What BS/MD Admissions Committees Value in Your Research Experience

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Good afternoon parents and future physicians,

One of the biggest misconceptions in the BS/MD application world is that you must do medical research – like days of pipetting in a university lab – to impress admissions committees. This belief leads many students to settle for surface-level “clipboard” roles instead of pursuing topics they’re genuinely curious about.

Admissions officers care far more about the depth of your thinking, the problems you explore, and the personal story your research helps you tell rather than the department name on your lab coat.

Take our head coach, for example. He spent four years in high school doing environmental engineering research and subsequently earned multiple BS/MD acceptances – in large part by focusing on showing intellectual ownership, problem-solving, and a clear connection between his research and his motivation for medicine.

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Why Non-Medical Research Works

Too often, students assume that research counts only if it involves hospitals, pipettes, or patient samples. But BS/MD admissions committees aren’t measuring how “medical” your research sounds, they’re looking for signs that you’re intellectually engaged, self-directed, and ready to solve meaningful problems.

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Here’s why non-medical research can be just as powerful—sometimes even more so:

1. It demonstrates core competencies that matter in medicine

BS/MD programs value students who can think critically, analyze data, and communicate their insights clearly. These skills don’t just appear in biology labs. You might develop them by:

• Designing a psychology experiment on teen decision-making
• Coding an algorithm to model disease spread
• Analyzing survey data on healthcare access in underserved communities

While these ideas are general at face value, you can take ownership by focusing on a specific demographic you care about serving or developing a unique way to look at problem or question. It matters how deeply you engage with the research process and how well you can explain your role in it.

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2. It tells a more original and personal story

Admissions officers read hundreds of essays that start with “I’ve always wanted to be a doctor…” followed by a summer of filing charts in a hospital. Non-medical research gives you a way to say something different and more memorable.

• For example: A student who studied urban air pollution might tie their work to asthma rates in low-income neighborhoods—connecting environmental science with public health and advocacy. This research is even stronger if they pursued environmental health advocacy work in high school as well.

By doing research that reflects your real interests, you are able to not only stand out, but also sound more authentic since you are spending your time on something that matters to you. This way you are also able to talk about your projects more confidently when it comes to interviews and essays. Admissions officers will be able to tell when you are talking about something that interests you versus something that you did to check a box. Read our detailed blog article on research heavy programs and what they are looking for here.

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3. It reflects a broader understanding of medicine’s impact

Research in fields like environmental engineering, public policy, or behavioral science can show that you understand the bigger picture: that medicine isn’t just about diagnoses and that it’s about solving complex, real-world problems that affect human health.

If your project explores sustainability, equity, mental health, or health tech, you’re showing that you’re thinking like a future physician which is someone who sees patterns, systems, and people.

• For example: If you can clearly explain how your project addresses a human need—whether that’s improving access, understanding behavior, or preventing disease—you’ve already connected your work to medicine’s core mission: improving lives.

However, it’s important to remember that original research has significantly greater value than synthesis or literature review research, and you want to be aware of this when choosing your research direction.

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Four Simple Ways to Maximize Any Project

1. Lead an Original Project

Move beyond assisting with someone else’s work. The most impactful research stories come from students who took initiative, whether that means asking a new question, developing a method, or designing part of the study themselves. This doesn’t mean you have to work alone, but you do have to take initiative in designing your research project.

This may look like:

• Creating your own independent project through a summer program or school. Read our detailed blog article on summer research programs here.​
• Pitching an idea to a mentor and helping shape the research direction.
• Contributing a unique perspective to an existing lab’s work and eventually owning a piece of the process.

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2. Prioritize Depth Over Breadth

Admissions committees would rather see you invest a year or more into one (or two) meaningful projects than bounce between several short-term roles. Depth signals follow-through, resilience, and an ability to grow through the full research process.

For example:

• Staying with one project long enough to experience setbacks, refine your approach, and reach conclusions
• Participating in a multi-phase study over multiple semesters
• Presenting or publishing the results of your work, ideally at multiple conferences

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3. Build Transferable Skills

The best research helps you grow beyond the lab. If you can interpret data, explain your findings, and collaborate with others, you’re developing the exact skills that will serve you in both medicine and medical school.

• Organizing data sets or helping analyze results, learning statistics methods
• Writing a summary of findings for a report, mentor, journal, or even conference abstract
• Giving a short presentation at a local competition or conference in your discipline

These moments are often overlooked, but they show BS/MD committees that you are reflective, capable, and ready to contribute.

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4. Collaborate and Seek Feedback

As the cliche goes, medicine really is a team sport. Whether you’re in a research lab or a clinical setting, your ability to take feedback, share ideas, and build relationships is crucial. Strong research mentors often become strong recommenders.

This could look like:

• Participating actively in lab meetings or group discussions
• Asking your mentor if you can present your progress or lead a small part of the project
• Reaching out to outside mentors or teachers to review your work

Every email you send, every question you ask, and every conversation you have can help shape your understanding and your BS/MD application.

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5. Seek Opportunities for Recognition

Recognition is about showing that your work has been reviewed and validated by others. Even small-scale recognition demonstrates initiative, follow-through, and the quality of your contributions.

This could look like:

• Submitting a research paper to a high school or undergraduate journal
• Presenting at a science fair, local conference, or research symposium
• Applying for research awards or grant competitions

Don’t worry if your work doesn’t win. The process of refining, submitting, and presenting is valuable on its own. It shows that you take your research seriously and that you’re willing to put your work out there.

When done intentionally, your research doesn’t just check a box. It becomes a foundation for your story and a signal to BS/MD programs that you’re prepared for the challenges of medical education and training. Depth, ownership, and reflection can turn a basic science requirement into one of the most compelling parts of your application.

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The Importance of Showing Motivation for Medicine

Even if your research is in a non-medical field, your application still needs to make it clear that you’re choosing medicine for the right reasons.

BS/MD programs aren’t just looking for students who are good at science. They want future physicians who care about patient outcomes, understand the human side of healthcare, and have taken the time to explore what medicine really involves.

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Here’s how to demonstrate that motivation in a way that complements your research:

1. Physician Shadowing

Spending time with doctors in real clinical settings shows that you’ve seen the realities of the job. You’ll also gain insight into how physicians think, communicate, and collaborate.

Examples:

• Shadowing a local pediatrician after school
• Following an internal medicine physician during hospital rounds
• Observing surgeries in a formal OR shadowing program

Actionable Advice: After shadowing, reflect on how the physician interacted with patients or solved problems. These observations can add depth to your essays and interviews.

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2. Clinical Volunteering

Even small acts such as transporting patients, helping in a waiting room, or supporting hospice residents can teach you about empathy, communication, and care which can all help you gain a better understanding of what patient care really involves.

Examples:

• Volunteering at a hospital, ER, or nursing home – directly interacting with patients, not just administrative tasks
• Conversing with patients, helping with non-medical tasks, or simply being present

Actionable Advice: As the cliche goes, depth matters more than breadth. A long-term commitment at one site speaks louder than scattered hours across many.

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3. Service for Underserved Communities

Community work that addresses health disparities, language access, or education gaps helps show that you care about impact rather than just credentials.

Examples:

• Translating for patients if you speak a second language
• Leading workshops at schools on nutrition, mental health, or hygiene
• Organizing service projects that support vulnerable populations

Actionable Advice: Choose something that aligns with your personal values or interests. Admissions officers want to see what drives you and how you’re already working toward change.

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Avoid These Common Mistakes

1. Checkbox Mentality

If you can’t clearly explain why you did your research or what you learned, it won’t add the value necessary for competitive BS/MD applicants. Admissions committees notice when students treat research like a task instead of an opportunity to grow.

• Example: Instead of just following instructions in a lab, ask your mentor about the goals of the experiment. Over time, aim to take on more responsibility—like organizing data or helping interpret results—and be ready to share these insights during your application process.

2. Quantity Over Quality

Jumping between many short-term projects often looks unfocused. Admissions officers prefer deep involvement in one or two meaningful experiences where you made a real contribution.

• Example: Spending a full school year on a psychology research study gives you the chance to participate in multiple stages of the research—from literature review to data collection to presenting findings. This is far more compelling than having a minimal role that doesn’t output anything valuable for you.

3. Missing the Medicine Connection

Even if your research isn’t clinical, you can tie it back to patient care, public health, or health equity. Showing this connection for medicine-specific essays helps admissions see how your work relates to becoming a physician.

• Example: Researching water filtration systems in an environmental engineering project can be connected to your interest in preventive medicine and addressing health disparities in underserved communities.

Remember: the project’s discipline is secondary; what matters is the clarity with which you connect your findings to the physician you aspire to become.

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Next Steps & Full Breakdown

Our latest extensive blog post walks you through the factors that define impactful research experiences for BS/MD applicants and how to properly articulate these experiences in your applications.

​Read the full article here to see exactly how to frame your work for committees that read anywhere from several hundred to 2000+ applications each cycle.

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Yours in success,

Rishi Ray
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Our team at Outperform BS/MD Coaching is dedicated to guiding you through the BS/MD application process. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to discuss strategies tailored to your student’s unique situation.