Thumper: post #13 http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/pre-med-topics/2185220-baylor-university-vs-union-college.html#latest
And
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/pre-med-topics/2181801-baylor-pre-med-vs-umiami-pre-med.html#latest where it is stated:
(Research is highly over-valued in importance by high school students hoping to go to medical school.)
I can post many, many more but it’s clear we’ll not agree. If a medical school specifically posts that research is a selection factor, then it’s important.
And since you place value on anecdotes(re: nobody cared about my kid’s research), our experience has been the opposite. For three successful recent applicants, all three did very different research, and all three were asked about it during interviews, and all three thought it was a huge factor in getting admitted.
And whether research is a “high” or “medium” or “low” factor-again, if a medical school mentions research specifically on its website as a selection factor, then it’s important in the process-to the point where if you are going to apply to Georgetown-and thousands do annually-you better have some(see below, the language from GU’s website couldn’t be clearer).
According to USNWR, the following medical schools were in the top 10 for number of applicants:
2 UCLA-first allopathic school listed
5 GWU
Both list research as a selection factor, as noted above.
4 was Georgetown: "Research in any academic discipline."
Jefferson is already noted, above.
10 Brown: "The Committee especially values intellectual curiosity, prior experience in research or the clinical realm, a demonstrated commitment to serving others, integrity, and enthusiasm."
So of the top 10 in terms of applicants, FIVE specifically mention “research” as a specific selection factor. To me, that would be a selection factor of significance, and while not at the GPA/MCAT level, nonetheless of high importance.
Texaspg: Since nobody said anything about 3.0/505 from Harvard, that falls under the “create a straw man” category, but completely disagree with “It is a given that that candidate won’t get into a medical school with research either”; this should be re-written as “some medicals schools value research, and a candidate won’t be admitted without it.”
The point: some-not all-medical schools give credit for the college attended. And several, including half of the top medical schools in terms of applicants, place significant value on research.