<p>I will be applying to graduate school in engineering, probably top 5 schools in my major.</p>
<p>Please let me know what you guys feel about this. </p>
<p>Also, when people mention having two years of research, do they mean that's how long they have researched before graduating, or is it at the time of application?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>There is not a hard rule - some research is almost mandatory at top-5 schools, but more than the time it is the resulting LOR that is important. If a respected researcher gives you his blessing, they will not quibble too much about how long your research lasted. I had one summer of research leading to a non-peer-reviewed paper in an essentially uncirculated publication - I start UIUC for EE this fall.</p>
<p>Most people mention the research “yet to be done” right along with the “already done” work in their SOP. As to what people mention on this board, it doesn’t really matter. If you have 3 semesters of research NOW, that is pretty good.</p>