<p>Does it seem late to start research during the summer after sophomore year? Will med schools not like it if I start research this late? I'm a first semester sophomore right now and I'm looking for research. I was able to find one but I have to start the summer after my sophomore year. Would it be better to find one that I can start as soon as possible or would I be ok if I started that summer? </p>
<p>I think it depends on the quality of the program. If you can start a program this summer that would be an interesting project in a lab whose work you think is fascinating, and with the possibility of eventually getting to do your own project, then I think it is definitely worth waiting. If you started now with a position you weren’t as excited about, then it probably wouldn’t be as meaningful in the long run. Obviously, the best of both worlds–starting a great position with lots of potential as soon as possible–would be ideal, but as you know that’s not always possible.</p>
<p>There will always be people who are “better” than you (who have published; who started freshman year; who already have a master’s degree; whatever) and people who are “worse” than you (did no research; got a terrible rec letter from a lab preceptor or PI; whatever) for every single facet of your application. It doesn’t do you much good to focus on how you compare to others because a lot of that is out of your control. While it might have been better to get involved with research earlier in your college career, the fact is that you didn’t, so it’s not really worth mulling over.</p>
<p>All you can do is the best you can do! I think you should carefully research potential research jobs and choose the one that sounds the most interesting with the most potential to be meaningful. If that means waiting until May or June to get started, then by all means, wait a little while. </p>