Research Experience?

[chrili]

<p>Hi!</p>

<p>I was accepted to MIT '18 EA, and I was wondering if prior research experience in high school is helpful. I haven't conducted any research in high school, so I've been looking at applying to several research internships. Does high school research experience help with finding research opportunities at MIT? I'm hoping to go into medicine, so I'm definitely interested in research in college, and if I do end up at MIT, I don't want to be the only one who hasn't had any research experience. Also, are professors more hesitant to take on unexperienced students than experienced ones?
Some of the research program deadlines are in early February, and the programs are generally 2 to 3 months long, so if I do choose to do research, I'd be spending the bulk of my summer after senior year away.</p>

<p>Thank you for any advice!</p>

[molliebatmit]

<p>It’s nice to have had research experience in high school, and many professors do see it as a plus for taking on UROPs, but it’s not necessary by any means. </p>

<p>Most students have not had research experience in high school, so professors are not hestitant to take on inexperienced students – after all, even students with previous experience will need to be trained in the procedures and protocols of a new lab, so taking on a student represents an investment of the lab’s time and energy regardless.</p>