down upon such research work or would they understand my situation if I share my story with them as to why I could not do any wet-lab research?

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[KnightDoc]

I am not an adcom, but have been here long enough to be able to channel some of them. 🙂 What are your stats, and what tier of school are you aiming for?

Research is an experience of medium importance. There are a handful of schools at the very top who really want to see it, and for them there might not be a substitute. For everyone else, it is far from essential, and definitely is made to appear more important than it is by the SDN superstars.

I have what might seem like a stupid question for you -- doesn't an honors thesis involve research? Hopefully an adcom will chime in here, but I thought they were interested more in the scientific process than wet-lab research per se, and that an honors thesis provided the same type of experience.

I think you'll be fine with your thesis, but, if not, doing clerical data entry work supporting someone else's research isn't going to get you where you want to go.

 

[Medigal]

I am not an adcom, but have been here long enough to be able to channel some of them. 🙂 What are your stats, and what tier of school are you aiming for?

Research is an experience of medium importance. There are a handful of schools at the very top who really want to see it, and for them there might not be a substitute. For everyone else, it is far from essential, and definitely is made to appear more important than it is by the SDN superstars.

I have what might seem like a stupid question for you -- doesn't an honors thesis involve research? Hopefully an adcom will chime in here, but I thought they were interested more in the scientific process than wet-lab research per se, and that an honors thesis provided the same type of experience.

I think you'll be fine with your thesis, but, if not, doing clerical data entry work supporting someone else's research isn't going to get you where you want to go.

Thank you for your thoughtful answer, I really appreciate it! 🙂 My cGPA is currently 3.95 and sGPA is 3.895 as per the AMCAS, and I have yet to take the MCAT. I am probably aiming for mid-tier schools for the most part (as I am not confident about top-tier schools due to lack of research), but tbh I do not mind going anywhere, so I am going to apply widely. Also, I would be applying next cycle, so I would end up taking a gap year.

I am glad to know research is not an absolute requirement in all the schools, and I definitely think that SDN members seem to glorify it, perhaps due to how uncertain the medical school admission process can be.

You are absolutely correct that an honors thesis involves a considerable amount of research. As for my university, students can choose to do their honors thesis in any field or subject they want (some do wet-lab, some do field research, while others completely do something along the lines of literature or arts that also involve a customized research experience). Mine would involve a great deal of scientific thinking and process. The professor who I talked to told me that he will be giving me some data he already has and perhaps would help me formulate a hypothesis, we might be meeting again to actually chalk out a plan as to how exactly it could contribute to my thesis, but I agree with your point that a simple data entry work might not help me demonstrate research competence and that's what I am worried about.

 

[KnightDoc]

Thank you for your thoughtful answer, I really appreciate it! 🙂 My cGPA is currently 3.95 and sGPA is 3.895 as per the AMCAS, and I have yet to take the MCAT. I am probably aiming for mid-tier schools for the most part (as I am not confident about top-tier schools due to lack of research), but tbh I do not mind going anywhere, so I am going to apply widely. Also, I would be applying next cycle, so I would end up taking a gap year.

I am glad to know research is not an absolute requirement in all the schools, and I definitely think that SDN members seem to glorify it, perhaps due to how uncertain the medical school admission process can be.

You are absolutely correct that an honors thesis involves a considerable amount of research. As for my university, students can choose to do their honors thesis in any field or subject they want (some do wet-lab, some do field research, while others completely do something along the lines of literature or arts that also involve a customized research experience). Mine would involve a great deal of scientific thinking and process. The professor who I talked to told me that he will be giving me some data he already has and perhaps would help me formulate a hypothesis, we might be meeting again to actually chalk out a plan as to how exactly it could contribute to my thesis, but I agree with your point that a simple data entry work might not help me demonstrate research competence and that's what I am worried about.

Needless to say, your GPA is superb, and if your MCAT is in the ballpark, I would not hesitate to include top tier schools in your list, assuming the rest of your application is in order. I honestly think your honors thesis will fulfill the research expectations for schools that like to see it.

Yes, plenty of people on SDN spend years cleaning test tubes in a wet lab and manage to get themselves listed as an author on a pub, which can absolutely be spun into more than it actually is on a med school application. A lot less of them actually complete an honors thesis, which is definitely perceived as the impressive research project that it is by plenty of adcoms, even if it does not involve wet lab research. The skill set is equivalent, and that is what they are looking for.

Absolutely apply widely, but please do not sell yourself short, assuming your MCAT is commensurate with your GPA.

 

[Medigal]

Needless to say, your GPA is superb, and if your MCAT is in the ballpark, I would not hesitate to include top tier schools in your list, assuming the rest of your application is in order. I honestly think your honors thesis will fulfill the research expectations for schools that like to see it.

Yes, plenty of people on SDN spend years cleaning test tubes in a wet lab and manage to get themselves listed as an author on a pub, which can absolutely be spun into more than it actually is on a med school application. A lot less of them actually complete an honors thesis, which is definitely perceived as the impressive research project that it is by plenty of adcoms, even if it does not involve wet lab research. The skill set is equivalent, and that is what they are looking for.

Absolutely apply widely, but please do not sell yourself short, assuming your MCAT is commensurate with your GPA.

Thanks so much! I am hoping that my MCAT goes well, so I would be able to apply to top-tier schools as well. The rest of the ECs are fine, I have a few activities lined up this summer and the subsequent months leading up to the next cycle. I'm glad you think the honors thesis would suffice, hoping for the best. I haven't been fortunate enough like others to get such lab positions, but I'll try my best to do what is possible as of now. Thank you once again, I appreciate all your help! Best of Luck with your premed journey 🙂