<p>For those of you who are (or have) done research while in undergrad, how did you balance research and coursework? Did you do research during the school year? If so, around how many hours did you spend in lab? I would to inquire this because as time progresses courses get harder and students need to devote time to them, while keeping a high GPA. Did your school work suffer in the process?</p>
<p>bio major's perspective:</p>
<p>definitely doable, a lot of people, esp those interested in grad school, join a lab at some point. I have work study and worked in a lab (rather than do my own research) last year. I started in the summer doing 35 hrs/week, and then during the school year I devoted ~7hrs/week to the lab, which was managable and didn't take time away from my studying. If I desperately needed to cram for a test, I could just ask for a day off too, no problem. </p>
<p>Although I definitely know people(esp. ones doing an honors project) that spend 15 hr/week in lab, which is a lot of time but you can also do research for credit (biog299/499) so you don't need a full courseload of actual classes if you plan on having a semester where you'll spend a lot of time in a lab.</p>
<p>Did you also do other ECs besides research?</p>
<p>yea- I'm somewhat involved in a 2 other EC's, but I'm not that devoted to them, a couple of hours a week. That's just me though, I don't like overbooking myself too much. I know people in labs that are in frats/sororities, and people that are on the exec boards of clubs. It's all about time management and how involved you want to be.</p>
<p>Are you pre-MD/PhD?</p>
<p>Research definitely takes a lot of time, especially if you want to get something accomplished in lab. People that are going on to grad school spend at least 20 hours per week in lab vs. people who want padding for med school spend no more than 10 hrs per week. 20 hrs is like taking a 4 credit course so a lot of people think of it as a course. So if you normally take 16 credits, you would then do 3 classes plus research. It is still possible to do other ECs, but it is difficult because you spend all you "free time" in lab. </p>
<p>I believe that doing getting a good research experience over the summer is 10x more valuable than doing research over the school year.</p>
<p>"I believe that doing getting a good research experience over the summer is 10x more valuable than doing research over the school year."</p>
<p>I understand that that would be true for MD, but is it also true for MD/PhD?</p>
<p>I started doing research for 9 hours/week last semester as a sophomore (enrolled in BioG 299) and it was definitely manageable. "Late" by your standards, but I wanted to take time to find a lab that I loved (and I did). As for other activities, I was an officer in my fraternity, a TA for a science class, an RA on North, and a member of a few honors/secret societies here and there. Next year I'll be enrolled in the 4-credit course for TA-ing (BioG 498) and the 4-credit course for research (BioG 499), in addition to being a biology student adviser, a returning RA, a Cornell Ambassador, etc. Should be busy busy busy ;)</p>
<p>On a side-note, I would avoid starting research as a first semester freshman. You seem quite ambitious. However, PLEASE make your only "ECs" getting to know your hall, making friends, and transitioning into classes (they will be FAR more time-consuming and stressful than anything you've ever done in HS, I promise). You won't impress anyone with 4 full years of research if you fall flat on your face as soon as you get here.</p>
<p>I know. I am a GT transfer. I already know how difficult Cornell will be. I am just trying to see how many hours one typically spends doing research. My courseload will be difficult b/c of orgo. It will be especially difficult in the spring b/c I will probably need to take Biochem2. Any advice?</p>
<p>I'm not premed. PhD maybe, but I'm (hopefully) working for a few years first. Or at least that's my plan now. But if you're premed... its definitely possible to keep a good GPA while in lab- I've never had below a 3.8. And I didn't notice a change from before-to-after I started putting hours into my lab. </p>
<p>To just voice another opinion on aloe's post, I don't know anyone that regularly puts 20hr/wk into a lab... sure there are some crunch times where people put in more hours to get an exp done, but I think average is ~15 . Although maybe aloe just knows more devoted people than I do :).</p>
<p>gobigred... omg @ your ECs.</p>
<p>What are your majors and what classes did you guys take, if I may ask?</p>
<p>Here you go, blazin. I copy/pasted this from my post on another thread awhile ago. The difficulty of the classes are in parentheses.</p>
<p>CALS - Biology Major (Concentration: General) / Pre-med</p>
<p>FALL FRESHMAN YEAR
BioG 105 Auto-Tutorial Intro Bio (hard)
Chem 207 General Chem I (easy/medium)
Econ 101 Intro Microecon (easy)
Math 112 Calc II (medium)</p>
<p>SPRING FRESHMAN YEAR
BioG 106 Auto-Tutorial Intro Bio (hard)
Chem 208 General Chem II (easy)
D Soc 101 Intro to Sociology (THE easiest A+)
St Sci 210 Statistics (easy)</p>
<p>FALL SOPHOMORE YEAR
BioMI 290 General Microbio (easy)
Chem 251 Organic Chem Lab (easy)
Chem 357 Organic Chem I (hard)
Physics 101 General Physics I (easy/medium)
Psych 101 Intro to Psych (easy A+)</p>
<p>SPRING SOPHOMORE YEAR
BioEE 278 Evo bio (4 credit option - easy)
BioMI 291 Microbio lab (easy)
Chem 358 Organic Chem II (easy)
Comm 201 Oral Communications (a joke)
Physics 102 General Physics II (medium/hard)</p>
<p>What is your opinion on a animal science or molecular bio track? The reason that I want to do one of them is b/c they will correlate with my and with my future goals. Any reason why you are general bio major? Is it b/c you want to explore as many different bio courses without being help to constraints between what classes you must take?</p>
<p>If you just want to go through the motions, you'd do <10 hours/week.</p>
<p>If you are a MD/PhD candidate or want to actually accomplish something good in your time at Cornell, you should be spending 20+ hours in lab per week (as well as full-time summer work at the same lab).</p>