I’m an MS1 with 2 options for the summer.  I can do a research project on outcomes of neurosurgical treatments of pediatric epilepsy, or get a summer’s worth of OR/clinical time with a pediatric neurosurgery group.  I’ve spent time with a few of the surgeons and they have said that I would be scrubbing for most cases and would be very involved.  I’ve even gotten to participate in a few procedures with them when I’ve gone to shadow.  The clinical preceptorship would certainly be more exciting than another summer of research, but if the research is what I ultimately need to get into residency I guess that’s what I have to do.  But I’m here to ask what might be looked at better?  If it’s a toss up im going to do the preceptorship. 

thanks ahead of time for any responses.

If you love research, or want to explore your interest in research, then you should get involved with a project. It’s not very worthwhile to take on a project just to pad your CV; however, it is almost required that you have some sort of research under your belt to be competitive for nsg residencies. My recommendation is to find a project that you are actually excited about. A preceptorship is potentially valuable if it can be cultivated to eventually yield a stellar letter of recommendation, otherwise you should have plenty of opportunity to get your hands dirty in the OR as an MS 3 and 4. good luck, keep us posted re: your decision.

Nervous System - 12 February 2010 08:26 AM

If you love research, or want to explore your interest in research, then you should get involved with a project. It’s not very worthwhile to take on a project just to pad your CV; however, it is almost required that you have some sort of research under your belt to be competitive for nsg residencies. My recommendation is to find a project that you are actually excited about. A preceptorship is potentially valuable if it can be cultivated to eventually yield a stellar letter of recommendation, otherwise you should have plenty of opportunity to get your hands dirty in the OR as an MS 3 and 4. good luck, keep us posted re: your decision.

I didn’t say I wasn’t excited, I would just be more excited for the preceptorship.  I came to med school to learn medicine, not to learn research, anyone that would be more excited for a research project should probably have gone to grad school. 

You made a good point that I’ll have time during 3rd year and 4th year for the OR.