<p>@onlythebest13
Q: My scores are well within the average, but I haven’t done any research or written an article for a scientific journal, which I heard is pretty common (at least for those looking into BSMD programs). I will shadow a doctor this summer as a junior, but it’s going to be hard for me to research/write an article too. Do you think this will really hurt my chances?
A: Hi! Yes, most of us did research, but remember that these programs aren’t looking for a certain set of things, beyond a base level of qualification, which it looks like you have. Within the MSs my year, there’s definitely levels of research,-- some people published in a peer-reviewed journal or worked on their projects for years, others researched over summer. I think having experienced research helps an application, because at some point in med school you’ll probably do research and they want to know that you are prepared for it and won’t hate it. That said, you DO NOT need to get published, or to live in your lab. If you enjoy shadowing, do that. If you enjoy something else, do that thing. Also, working on someone else’s project, or even your own (though this less so), during the school year is feasible. Don’t cram everything into your summer if you feel like it’ll affect your ability to do what you’re doing well, but try to fit in some lab time somewhere. In my experience, CSU or UC labs will take high schoolers for 5-10 hours a week during the year, and they’d rather have someone who stays an entire academic year than a summer so they’ll understand when you can’t come in because school is keeping you busy. Bottom line: You don’t need to become a research god or publish, but showing that you can handle/understand/enjoy research is a serious plus. (though shadowing, which shows you can understand/handle the everyday life of a doctor, is probably equally or more important). And I know people at prestigious programs who never researched. It’s possible, so don’t force it if you have no interest and no time, but do something relevant and interesting with the time not spent in lab.</p>