Pursue Natural Curiosity to Find the Right Premed Research Opportunity
Many premed students have asked me how their choices in undergraduate research will affect the medical school admissions process. In particular, one third-year student majoring in sociology wondered if lab work or sociological research would be more preferred by medical school admissions staff.
I could not identify any publicly available, objective data on the benefit of research for an applicant in achieving acceptance into medical school. Outside of physics, biology, English and chemistry course work, there is no specific research requirement to apply to medical school. With that in mind, medical school applicants should showcase individuality and honor callings of heart when seeking research opportunities.
[Learn more about finding research opportunities for premed students.]
The Association of American Medical Colleges recommends on its website that students pursue volunteer experience in health care and "a well-rounded sampling of extra-curricular activities or work experiences, both related and unrelated to medicine." Some medical school matriculates have research experience, but it is unclear if this is a predictor of admissions success.
Research is one of myriad experiences an applicant may include in his or her application. Research, at its best, feeds the sense of wonder and curiosity that is implicit in medicine. The point of research is to learn techniques, discipline and the scientific method.
Additionally, it is exhilarating if you are published as a premed student. Research opens the door to other professions, including medical writing, biomedical research and statistics.
[Get advice on pursuing leadership skills during medical school.]
In order to identify your best potential research experience, which could be in basic, clinical, behavioral or social science, contemplate classes in which you did well, professors you found interesting and areas where you are naturally curious.
Consider your level of participation within your choice and ask yourself if there is an opportunity to develop more responsibility in the lab.
Basic science research involves biological or physical sciences, such as physics or chemistry. This occurs in studying a specific cell type or function, like mitosis or glucose production. Clinical research involves indirect clinical application to patient care like, for example, studying the nephron, the working basic part of the kidney.
[Find out how to use research to improve medical school applications.]
If the behavioral sciences resonate more with you, look for research opportunities in psychology and sociology. Social science research can provide similar learning opportunities, including about subjects such as research framework, the scientific method, writing and exposure to both the human mind and behavior, which is so much a part of patient care.
Whatever the location or style of research you choose, be enthusiastic and do a stellar job. Researchers and postdoctoral students are acutely aware of students who are not interested in their particular research and may be less inclined to make an investment in a student who only wants a letter of recommendation or another activity to add to a medical school application. If you can't get excited about the research topic, then perhaps this is not the right opportunity for you.
There is no way to anticipate what each admissions committee will favor during the admissions cycle from year to year. The goal is to present your best application highlighting an array of experiences outside of grades and MCAT scores.
Sylvia E. Morris received her M.D. from Georgetown University School of Medicine and Master's in Public Health from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. A former assistant professor at Emory University School of Medicine, she is currently an independent health care consultant and medical director at CVS Minute Clinic as well as a community health advocate. Find her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.
