Under the Microscope with Medical School MythBusting: Research Edition

Debunking Misinformation
Part of our work at HSAFP is to debunk misinformation about the journey to becoming a physician. One way we will do this is to introduce and refute medical school myths. So, let’s start this month by exploring why the following statement is false:
❌ An applicant is required to have a lot of science-based research experience to be accepted into medical school.
We can use the Association for the American Medical Colleges (AAMC) to bust this myth. And, later on, we will explore some research resources and alternatives that you can use now and in the future.
The AAMC’s “How to Get Research Experience” article points out that some medical schools require applicants to have some research experience, but it does not need to be science-based research.

The term “research” for pre-medical students might evoke grand images of your hard work in the lab, succeeding in life-saving, Nobel Prize-winning–like insulin!–scientific innovations.
However, research is actually a general term.
All disciplines, not just science-based fields, use research: business, sociology, and even history and language studies. At some universities, especially those that prioritize research, students can find professors in various fields working on research projects that involve student assistants. You can seek out these opportunities to work on your communication, writing, research and analysis skills.
A large percentage of accepted medical school applicants, the AAMC also stated, “have some form of academic or clinical research at the time they apply. Competence in research has become increasingly important in the medical field to improve patient care outcomes.”
To Summarize
As you will find in the lessons ahead, it is an excellent idea for you to gain some type of research experience long before you apply to medical school.
If you cannot find research opportunities but do want similar experiences, there are many options for you, including even more alternatives to research later on in this course, that draw on the AAMC 17 Premed Competencies.
The Association for the American Medical Colleges (AAMC): Who are They?
The AAMC is a powerful resource:
- As you know, HSAFP uses the AAMC 17 Premed Competencies to guide our monthly curriculum. These pre-med competencies guide 100+ U.S. medical school admissions committees’ decision to accept applicants.
- The AAMC administers the Medical College Admission Test, or MCAT, which most U.S. and Canadian medical schools require applicants to take.
- The AAMC oversees the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS). Most medical schools use the AMCAS system for students to apply to their schools; only 13 MD medical schools do not use AMCAS in the United States (12 of these schools are in Texas and use the TMDSAS application service).
We know, the acronyms are a lot. You will know them well by the time you apply to medical school!
