<p>Hey, I had a question about the optional research abstract we can submit.</p>
<p>On the Common App, it says that if we have a brief abstract for "a significant independent research project", we can submit it. I was in a summer program this year, for which I have written an abstract. I worked under a professor, who acted as my mentor. Would it still be alright for me to submit my abstract from this project?</p>
<p>Yes it is technically independent as long as YOU WROTE the paper, and ONLY YOU did the research. It is not unreasonable for most independent research done at our level to be aided by “mentors.”
However, I only recommend that you submit the abstract if it is truly a meaningful and significant piece of work (not saying that it is not) because chances are that if you are in Darthmouth’s range, they will get academics to look over your abstract and provide feedback and if it is not up to par it would definitely hurt your application. Most schools like the Ivies and top privates do this if they have an option of submitting an abstract.</p>