<p>Hi Guys,
I will be applying for admissions in the fall 2014 session. Mainly aiming for ivy league and other top universities in top 20. I wanted to find out how much value a provisional patent will hold in my resume?
Can it boost my chances of getting an admit from the prestigious universities. I know there are a ton of other factors involved in the admission process. But just wanted to find out how much this helps.</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>It will depend a lot on the school/program and what the patent is for. A patent just means that you did something original and non-obvious, but it’s not a certification of quality or usefulness. There are millions of patents in the U.S.</p>
<p>What would be much more useful is describing what it is you have patented in your statement and the process of inventing/discovering it, and how it’s related to your potential for success in your intended program.</p>
<p>Point taken. I guess the SOP would be the best place to do this?</p>
<p>I think it also matters for what sort of lab you want to join. If you’re looking at one that produces a lot of patents it could raise interest. If you’re looking to join a theoretical physics group…not as much.</p>
<p>I am planning to do an MS in embedded systems so yeah they will have quite a number of patents being released.</p>
<p>Getting a provisional patent is easy, you just have to apply and it is issued automatically. To get a permanent patent is very difficult. It has to be approved by the patent examiners at the Patent Office and will normally cost several thousand dollars in patent attorney fees because it is nearly impossible for a layman to file a patent application that meets the strict criteria for approval.</p>