Research at NIH, Community Service for Med Schools

<p>I am a sophomore in college and I did neuroscience research internship at NIH last summer. They wanted me to continue during the school year(have been doing a few hours a week) They are now asking me to go back there for this upcoming summer. While I think this is a great opportunity to be involved in long term research at NIH, I have been thinking of doing some hardcore community service this summer. But now I do not want to lose the NIH research position. This is also along the lines of my interest and possible major, Neuroscience!</p>

<p>Do you think this kind of long term research opportunity at NIH would look good for med school s? Is this good enough for the research requirement for med schools? DO I also need to find a research opportunity with a college professor? Should I just keep this research at NIH going and try to do some service work alongside to meet the service/volunteering requirement?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance for your advice! You guys are awesome!!</p>

<p>yes, yes, no, yes</p>

<p>what trapezius said.</p>

<p>The reason to consider a professor is to add recommendation letters if you don’t have enough.</p>

<p>Thank you for your responses!</p>

<p>Will appreciate more opinions :-)</p>

<p>what state are you from? when are you taking MCAT?</p>

<p>North Carolina. Not sure, thinking of taking in early 2015.</p>

<p>Did you go to NIH in Bethesda or NC? You can do more than research at NIH normally. You can do volunteering and shadowing outside of your research hours. </p>

<p>Your in state State schools are where you have the most opportunity to make the cut. So make sure you check out their admitted student stats. </p>

<p>Are you preparing for MCAT 2015?</p>

<p>I went to NIH at NC. Not sure what you mean by volunteering at NIH. Volunteer in the research project?? Shadowing the scientists ? I think the MD/PHDs there are also involved in research.</p>

<p>I want to take the current MCAT not the 2015 one, we’ll see depends on how things go . Yes I will be looking into state schools.</p>

<p>The Bethesda location has hospital with patients and wards where someone can volunteer after research hours. It is tied to clinical trials. you shadow the doctors who are doing the trials.</p>

<p>Oh ok that makes sense. But no the one at NC does not have a hospital.</p>