....and I may just bump into you!!!

I also LOVE what Mayo is all about, someone told me about them a year ago and it is now one of my dream schools

How do you go about getting research experience anyways? I have no clue..... what exactly does research experience mean- what do you do??

Efex I am SO PROUD of you for getting in there! That is so totally awesome!!

PremedRN, yes please do post what they say I would be interested.

Marilyn

Marilyn,
Im sure your question was directed for efex, and Im sure she'll give ya more info but at my school, some of the biology professors have research projects that you can participate in during the semesters, and/or over the summer. Once your particular project is completed, usually you and your research partner (the professor) go to a seminar proposing your research to other researches and biologists, and you may or may not get published. I only know this little because my cell bio professor does research on crustacean endocrinology and metabolic pathways and a student did some research with him, and they went to a seminar. They didnt get published though, that looks good for med school but I think some unpublished research would be better than none!

Im still waiting Mayo's response, Ill post it as soon as I get a reply!

Marilyn research experience is doing either bench-based research or some other type of research. Research is not essential for gaining acceptance to medical school but it is a major plus if you do have it on your application. Some research heavy medical schools like to see that undergrads do have some research experience but it is not essential. You can get research either during the regular semester at most undergraduate schools or via summer research experiences. I did one summer research at Vandy/Meharry and two at Mayo Clinic. They are about 10 weeks long and you get PAID! this is a good time to network with the schools that you are interested in too. You can do a search on google for summer undergraduate research experience or you can go to medical school web sites and search there. Mayo Clinic has these research fellowships available every summer.

Here is the link for Mayo http://www.mayo.edu/mgs/surf.html

and here is a link for various research fellowships http://www.rit.edu/~gtfsbi/Symp/summer.htm

I just got a response from mayo, I had asked if research had that great of an impact on acceptances, here is the answer from admissions I have copied and pasted:


In answer to your specific question, Mayo accepts students who have academic strength, and a commitment to service, who are altruistic and connect with Mayo's mission of meeting the patient's needs first. A background in research is not required unless you are applying for the MD/PhD program.

Sincerely,

Jane Satre
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
Mayo Medical School
Admissions Coordinator
(507)284-3671
satre.jane@mayo.edu

Do they have a profile of incoming students anywhere on their website I wonder (I couldnt find one unless I missed it)? That way we could see if most of them had research or not.

Marilyn

I do think that they have some profiles but not for the incoming students. Mayo is heavy on community service...

My family and I have finally arrived at Mayo! we are signing for our home on Tuesday and then the fun part begins...putting all our stuff away. My kids are really excited and they love Rochester so far I will keep my :crossfingers: that this does not change during the winter months. I am really looking forward to finally starting one the last phases of my journey to become a physician. I am somewhat scared about the huge amount of work that this may entail we will see. Although I am used to spending a lot of time hitting the books while I was in undergrad, I think that medical school will be much more fast paced and intense.

best of luck! Mayo was my dream school, but I didn't get in (sniff sniff) so I'll just live vicariously through efex. I'm sure I will be happy where I am, but I would also absolutely encourage other MomMD members to apply. They also seem more open to nontraditional applicants.