Research

[drock411]

Just wondering how much research relly helps an application, I am mostly interested in Dal.

Specifically I'm thinking that if I apply and get an NSERC position this summer I can't volunteer at the hospital, coach soccer, play soccer, work elsewhere or even take summer courses (because I'm also doing an MCAT course and the MCAT this summer too).

I can't see how research would balance out the loss of 2 or more of those other things, but maybe?

[Madz25]

I don't think research is going to make or break your application. The only research experience I had was volunteering in a lab for 3 years. I think it's better to do the ECs rather than drop them for research.

[avenir001]

I don't think research is going to make or break your application. The only research experience I had was volunteering in a lab for 3 years. I think it's better to do the ECs rather than drop them for research.

 

[smuwillobrien]

I had absolutely no research experience. So, if you don't have it, you'll be okay, as long as you compensate for it with something else.

[Roxy]

I agree - although research is certainly nice, the focus in recent years application cycles seems to have put more value on clinical experiences and the "human contact" side of things. This is my general impression from my own application cycles and having interiewed applicants a few years ago, but I admit I haven't actually sat at the committee level where final decisions on applicants files were being made.