chances and how to contact professors for a recommendation?

<p>Just looking for some of your guys' advice.</p>

<p>Over the summer this year, I did some research and came to some interesting hypotheses. I bounced it off a family friend (EE) and he thought they were worth researching and potentially profitable if patented and worked as described. I approached the local innovation center (sort of a tech startup) and they were impressed with my hypotheses and are currently working with me on getting some money and research together to see if they hold water...</p>

<p>Here's the problem. The NIIC (Northeast Indiana Innovation Center) is working on a timetable incompatible with my current situation. I'm applying for college next month (regular decision, december 31st), and need some help setting my application apart from the thousands of other qualified individuals. I feel I have something special to offer in terms of diversity to the campus, but have no way of conveying my hypotheses to the admissions faculty (and I seriously doubt their willingness to digest them). I've been recommended to contact a professor who specializes in the field and insist that I am seriously interested in undergraduate research and for them to be my mentor. I have no idea where to start in a situation like that</p>

<p>How would I find these professors and what would be the appropriate way to approach them at first?</p>

<p>Also, how large of a hook would this be for college admissions?</p>

<p>I don't think what you explain is a hook (check out the hookology 101 thread). However, it is a unique extra curricular (that's a good thing).</p>

<p>I had mostly As and a couple Bs freshman/sophomore year (wasn't focused), and As (a few Bs) junior/senior year. I've become progressively more successful each year.</p>

<p>I've taken the heaviest course load available (AP Calc, AP Bio, AP Chem, etc)</p>

<p>and have average SATs 650V, 720M, 580W. I'm taking the SAT IIs december first and am expecting a 600-700 in Chem (It's been a long time since I studied chemistry) and 700-800 in Math IIC. (I'm not a very good standardized test taker (make careless errors because of stress), which is why I believe my scores don't really reflect my true capabilities)</p>

<p>If my circumstance doesn't quality as a hook, s it even worth applying with these statistics? I am very passionate about science and would love to incorporate significant undergraduate research into my curriculum, but am not sure I would get that opportunity at lesser schools.</p>

<p>your SAT's are a bit low for ND. ND is a one of a kind university. I would say still apply if you feel like you ND is a strong fit for you. What constitues a "lesser school?" Don't apply to a college solely because it has high presitige. Many "lesser schools" will have great oppurtunities for research as well.</p>

<p>what would you consider good matches and slight reaches? I'm very seriously interested in an intimate academic experience and undergraduate research.</p>

<p>also, does ND weigh your writing score? I was under the impression that most schools did not place significance on it.</p>

<p>Definitely apply to ND, the undergraduate research thing is really gaining momentum, I know freshmen who have gotten grants. </p>

<p>As for who to contact, I think contacing the following lady might be the best bet for getting you closer to whom you should be interacting with:
Cecilia Lucero, Ph.D.
Assistant Director for Undergraduate Research
511 Main Building, Notre Dame, IN 46556
<a href="mailto:clucero@nd.edu">clucero@nd.edu</a></p>

<p>ND doesn't use the writing score. However, your SAT V+M is still below average for ND(average is like 1420). I would say ND is definitely a reach (It is for most people).
Talk to your high school counselor about which colleges would be a target/slight reach for you.<br>
As for contacting the lady bpayne talked about. I doubt she would be able to do much for you until you are accepted to the university. I don't think I would attempt to do this to give you an edge in admissions. I don't think it would work as effectively as you might think.
And, like I said before many schools have what you are looking for(talk to your HS counselor!). Other than ND's research and academics, make sure you find the student body, location, feel, etc. to be appealing as well. Or else you will probably not be happy here.</p>