<p>If I major in the humanities, is it still possible to do biology-related research at UCLA? Current students/alumni please respond.</p>
<p>its hard already to get a lab position because of the amount of students at ucla so a humanities major may put you as a disadvantage</p>
<p>Can anyone else confirm this?</p>
<p>BUMP... (10 characters)</p>
<p>I dont agree with Confused23. Im goign to be a freshman and i got a research spot this summer in a lab and the lady never asked me what my major was.</p>
<p>I think it depends on the faculty member who runs the lab. I've heard of some PIs who don't like to take on undergrads that are aiming to apply for med school just because some pre-meds are only looking to boost their apps. So, when you do apply for a lab, be sure to make it clear that you want to do actual research and you're not just trying to make a med school app look better. </p>
<p>Also, it may not matter that you're not a sci major to some PIs, but others do take it into consideration especially if there isn't many spots in their labs. It really just depends on the different labs that you're interested in. </p>
<p>But, you also have to keep in mind that it generally is difficult to get into a lab, as mentioned by confused23, because there are many undergrads trying to do the same thing.</p>
<p>Okay, I see. </p>
<p>So what do students who don't get research positions end up doing? Also, is it common for UCLA students to do research at other colleges/institutions over the summer because they weren't able to get research positions at UCLA?</p>
<p>Pre-meds who don't obtain research positions usually volunteer at the UCLA Medical Center to boost their chances at medical school... or they cram for fall classes and the MCAT for the entire summer. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>Ouch.</p>
<p>What exactly do they look for when they select students for these research positions? GPA/major/career plans, or is it just who contacts the professor/researcher first gets the position?</p>
<p>Also, be aware that research experience is not necessary to get into med school. I know I would absolutely despise research work in a lab, so I'm not doing it. If you're not interested in research, you'd just be screwing yourself in the end by doing it just to boost your resume. If you can't talk with passion about your extracurriculars and why you did them in med school interviews, they won't have done you much good. (IMHO)</p>
<p>Thanks for your advice, Icarus. I agree with you. I'm genuinely interested in gaining research experience, as I've been interested in research since I was a child. I just hope being a humanities major doesn't hurt my chances of doing biological/medical research.</p>
<p>Fandango, you seem like you are genuinely interested in research so, you'll probably have good chances in getting into a lab just as long as your interviewer can see that. You should definitely start doing some research on the sorts of lab you'd like to work in and start sending e-mails to the professors who run the labs to see if they have any open positions. Good luck!</p>
<p>I have another question regarding 199 courses. If I'm majoring in the humanities and take the required pre-medicine courses, can I take a 199 course in a life science or am I restricted to my major?</p>
<p>Some PIs will only take certain majors, others won't. The work you do depends on the lab you get into (and also your assertiveness, ability to learn, work ethics in the lab, precision & accuracy at the work you do, etc). </p>
<p>People do research at other universities and hospitals, and there are students from other universities (high schools as well) that do research here.</p>
<p>199s are restricted to the life science majors (just click on any of them on the registrar site for past quarters and look at their requirements- some may not outright say that they are limited to just the actual major itself even, but they have a class requirement that only the students of the specific majors are allowed to enroll in so its an inherent requirement; others just say you have to be a life science major in general)</p>
<p>jyancy: You mentioned people do research at other universities and hospitals. Is this during the school year or during the summer? If it's during the school year, can you name a few of these universities? Thanks.</p>