Finding Research + Tips

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
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Hey y’all, I hope all of you are doing great in this run-up to Christmas.

I’m looking for some pointers, or general tips in the process for applying to Research. As a pre-med student, I’ve been repeatedly told that research is good for medical school applications, so I’ve begun the search. Frankly the process of finding research has been like drinking from a firehose, with about ~20 tabs open right now of different research programs I’m looking into.

Some stuff I wanted to ask about:

  1. Existing REUs/Research, or cold emailing? Both? I’ve applied for summer research here at W&L, but I’m highly doubtful that I’ll be able to get it. There’s a new overseer of Summer Research and changes have been made that do not favor me. I’ve found other research that is a part of a designated REU, and those who are University run. Should I cold-email the professors who are doing research I’m interested in and hope for the best? Or only go for programs with an actual application?

I’m inclined to think that doing both would be better, but wanted some affirmation. If so, do any of y’all have any tips on cold-emailing?

  1. How many should I apply to? From Upper-division students that I’ve talked to, some of them applied to 10 REUs. Is this… a normal amount per see of REUs/General Research to apply to? I’m unsure of how competitive I am in comparison to other applicants, so does anyone have any pointers on a good amount of programs to apply to?

  2. What makes a strong research applicant? I’ve been looking at the application requirements for many of these programs and they require a CV, and other documents detailing interest in the program. I’ve looked at some of the resources my Career Office has, and I plan to meet with them once I return from break. But in the meantime, how do I make myself stand out in a field of most likely more qualified applicants?

  3. Traditional vs Non traditional research? Looking at some of the programs I’m looking into, some are more of the traditional heavy biology-based programs, really more of what I would expect from an REU. Some of them are more specific, like the Trauma Imaging Bioengineering REU at Wake Forest, or Critical Care research. Is there any benefits/drawbacks for pursuing more specific/hyperfocused research versus what can be considered more “generalized” in the eyes of Medical Schools?

And finally, if you have any tips for me in general, I’d greatly appreciate any input you’d have!

Thanks for all your help! Please excuse the word walling.

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Why ask us when you have an academic advisor? That’s someone who is getting paid to answer your questions!

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That’s the goal once I get back from break! Alas, everything is closed now (Last day of Exams was this previous Friday), so I don’t expect faculty to monitor their emails.

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You asked about general tips: My daughter had a lot of success speaking with her profs and also knocking on the doors of profs she did not know. Everybody was receptive- she began research her first year and was involved all 4 years. She also applied to a few REU programs (but not a lot- maybe 3?) at the same time. She interviewed with one and was placed on their waitlist.

Take a look at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. They have summer research opportunities for undergrads. My D applied cold, received an interview, and was accepted to their summer POE program. I believe the application is open now.

Your advisor will have more information, and @WayOutWestMom has a lot of experience and will likely be able to answer your questions regarding med school and research.

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First @DramaMama2021’s daughter is a W&L premed student, she may have advice.

Second, my son is a Career Fellow at W&L, and he said he’d be glad to help you. PM me, and I can put you in touch. He said the Career Office advises students on research, and also he did environmental research through W&L after his sophomore year.

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Definitely take up @cinnamon1212 ’s suggestion to talk to Career Services.

My D got her first research position by asking professors. In fact, she was having a conversation with another student about her search when a professor walked by, overheard the conversation and invited her to come talk to him. This chance interaction lead to three years of research and TA-ing for two professors in a joint biochem/chem project.

As a freshman, you haven’t had time to build relationships with many professors yet, which was also my D’s concern when deciding who to approach her freshman year. Since @V3rnor knows my D (she’s an orientation and peer leader), they should feel free to contact her directly for suggestions. I would also meet with the pre-health advisors as they typically have suggestions for research, internships, etc., both on campus and off.

Best of luck, @V3rnor! You’ve got this! Hope finals went well.

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REUs were originally developed for UL students–rising juniors and seniors. Rising sophomores haven’t completed all the foundational coursework (esp lab courses) yet. But if you don’t mind getting rejections–go ahead and apply. Who knows? You could get lucky.

Cold emailing is fine, but expect to be ghosted by everyone/almost everyone.

One tip when cold emailing. Make sure your email is professional and you include a resumé that includes your GPA, major, math level, any special skills you’ve have (lab or computer), and 3 references who can speak to your work ethic and reliability. You may even want to include a list of paid employment and long term volunteer positions to show you are reliable person with basic work skills. See your college’s Career Placement Office for help resumé writing.

How many should I apply to?

10 is fine, but your references may limit the number of LORs they’re willing to provide. Talk to them first. Also filling out applications takes time and every application will want transcripts which costs money.

What makes a strong research applicant?

Prior research experience of any type. A prior work history (even if it was flipping burgers at Mickey D’s). Transferrable skills. (MATLab, R, any kind of programming or coding skills, spreadsheets/Excel, various statistical software packages, advanced math, lab animal management, etc. ). Specific lab skills. ( For example, my younger D got a highly coveted position at NIH’s SIP because she knew how to run MRI machines and interpret MRI data. She turned it down for an even more prestigious summer program–with an under 3% acceptance rate-- which wanted her for her advanced math skills, MATLab skills and ability to interpret MRI data.) A strong academic student who is a self-starter AND A team player (IOW, doesn’t sit around waiting to be told what to do with every minute of their time. One who volunteers to help other team members when they’re done their assignment–even if the other’s job is more “menial” than their own. One who shows curiosity and engagement with topic being researched–who will go do outside reading on their own to better understand the topic.)

Traditional vs Non traditional research?

For med school admission–it doesn’t really matter. (One of my daughters did medium energy particle physics research–she still got into med school, though not a single interviewer ever asked about her research–probably because it was waaayyyy outside their own area of knowledgeability.)

Now, if you’re considering the MD/PhD path–then it matters a great deal.

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Excellent post.

I’ll add- don’t overreach. Your reason for wanting to join someone’s lab can’t be “I want to cure cancer” or “I want to prevent Alzheimer’s”. The cancer research isn’t “curing cancer”. It’s narrow, it’s specific, it’s targeted. The PI may be working on identifying an enzyme which is believed to slow down the growth of pre-cancerous cells in the uterus. A student who wants to join that lab to “cure cancer” is going to be pretty miserable and frankly, sounds too young/immature for the task at hand.

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I’ll add research isn’t glamorous. It’s 99% repetitive grunt work. Lab newbies will be assigned to the most boring, brain-dead chores until they prove they are trustworthy, reliable and most importantly—trainable. .Nobody want some newbie screwing up months of work because they did something dumb.

REUs, though, are usually designed by the PI hosting them with a simple, easily achievable goal that’s not going to end up Nature or Cell. They’re designed that way so the student can complete a project in 8 weeks–and real life lab research just isn’t like that. It’s often open-ended with many sidetracks and dead ends along the way.

One last comment: research is often over-valued by naive pre-meds.

Research isn’t a “must have” for med school admission. It’s a “nice to have”.

A survey of adcomms ranked research as being “of moderate importance” when deciding who to interview and admit to med school. (See p. 15 Using MCAT® Data in 2024 Medical Student Selection)

Patient-facing experience is MUCH MUCH more valuable than research for those aiming for med school.

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Again, terrific post.

And before y’all think “I would never do something dumb” or “my kid would never do something dumb”-- think again.

Some of the errors are basic housekeeping, and I’ve yet to meet a teenager or college student who is exceptional at housekeeping.

Last one to leave confirms the A/C settings. The rule 'no food in the lab" means ANYTHING edible- gum, coffee, smoothies-- yeah, these things aren’t food. But they still don’t belong in the lab. No open toed shoes. And that means Birkenstocks, sandals, flip flops and while you’re at it- clogs, Crocs, mules.

Errors aren’t typically big, dramatic, OMG, we’ve cloned Barney inadvertently. Errors are small and dumb and embarrassing and can be VERY expensive in time and budget to correct.

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@V3rnor , my D said first step is to sign up for Summer Research Scholars. She will reach out to you to answer any questions.

https://studentresearch.academic.wlu.edu/

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