<p>Should I try to start research as a freshman or can it wait until my sophmore year? For how long do people research?</p>
<p>There really isn't a standard for when or how long you should research. You should start research when you find something that interests you and that you want to commit to, rather than to check off a box on the pre-med list. </p>
<p>I started my freshman year, mostly scrubbing dishes and making basic solutions, but it was a great way to get my foot in the door. I've since started working on projects that I plan on continuing through my entire undergrad. But it's really dependent on the person, some people don't enjoy it or have any interest, in which case, it's probably not worth it.</p>
<p>your interests will change from freshman year, so decisions such as size or location will most likely be different your junior and senior year.
also, you dont know what your gpa will be so it will be difficult to find a school that fits you right, as you might be looking at schools now that as a junior you wouldnt even bother with.
i'd say wait until junior year. you will have a whole year to pick out schools then. and if youre really not able to wait, end of sophmore year go to collegeboard.com and just read up about schools</p>
<p>I say start early as possible. I'm a rising junior now, and started with some basic lab stuff the fall of my sophomore year. I didn't like what I was getting into (it was all behavioral and I wanted brain/neuroscience), so I switched labs and hope to stick with this new one from here on out. If you don't like where you are, you can always switch...and you'll most likely be able to use previously learned research skills.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>wait...i thought you meant research about colleges not lab research. haha sorry</p>
<p>I stated in my second year and stayed until I graduated.</p>
<p>my opinion is that starting freshman year might be harder since professors want students with more lab experience and such (however, if you really do have previous research experience, im sure they will consider it). So usually i think first semester might be harder. But second semester freshman year, you will be able to start and possibly continue during the summer</p>
<p>Dont think about how long you have to do research. Personally i would keep continuing if you like it. I think the important thing is what you accomplished from your research; not the time frame</p>