<p>So I started doing research with my bio professor. We're basically counting white blood cells present in different species of birds and comparing them with birds from down south. I think I'm going to do between 3 and 6 hours a week. I'm a first semester sophomore so is this a good start? How much research is expected for pre med students any way? Plus I think it's a good idea to get a LOR from her since I'm doing research and she's also my teacher. Good idea? Also what else should I be doing this semester as a Sophomore?</p>
<p>Yes. Don’t overload yourself. That sounds good for a start. No specific research requirement (of hours). Maybe it can morph into more responsibility over time? Check out the possibility of signing up for some weekend nights helping out at the local trauma hospital. My kid did it and always had great stories to tell. The Med in Memphis is a real good bet for a variety of gunshot wounds. ;)</p>
<p>Well, you did not mention, but most people work and volunteer. D. did it because she enjoyed both and she also starte research in second year (if I rmemeber correctly). Do not know hours though. She did it all thru graduation and had great LOR’s and nomination to Phi Beta Kappa. She was priamrily dealing with mice and she absolutely loves rodents, did about the same for couple summers during HS. Hers had to do with neuroscience, one of her minors. She was also in sorority which was the most time consuming of them all. Had to drop her club sport. Sometime she did feel pushed a bit, but it was primarily because of sorority responsibilities. She never complained about anything else and fully enjoyed all. Do whatever is appealing to you.</p>
<p>Oh yea I do volunteer for THON, and a couple of other clubs. It’s hard for me to find work right now, but do the admissions officers really like to see you have a paying job over the school year?</p>
<p>Med school adcoms won’t care if you’ve had a job during the school year, but any future employers will. (They will want a positive work history before hiring.)</p>
<p>I do not know if they like or not, most D’s friends worked, she was offerred a job, she did not have to look. If she was not offerred, maybe she did not work either. The pay was very low, close to min. It was definitely not worth working for money, but her job was great, she enjoyed it a lot.</p>
<p>Don’t know how they feel about jobs, but I do know the majority of my med school classmates had jobs during undergrad–typical stuff, like tutoring or waiting tables or working on campus or retail or summer internships.</p>
<p>I highly doubt that whether or not you have held a paying job is a factor. All that matters is that you have had experiences that demonstrate your abilities and qualities - that can come from either a paid or unpaid position.</p>
<p>Also what is considered to be a good amount of research? How many hours a week?</p>
<p>Columbia–there is no magic number of hours. Enough that you’re making a significant contribution, not so many that it consumes your entire life. Find a balance that works for you.</p>
<p>There is no magic formula for medical school admission. There is no checklist of items that if you can X-off on the list, you’ll get an auto acceptance.</p>
<p>Stop being so neurotic/obsessive. (Or at least if you’re going to insist on being neurotic, go ask at SDN where everyone is neurotic about this kind of stuff. You’ll get all kinds of advice there.)</p>
<p>The path to medical school is unique for each person. You need to find your own path. Will you successful? Who knows? (But then that’s true for every single pre-med. Not just you.)</p>