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I have a few peers working with professors at a local university who claim they are going to be accepted to Harvard, Yale, and Princeton, among others, because they've been published in scientific journals. Of course, they have other things (good grades, ECs, etc) as well, but they've said that being published looks REALLY good on an app and would help them stand out. I believe them to some degree, but in their case it seems almost like a cheap trick. I mean, they do laboratory work and all, but the main reason they were published is because they we co-authors for a project their mentors had been working on for a while- so they joined up for the last bit of the research and all of a sudden got their names on it. On the other hand, I've also done some independent research but have never been published, largely because I've never had a mentor who wanted me to "piggy-back" on their work, I've always come up with the ideas and done the entire thing largely on my own. Should I try to get any of my works published or would it be too hard and a waste of time? Will my classmates' being published hurt my chances for admission, or will colleges be able to see that although they got published, the amount of work they put in was actually less than I did for my projects?
Sorry for such a long post

By 1212 (1212) on Saturday, October 09, 2004 - 08:21 pm: Edit

same thing is going on with me bro, im like your friends
i dont know about the effects, but even if i dont get in to any desired universities, i will still take my experiences with me, yes i cut corners and lot more ppl did lot more work then me and got nothing for it, but i dont give a f**k
if you havent learned by now, life isnt as much as how hard you worked, but how effectively you incorporate your experience to improve your situations. Ask for an interview with the officers, and SHOW them that you know more than most. If you fail you prove nothing, and if you succeed you will have as good of a chance.

Life isnt fair, my parents made me move around so many different countries that i had to learn a new language every 4-5 years to survive in society. People will exploit and you will be exploited. Be thankful that you had the opportunity and the resources to be able to conduct research. You might not get into a better undergrad than your friends but if you have learned as much as you have said you will definitely get in to a better grad. school.


its up to you to show how much you have accomplised, as for "Will my classmates' being published hurt my chances for admission, or will colleges be able to see that although they got published, the amount of work they put in was actually less than I did for my projects?
"
Unless your friends are retarded the university probably wont find out. But i wouldnt worry about it. You will have your breaks one day, just let us "piggy-backers" have this second of relief

By 1212 (1212) on Saturday, October 09, 2004 - 08:21 pm: Edit

same thing is going on with me bro, im like your friends
i dont know about the effects, but even if i dont get in to any desired universities, i will still take my experiences with me, yes i cut corners and lot more ppl did lot more work then me and got nothing for it, but i dont give a

Edited. Keep the veiled profanity off College Confidential or you'll need to post elsewhere.
Moderator DoveofPeace
if you havent learned by now, life isnt as much as how hard you worked, but how effectively you incorporate your experience to improve your situations. Ask for an interview with the officers, and SHOW them that you know more than most. If you fail you prove nothing, and if you succeed you will have as good of a chance.

Life isnt fair, my parents made me move around so many different countries that i had to learn a new language every 4-5 years to survive in society. People will exploit and you will be exploited. Be thankful that you had the opportunity and the resources to be able to conduct research. You might not get into a better undergrad than your friends but if you have learned as much as you have said you will definitely get in to a better grad. school.


its up to you to show how much you have accomplised, as for "Will my classmates' being published hurt my chances for admission, or will colleges be able to see that although they got published, the amount of work they put in was actually less than I did for my projects?
"
Unless your friends are retarded the university probably wont find out. But i wouldnt worry about it. You will have your breaks one day, just let us "piggy-backers" have this second of relief

By Pepperhead21 (Pepperhead21) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 01:57 am: Edit

Put it this way...independent research is the new thing so if everyone is doing it colleges won't think it's as important and besides they aren't doing REAL research. They say things but if you have a parent who has a Ph.D. high school kids doing research is just a load of BS. In the scientific world Ph.D. research is what people care about, and if you are even an UNDERGRADUATE Ph.D. don't give a crap about your research (their are exceptions). Don't worry about what they say becuase honestly whatever they do "research" on is not gonna be of great importance to anyone thus making it not important for the admissions officer.

By Staticsoliloquy (Staticsoliloquy) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 02:59 am: Edit

lol wow what an ignorant post pepperhead.

What do you define as real research and pseudo-research? "They say things but if you have a parent who has a Ph.D. high school kids doing research is just a load of BS." I don't understand this poorly-written sentence. Do you mind elaborating? How is it a load of crap? Is there a difference between postdoc research and undergrad research? I came to the conclusion after reading your post that you have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.

volleyball6:
Being published in a scientific journal when you're still in high school is quite a feat. It is better than being a grand prize winner at INTEL and Siemens Westinghouse. Of course it would help you stand out because it shows the level of maturity and dedication you've invested. If you've done independent research, and didn't publish. Whose fault is that? If you had to ask us, a bunch of stranger, whether or not you should try to get it publish, then frankly, you have no idea how what you're doing. Quit being so bitter. Their publication has nothing to do with your chance of acceptance into a college. There is a huge difference between a first author, and a co-author. Colleges aren't dumb. They'll know that if it was solely your idea because you're the 1st author.