<p>How important is research in getting admitted to a BA/MD or BS/MD program? For some schools, like RPI, I know its really important but what about for others? Does having it put you at and advantage? Not having it at a disadvantage? And where do most people conduct their research? Finally, How do you prove to colleges that you did research? A letter, or your abstract? Do they talk about it in your interviews?</p>
<p>Thanks for your help, I'm just a bit confused about this topic.</p>
<p>My son didn't do research and he got accepted into Brown's PLME. OTOH, he felt that his interviewer at URochester's REMS weekend was only interested in hearing about research. He did not receive an offer from REMS.</p>
<p>like any other medical activity, research is just another way to show the programs that youre genuinely interested in medicine (the most important factor for all of them). if you can sufficiently show that youre interested in medicine another way (like by doing other activities or writing great essays), then no, it shouldnt hold you back that much.</p>
<p>howeverrrr, i would advise that you do research if you dont have any other activities. i didnt do any medicine related activities (hospital volunteering...in the information booth lol) and i got interviews for penn state's program and for ucsd's program, but i didnt get into either. see, you definitely can show your interest in medicine in essays or by doing community service, but when i was interviewing i actually realized that i dont have experience in the field and for me to make a decision now is stupid. i guess that realization was evident to the interviewers, which is why i didnt get into either program. so, just make sure you do some medicine activities so that 1) you can show them that youre interested in medicine, 2) you can show yourself that youre interested, 3) you have stuff to talk about during the interviews.</p>
<p>as for me, im still super interested in medicine, but theres always the thought in the back of my mind that im gonna find something terribly wrong with it.</p>
<p>bump....other opinions?</p>
<p>All other factors (GPA, SAT I and II scores, Extracurrics) being equal, research can help the application tip in your favor.</p>
<p>It also helps you in terms of getting a detailed LoR from your research advisor and could also help you in securing scholarships.</p>
<p>bottom line
research not necessary
but could definitely help</p>
<p>While research is not necessary, exposure to medicine/biological sciences is a must. So you must volunteer at a hospital, or shadow, or research.</p>
<p>If you did research, what field would you recommend?</p>
<p>Any area of research that is bio/medically related would be ideal.</p>
<p>
[quote]
While research is not necessary, exposure to medicine/biological sciences is a must. So you must volunteer at a hospital, or shadow, or research.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I disagree to some extent. Yes, you do need exposure, but you don't need to have worked in some kind of hospital setting or research. There are other opportunities that fulfill that category, too.</p>
<p>Get at least 100 hours of medical related stuff, but it's not necessary to obtain more than 200 I think.</p>
<p>Does research always have to pertain to medical areas? I'm doing a project in computer image processing (which obvious has nothing to do with medicine) for Intel and Siemens.</p>
<p>Aside from those way competitive and highly schedule-conflicting summer research programs, are there other opportunities? </p>
<p>im interested to hear from those who have researched with a professor or at a free clinic or something in the local area? if so, how did you get it?</p>
<p>should i just start emailing professors or what?</p>
<p>gigahertz205 - Image processing has a lot to do with medicine. It is used extensively in Diagnostic Radiology to process images from CT scans, MRI scans etc.</p>
<p>bump...........</p>
<p><em>-</em>-<em>-bump-</em>-<em>-</em> will not having research that is published be a negative?</p>
<p>yes. obviously</p>
<p>If I helped w/ research and was put under the acknowledgment section, would that have any value when I apply to med school or go for a residency? Like, does it make a difference to be acknowledged?</p>
<p>AZ,</p>
<p>If you are applying to BA/MD programs right out of HS, any research experience will be a plus on your application. However, if you are talking about applying traditionally to med schools after a Bachelors, you need to have completed a year or more of substantial research in order to weigh it favorably.</p>
<p>continuing on paki's question, how does one find research/internships during HS at like hospitals/clinics? i've called and ask, but it's usually for college/grad school ppl</p>