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Part IV: Research Experience as a Premedical Student

Medical schools prefer applicants with research experience. Getting involved in research could help you build a stronger application for medical school and it can help you build your skills as a critical thinker. While most premedical students do biomedical research, if done properly, research experience in virtually any field is looked upon favorably because the general approach to conducting research is similar across various disciplines. Research in areas like sociology, anthropology, and economics could be an interesting addition to your medical school application, especially if it has some relevance to healthcare. For example, conducting research on the sociocultural aspects of health or health economics could be as impressive as research on the genetics of cancer or diabetes.

One way to decide which type of research you should conduct is to ask yourself what interests you most. If you enjoy working in the laboratory, basic science research would be a great option. If you prefer interacting with others, you may want to participate in survey-based research where you could conduct interviews with study participants. Clinical research may also give you the opportunity to interact with patients who are subjects in a clinical study.

Regardless of what setting you choose; make sure you get involved in an experience where you are not just performing mundane technical tasks but you are also involved in high-level thinking and problem-solving. It may be difficult to take on your own project if you have no previous research experience, but even if you are assisting, find a research project where you could contribute to the study design, the interpretation of data, and the write up of your research. Medical schools are more impressed by your ability to think creatively, ask thoughtful research questions, and interpret your findings than they are by your ability to perform technical tasks. The best way to ensure that you gain good research experience is to commit to research over a long period of time. It is difficult to gain good research experience in 6 months, therefore, we encourage students to get involved in research earlier in their premedical career and to stay consistent in their research pursuits. Also, avoid moving from one research setting to another too frequently. The number of various experiences you have does not matter as much as the quality and depth of your experience.

Research Publications

Publications could be a valuable addition to any medical school application but they should not be your sole focus when you are conducting research. The quality of your research, the extent of your involvement, and the quality of the letter of recommendation you receive from your research mentor are arguably more important. Any publication would be an added bonus. In addition to publications, presenting your research findings at conferences as a poster presentation or oral presentation could also add to your medical school application and it is a great way to improve your presentation skills.