Best year-off research experience

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I'm planning on doing a year of research next year, which will be between my 2nd and 3rd years. I have a few options available, but I'm not sure what the best one would be. I'm doing the research because I'm interested in it, but at the same time I do want to put together the best Derm application I can so I want to maximize the benefit of my year out.

I have the option of working in the chairman's lab. The pros of this is obviously that I have the chance to work my butt off and get an awesome letter from him and probably significantly improve my chances of matching at the home program. However, I would really like to get a good publication(s) next year -- obviously the more the better. I was just slightly worried because his lab has only published three papers last year, which is a small number compared to other labs. Is this a stupid worry?

The other options I have are doing research in labs with some huge names in Derm. These places crank out 15+ papers a year. However, these are significantly larger labs and I doubt I would have a lot of time to spend with the huge name anyway. Also, they are at "partner" institutions so I wouldn't necessarily be able to build the same relationships with the home department. However, it would be nice to have a letter and research experience with a giant in the filed.

Any thoughts on which is the better opportunity?

 

[KeratinPearls]

I'm planning on doing a year of research next year, which will be between my 2nd and 3rd years. I have a few options available, but I'm not sure what the best one would be. I'm doing the research because I'm interested in it, but at the same time I do want to put together the best Derm application I can so I want to maximize the benefit of my year out.

I have the option of working in the chairman's lab. The pros of this is obviously that I have the chance to work my butt off and get an awesome letter from him and probably significantly improve my chances of matching at the home program. However, I would really like to get a good publication(s) next year -- obviously the more the better. I was just slightly worried because his lab has only published three papers last year, which is a small number compared to other labs. Is this a stupid worry?

The other options I have are doing research in labs with some huge names in Derm. These places crank out 15+ papers a year. However, these are significantly larger labs and I doubt I would have a lot of time to spend with the huge name anyway. Also, they are at "partner" institutions so I wouldn't necessarily be able to build the same relationships with the home department. However, it would be nice to have a letter and research experience with a giant in the filed.

Any thoughts on which is the better opportunity?

you have to target one program and target it hard. with the state of dermatology nowadays you realy need to focus on one program which has a track record of taking ppl like yourself who have done research, worked hard and published. you can do research with a big name and get a good letter but does the program have a track record of taking ppl who have done research for them? basically, you don't want to be spending all your time doing research at a program which will not accept you no matter how hard u work or how many publications you generate. yes, i think a letter from a big wig will help your application (considering it says great things about you), but you have to understand others will have the same letters.

in short, do research at a program that has a track record of taking ppl like yourself who did research for a year while in medical school. if you do research at a place which does not have a track record of taking internal candidates, then you may be wasting your time (when you could be at another program, that has taken its own in the past).

good luck. dermatology is freaking competitive.