Highly recommend research year if you are coming from lower ranked school/school without derm department

Why?

Derm will only continue to get more competitive, research year will help set you apart and afford more time to develop tighter connections with faculty

I did a RY and just want to say that make sure it's the right fit/opportunity. I saw a lot of situations where ppl take advantage of medical students plan and simple, so don't do it just to do it bc you think it's important to your app strategy.

x1000 I took one this year at a top program that wasn't my home program and it was NOT ideal, so choose wisely

< The whole point of a RY in PDs minds is to exploit desperate people for free/ almost free labor << Not true

Depends on the mentor but this is very often true, sadly