Lesson 1 of 0
In Progress

The Skills Research Experiences Offer

HSAFP Executive Team January 10, 2025
A researcher writing down data.

In research, there are a number of frustrations and celebrations. It’s important for us to understand the nature of a research role to:

  • Prepare for these frustrations now
  • Understand why these research roles are important in preparing you for medical school

For instance, in the lab, some tasks can take hours, and you may have to redo these tasks if something goes wrong. If you are conducting research by surveying and interviewing people, you might find some people won’t complete your survey, or your participants answer your questions in surprising ways. Or, you might be working with some technology that is not cooperative.

But through these difficulties, researchers persevere. They strategize a new plan, they ask for help, they adjust, and they move forward to share important information and, quite literally, save people’s lives.

Participating in research also affords many different skills that are not present in many other extracurricular activities. Strong research roles are where you can hone your adaptability, problem-solving, and teamwork skills. When you are actively engaged in the critical thinking and scientific inquiry processes with your team, these types of research experiences are invaluable and can help you improve all of the skills below.


Below are the AAMC Premed Competencies that many research assistant positions meet. Please view the “The AAMC Premed Competencies in this Month’s Curriculum” Lesson for a full description of each skill.

Participating in a lab-based research role could demonstrate your competency in 14 of the 17 AAMC Premed Competencies!

A group of volunteers helping someone, demonstrating many of the professional competencies.
  • Commitment to Learning and Growth

  • Ethical Responsibility to Self and Others

  • Teamwork and Collaboration

  • Interpersonal Skills

  • Empathy Skills

  • Oral Communication

  • Reliability and Dependability

  • Resilience and Adaptability

In all types of research experiences, you will work with others to complete the research, which means you can look forward to improving your resilience, teamwork skills, and communication!


A magnifying glass, symbolizing all specialties in science's mission to take a closer look at living beings.

  • Living Systems
  • Human Behavior

Using science skills in extracurricular activities can be difficult to find, but research experiences can cover one or both science competencies that medical schools are looking for, depending on your opportunity.


A scientist reflecting on her findings.
  • Critical Thinking

  • Quantitative Reasoning

  • Scientific Inquiry

  • Written Communication

All of the “Thinking and Reasoning” competencies can be demonstrated by participating in active lab-based research roles. However, critical thinking and written communication will be improved by participating in social science or humanities-based research!


The High School Alliance of Future Physicians logo, including the phrase: "Aspiring Physicians, Inspired Futures."