Hey guys so I did research over the summer on anti-cancer agent development in a college chemistry lab. It was about 6.5-7 weeks. I wrote about it A LOT in my common app essay and supplements. However, I don’t know how to go about it in an abstract. I didn’t do the research for a competition or anything, but just basically for experience and to learn more about my major–chemistry. In all honesty, I’m not exactly an expert on the research that the professor did. I tried to learn as much as I could–reading college level organic chemistry textbooks and asking as many questions as I could so I could get the basic jist of it. But I just don’t have the basic foundation in organic chemistry to understand much of the research.I basically worked with NMR, TLC’s to differentiate isomers, and column chromatography while int the lab.
However, I really want to submit an an abstract for the common app since my whole major and essays revolve around the experience. I haven’t had any publications or papers though. My professor already had written an abstract of the research prior to my being there and I found parts of it published online.
Would it count as plagiarism if I put in what I contributed and reworded the abstract my professor wrote?Honestly I’m not even sure I can reword it much since it so much dense terminology and information. I’m just worried that my application won’t really hold any credibility if I don’t submit an abstract.
There is no good reason at all to submit an abstract with your Common Application. No one is admitting you to a college because of the kind of research you assisted with. They are more interested in what the research experience says about you, what you got out of it, how it impacts your future goals and objectives. The research itself is totally unimportant beyond the fact that it was related to your major and shows a commitment to that subject. Ideally, you have a nice letter of rec from the prof who can talk about your attributes as a future researcher if that’s your objective.
And yes, rewording your prof’s abstract is plagiarism: If you have to quote it, just attribute the quote to the professor as you would any other source document that you are quoting from.
I’m having a hard time believing that this is really what you want to do. You “participated” in research you don’t understand, but you want to write an “abstract” based on the professor’s work to submit as a supplement?
Ok so are abstracts not really that important to add if you did research? I just thought it was commonplace.
And I should just clear something up. In a lot of college supplement essays I write about how I really like the college’s undergraduate research opportunities to allow student to innovate and discover on their own. I honestly did really enjoy my research experience and it gave insights as to what chemists really do and the work that goes behind what us students learn in the classroom.
Wouldn’t it be peculiar to admissions counselor’s if I wrote about research so much and didn’t put in an abstract?
I would only bother putting the abstract if you did a substantial amount of research and are listed as one of the co-authors of the paper, and if the paper is published. Otherwise, don’t bother.
It’s not your work, so it’s not your abstract. This is basically all you get: “I…worked with NMR, TLC’s to differentiate isomers, and column chromatography while int the lab.” And you can cite the Prof.
Abstracts are important for what they are, a summary. But all you were was a 6 week extra hand. You admit you don’t even understand it.
Did your mentor say it was okay to submit this? If this is ongoing research, submitting anything to another college could be a really really bad idea. I did a similar program this summer and the whole process was very secretive. We were warned that other professors in the same university were constantly trying to swipe information from my mentor’s lab. Before submitting anything, I’d make sure that your professor is completely fine with this. Otherwise, I’d advise against it.
Do not send an abstract. Instead, if you want to emphasize this even more in your application, have the professor write a letter of recommendation. But, would he be willing and able to write a strong, innovative letter for you?