GETTING INVOLVED IN RESEARCH
Medical schools generally consider research experience to be a valuable part of an applicant's credentials. If you are dedicated to a research project, admissions committees will be interested in your role and impressed by the commitment that you have demonstrated.
As an undergraduate researcher, you are not expected to publish any papers or make a ground-breaking discovery. Your research does not have to be in the natural sciences. If you prefer, you are encouraged to investigate questions in the social sciences or humanities.
Research can teach you valuable skills about the analytical process, which will be helpful to you when you become a physician, even if you do not intend to pursue research as a career.
In addition to departmental mailing lists and the Stanford Premed mailing list, several resources for finding undergraduate research opportunities on campus exist online:
- The Undergraduate Research Programs Database
- Departmental Research Programs
- Faculty at the School of Medicine
Once you have identified a potential research mentor, you will need to introduce yourself and explain your interest in participating in his or her project. The UAL website outlines the undergraduate research experience, from mentor identification to thesis writing, in some detail:
- Planning Your Research
- How to Approach Faculty
- Maintaining a Good Student-Faculty Relationship
- Planning for Honors
Departmental websites may also have guidelines about how to pursue research under their faculty.