<p>So my mentor from a summer program (RSI) wants to publish our work, but put himself down as first author. Submission is due in a few hours. It is my project, and I wrote the paper, but he edited. Also, first author papers are probably more important to him since he is trying to get tenure. Do you guys think I should ask to be first? He's a really nice guy, and I don't want to get him angry cuz he's writing recs for almost all of my colleges (which he says will be very good). It would help w/ college apps a lot since its a pretty good journal...</p>
<p>I wouldn't base my decision off whether or not he would get mad. In addition, it seems kind of underhanded (Although it depends on how much editing/help he did) of him to submit your paper with him as first author.</p>
<p>On the other hand, if he's a nice guy and really helped you, so I guess it's totally up to you. Considering you went to RSI, I think you have a pretty decent shot at basically all of the top colleges. If this is like an "extra-layer-of-icing-on-the-cake" type of thing for you, and a big issue for him, I would probably let him have it. Then again, if you feel that you need this extra leverage (You certainly deserve it more by the sound of it), then go ahead and confront him about it.</p>
<p>Wow, I'm pretty good at complicating an issue huh? Basically, my advice is, if you feel that you need it quite a bit, take it.</p>
<p>Edit: If you feel that you need it quite a bit (even if he needs it more), take it. It's kind of jerkish, but he doesn't exactly deserve it just for being a nice guy.</p>
<p>Well it's not like confrontation would let me have it. If I said anything, he would probably get a little peeved, and then might still take it, in which case I have gained nothing and lost some.</p>
<p>What are the first author rules in your discipline? That's really the key. I get the impression that in SOME disciplines it is pretty routine for teacher to always outrank student in priority for first authorship. I have read that in mathematics, first authorship is decided strictly by alphabetical order of surname. (Are you willing to change your name? ;) ) If your collaborator is not violating the custom of your discipline, you should probably let this paper go. </p>
<p>Moreover, it is sufficiently impressive to be ANY author on a peer-reviewed paper as a high school student that you would be better off preserving the strong recommendation and getting the publication submitted rather than raise a ruckus and sever your relationship with a mentor. After all, when you are an established faculty member you can decide to be gracious to your students (and STILL be known as a research king), so for now this is probably not worth worrying about.</p>
<p>Yeah, I've decided to let it go. This is a mentorship at Harvard AND MIT (my mentor is part of a joint program called HST), so if I ever go to cambridge, it can be a good connection, since it's in a really awesome field too.</p>