<p>Hello, I've done some independent research about a huge prehistoric crater on Mars (independent means entire project was completed by myself include the abstract writting, no teacher or professor helped me)...my research abstract was accepted by an international conference and published in a supplement of an international journal(the "formal" journal has an above 3 impact factor) last year. The conference was included by the ISI proceedings and the NASA Astrophysics Data System at Harvard.</p>
<p>I attended the meeting at Swiss Federal institute of Technology (ETH Zuirch) and I got an enthusiastic recommendation letter from an ETH professor. I travelled in Switzerland all alone and arrived Jungfrau at Alps only wore sandals!!</p>
<p>I didn't get into ISEF because of unfair treatment in my regional fair. I have no mentor.</p>
<p>I have another research which Finite Element Analysis was used. I self- studied all background knowledge. I'm international and English is not my native language. Any of you sent your research to Yale for evaluation? How will them evaluate meeting abstracts? And how to prepare my research project for admission? Thanks a lot!</p>
<p>I do NOT know what admissions officers think of research abstracts as I've never heard them address your question. I know that Yale generally discourages sending supplemental materials. I would guess that if you note the research/abstract in your list of activities/awards, the conference it was accepted by, and where it was published, those things would speak for themselves as to the quality of your resarch. Sending the abstract might be superfluous and goes against Yale's stance of discouraging supplemental materials.</p>
<p>As for the letter of rec from the ETH professor, I would not use it unless this person has a deeper relationship with you than simply meeting you at a conference. If the professor doesn't really know you, then his/her rec won't count for much. It might actually hurt you b/c it looks like you're trying to use influence by having a letter of rec from an "important" person vs. someone who knows you well and can shed new light on your character.</p>
<p>Thank you. Because I didn't get into ISEF(it's the reason why I submitted it to the conference). I'm afraid without an ISEF will be insufficient. I want them know my research ability, and more directly, to enhance my chance. </p>
<p>I read the recommendation. It's pretty well. I use it only for supplementary and Yale is not on the mailing list.</p>
<p>I don't think the fact that you weren't part of ISEF is a huge deal--you proved yourself in a different way.</p>
<p>I would be wary of sending the professor's rec to any elite US college. They will all want supplementary recs ONLY from people who really know you, not just someone you met briefly who was impressed by you. That is true regardless of how great the rec is.</p>
<p>I think the fact that your research was truly independent would be a great topic for an essay--the challenges, motivation, and determination it took to do it all on your own.</p>