<p>I'm an undergrad student at a 60-70th ranked undergrad mechanical engineering university and plan to get into a top ME graduate institution. I will start research soon as an undergrad sophomore but with basic stuff such as cleaning stuff for now I think until I acquire more skills. I was wondering how important is getting something published and how advantageous is it to have a publication on your application for a top tier grad school? Is my chance of getting in one greatly reduced if I don't have a publication? also the place I will be researching at hasn't had any undergrads that have published anything there I think from the looks of the website, is that a downside?</p>
<p>Despite what people say on CC, most undergraduates do not have publications. The most important thing is research itself (which may result in a publication) and the letters of recommendation that come out of it.</p>
<p>thanks. and for letters of recs, 3 are needed. So if I get one from the professor I’m researching for, should I get to know 2 other professors that are just teaching classes I’m enrolled in and ask for 2 more that way, or is there another way to become more acquainted?</p>
<p>Hopefully you can spend at least one summer on an REU or researching at another school/lab some other way, so you can make some additional contacts that way.</p>