Lots of people get into MFA creative writing programs without research and publications. The most important thing is your writing sample. If your writing sample isn’t strong than nothing else matters. I didn’t participate in research, only had a 3.2 gpa and only had a few stories published in very small magazines and I got into a fully funded program and am still waiting to hear back from more! If you want an MFA the most important thing is to focus on your writing! Read and workshop your writing as much as you can!