<p>I was wondering whether not having research experience might hinder me. I plan to apply to med school for fall '08 and it seems that all the other pre-med people I know are doing some sort of research. I must say that I generally do more extracurriculars than those guys, however. I do teach introductory biology labs at my university (it's a paid position). I also am involved with student union activities, an on-campus group that puts on events/shows/things for students to do each week. I do the regular stuff (volunteer) and I happen to be vice-president of the italian club on campus. But back to my point, I don't do research.</p>
<p>One more thing:
I haven't taken the MCATs yet (april), but do you guys know anything about University of Kansas Medical School? My friend said it was pretty decent, so I was going to check it out, but I'd like to see if you guys know anything about it.</p>
<p>I'd say research is pretty important, especially if you get published. A good mix of clinical exposure/shadowing and research would make you an ideal applicant.</p>
<p>I didn't do any research, and it was the reason I got rejected pre-secondary from Michigan State (MD program). But of course, I did get accepted two other places and was invited to interview at a third (a state school which rarely interviews OOS students).</p>
<p>As for KU...that actually was one of the schools I was accepted to. I'm a Kansas resident (still), and I have a lot of friends that will be/are going there. It's pretty good, a lot of people in Kansas seem to think it's the best ever, but they don't know anything about medical schools. They should be finished with their new School of Medicine building by this summer I think, so that's pretty cool. They've made a big push for technology too. Every student is required to get a tablet PC, and I think they've moved to doing all their tests on computer as well. They also just switched their curriculum over to an entirely systems based core system. So basically, in the 6 or 8 weeks you're doing the GI system you get everything from normal anatomy/histology/physiology to all the pathology and pharmacology. It's definitely a different approach. As an M3, there is a chance that you'd be shipped off to Wichita for your rotations, but when I was interviewing they said it was really rare for someone to be forced to move or stay if they didn't want to, though there were a couple each year.</p>
<p>Kansas City is a great place (that's where I'm from) with lots to do that you'd expect in a big city. </p>
<p>As far as admissions, pretty standard for your typical state schools - certainly a lot more Kansans are going to be in your class, but they do take a fair number of OOS applicants (which I'm assuming you are)</p>
<p>The reasons I chose not to go to KU had little to do with the actual education I would have received there, and everything to do with how I felt when I was at my current school which is attached to the school I went to undergrad at, (so I knew I was going to have a lot of friends at the school and in the surrounding city and that sort of thing) so don't take my decision not to go there as some sort of big thing. I could have gone to KU and done just fine.</p>