Lying about future prospects for research position..

[Gavanshir]

Hello,

I have recently applied to a research lab of a prominent doctor for a summer position. Do you think that it is justifiable to lie if he asks what you are planning to do after your B.Sc. by saying that you will be staying in the field and probably seeking graduate studies instead of saying the truth: that you will be applying for medicine?

I don't like to deceive people and like to be honest about everything from the getgo but at the same time I can't help but think that he will probably not want to hire someone who he knows is mainly doing research to have it on his medschool application.

Thanks for any insight.

[AMmd]

probably, especially if you are going to ask him for a reference letter after.

also you shouldnt do research just so you can put it on your cv... you should be interested in it.. else you are wasting everyones time and money.

[Kuantum]

Generally speaking, you should try not to lie. In this particular situation, since you will likely want a letter of reference from this person attesting to your character, you will probably not to start off by lying to him.

Research is sort of becoming a requirement for med. school (sort of like volunteering and ECs are requirements). They aren't actual requirement, however, so many people have it that if you don't, people start to wonder. You should let this pressure you into research if you have no interest in it at all, however, I think doing the research purely to use it as a means is wrong.

[UBCGuy]

Don't lie.

Personally I don't think anything worth having is worth being dishonest for. But that is just me. There are certain times when "white" lies are neccessary (ie when you friend gets a rediculous hair cut and he asks you if it really THAT bad, of course you are going to make the situation sound a bit better than it is), I don't think this is one of those cases.

[Gavanshir]

Well I don't know if I can even take into consideration that he will be writing me an LOR in the future if in the short term, by telling him that I will be applying for med I am reducing my chances of ever even working with him by a good amount.

[peachy]

Originally Posted by Gavanshir

Well I don't know if I can even take into consideration that he will be writing me an LOR in the future if in the short term, by telling him that I will be applying for med I am reducing my chances of ever even working with him by a good amount.

Besides the fact that you shouldn't lie to him, you're really not doing yourself any favors. I guarantee you that if you outright tell a summer supervisor that you aren't interested in medicine, and then you turn around and apply, it's going to work out badly for you. Not only will you get a bad letter from him, but he will think poorly of you in general, you're going to get a bad reputation in the lab, etc. You never know who he will tell that you lied to him.

Seriously, if a particular researcher really hate premeds that much (and there are, indeed, PI's that feel that way), then you don't want to be in that lab. Go find another lab with a supervisor who will be supportive of your career goals. Keep in mind, also, that a good portion (probably the majority) of good undergraduate life science students looking for summer research positions will be premed.

Of course, that doesn't mean that you should go into your interview and say "Yeah, I am really just doing this to look good on my medical school application!" There's nothing wrong with emphasizing your love for research in your application as long as you don't lie about your medical school goals.

[Sparkles]

I had an advisor/counsellor at school tell me that MOST students lie about volunteer and EC's to get into med. Her honest opinion was that you pretty much have to......she doesn't like it but that's the way it is.

So although I wouldn't encourage lying you may have to in the future on your application anyways.......

[crackers]

You want to go to medical school. Laudable goal.

What's your backup plan?

Not everyone is successful in their applications out of undergrad (I wasn't), and grad school is a good backup plan for those who are committed to the sciences because a B.Sc. does not open up the same job prospects as a Master's or doctorate.

If you could say without a lying bone in your body that you're going to apply to med school and grad school, that might get you off the horns of your dilemma. But if you aren't even going to consider grad school, your honesty will get you an answer quickly.

[The Law]

I agree with the posts so far. Do not lie.
If the person hates premed students, then you're going to have a tough time getting a reference letter for med school regardless. There is nothing wrong with wanting to go to med school. Personally, if the researcher hates people who are interested in med school that much, then I really wouldn't want to be working in their lab.

[daryn]

I agree. Don't lie.

I think when they ask you that question, they genuinely are interested, that's all. But do let me emphasize that many people do get into medical school without any research experience, so don't think that you have to do this. You want to get the summer position because you are interested in the project, period.

Besides, this person is an MD. He of all people should know about the idea of blending research into a clinical career.

Personally, my supervisor is very supportive of me, thankfully. I never did lie. When he interviewed me I simply told him that I was still deciding, and that hopefully my experiences would help me make that decision. If I don't get into medical school this year, he wants me back to do a MSc with him.

But yes, never lie.