<p>My son will be a rising senior this fall. He is conducting original scientific research at a local medical school that has received a lot of encouragement from professors at graduate schools, and from other scientists that he's discussed it with. He is working at a very high level (the professors assume he is already in college) and is passionate about continuing this research wherever he goes to college. How do we highlight the unique nature of his work, especially when the topic itself is very complex? Should he correspond with professors at prospective schools about his project?</p>
<p>Your son can prepare a brief (one to two pages maximum) synopsis of his work that he can send via snail mail to target colleges or post under “Additional Information” in his online applications. He should briefly list this research in the activities section of his applications, too (or under “Work Experience” or “Summer Activities”–depending which is most appropriate) and also on the separate resume/activities list he plans to send, if any. </p>
<p>Contacting relevant profs is also a good idea, especially if your son plans to continue this work in college and is looking for a mentor. Expect the faculty responses to be varied. Feedback could include enthusiastic requests for more detailed information, polite generic replies, or no reply whatsoever. E-mail is a better bet than snail mail because it facilitates a speedy and convenient response.</p>
<p>Your son might also ask the profs who have encouraged him thus far to recommend colleagues at his target colleges (or at ANY college that might BECOME a target college) as potential contacts. His letter is more likely to be read with full consideration if it begins with something along the lines of, “Professor Smedley Dewsnap suggested that you would be interested in my work …”</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>May I also suggest, if the research is original, that he enter it in the various science competitions, such as: science fair, Seimens, Intel Science Talent Search, and Junior Science and Humanities Symposium. He may garner an award and can use that on his college application to highlight his research efforts.
The problem with attaching a synopsis to his college app is that some schools, Stanford for one, expressly state that they want nothing other than the specific items requested in the application. Thus, an essay on his research may be the best avenue to bring it to the attention of the college.</p>
<p>Good point about attachments. However, Stanford does have an optional essay for information just like this.</p>
<p>I have a question for Sally_Rubenstone (although perhaps someone else could answer it just as well). </p>
<p>I’m in the same boat as jeli25’s son. I’m interested in the details of the process of contacting these profs: what I would hope to accomplish by contacting them, how I can contact them, what I should say, etc.</p>
<p>At first glance, it seems slightly presumptuous to say “I’ve been working with X, Y, and Z, and I would like to continue working at ______ University.” (to which I haven’t been admitted and which contains many bright, motivated students). </p>
<p>Also, as my research is in philosophy/political theory, I’m not sure how many profs in those fields have been exposed to my sort of student who has conducted research in high school on the graduate school level. It seems far more common to conduct research in the sciences.</p>
<p>Also, I know Harvard explicitly asks NOT to send supplementary materials directly to faculty.</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestions. He is going to submit for consideration to the big science fairs, which should help if he is selected. Is this something appropriate to bring up in an interview or on a college visit, if schools discourage contacting faculty? I noticed that Yale provides a special tour for students interested in sciences. Does anyone know if that is the case at other top-tier schools?</p>
<p>A decade or more ago when it was uncommon for prospective students to contact faculty members, many profs welcomed hearing from those who had interest and experience in their field. Today, however, this sort of pre-admissions contact has been often touted as an effective way to “show interest” in target colleges, often with the hope that the profs will then phone admissions officials to effuse, “Wow .. you’ve got to keep an eye out for this amazing kid …”</p>
<p>Not surprisingly, the professors in my orbit are becoming more and more cynical about their in-boxes rife with “suck-up” missives from high school students. I thus advise students to proceed very cautiously and to only contact profs if the student accomplishment in the prof’s field is significant. In the case of jeli25’s son, it sounds as if it is. And, while research in the sciences is indeed more common than in many other areas, the rule of thumb should still hold true: Contact profs when the student engagement seems well beyond the norm (and at the most hyper-competitive colleges, that “norm” can be quite daunting).</p>
<p>For those who do contact profs, it’s fine to begin with background ("I’ve been working with so and so … ") but make sure that your message also includes the reasons you’re reaching out to this professor. Are you asking about possible research positions? Suggestions for further reading? Other advice on how to follow your chosen path, either at that prof’s institution or elsewhere? </p>
<p>If you don’t know why you’re writing (other than with the aim of currying favor that will translate into favorable admission outcomes), then don’t write!</p>
<p>A past experience: Last year I contacted a few math professors and tried to ask them what was distinctive about the math program at their college. I got no response. But I did get a response from the professor who wrote “Lies My Teacher Told Me.”</p>
<p>^
Lol, NO WAY! Howard Zinn eeeeeeeee!</p>
<p>Good point, Sally_Rubenstone, about contacting the professors. Thanks for the advice.</p>
<p>Get it published in an academic journal.</p>
<p>Actually Howard Zinn didn’t write that book.</p>
<p>Even I was wondering how to send in my research! So, do I get the prof who has reviewed my work to put in a recommendation letter of sorts along with the teacher recs, with a note from my Principal?? And, if research isn’t part of any science fairs, is it seen as child-stuff or something(which it certainly is NOT)?? And can research go under one of the ECs??</p>
<p>Get him to publish it!</p>
<p>Also, the big thing about research is PEER REVIEW. If it’s really exciting and groundbreaking, post it to online academic journals (like [arXiv.org</a> e-Print archive](<a href=“http://arxiv.org/]arXiv.org”>http://arxiv.org/), maintained by Cornell University Library). Seeing his own research CITED by others will be the best part, and will especially impress adcoms.</p>
<p>Groundbreaking research after all, should be used for a purpose much more transcendent than mere college admissions … 
If it’s something to be cited in a resume later on, peer-reviewed research (rather than mere “summer research”) can be used later on.</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure Duke has an essay specifically to discuss research. Other schools might as well.</p>
<p>MIT, Amherst also!</p>
<p>Thanks, galoisien. That certainly will highlight his work, not to mention help him as he progresses with his research. I’ll check out the link.</p>
<p>What if the research doesn’t provide significant outcomes? </p>
<p>I’ve been working with an Environmental Science prof. and a couple undergrads on a research project that has to do with sand and water (rather not disclose full details), but it’s not something that will totally change the world.</p>
<p>I guess not much we do can significantly change the world … that’s why we have to go to college and learn …</p>