<p>Hi
does anyone know if duke wants a generic, layman's description or a scientific one (similar to my abstract)? Thanks!</p>
<p>the way i did it - i wrote a very scientifically involved answer. i was wondering the same, but if they really wanna understand it, theyll get someone who is scientifically inclined to read it. otherwise, i just sound like a giant science nerd, and they wont understand one word of it. oh well...</p>
<p>Yeah, but think of the hassle it would be for them to get someone "scientifically inclined" to look it over in the time alotted; there's a good chance they won't go to the trouble and then they'll overlook it completely. I think it's more valuable to say something that the admissions committee will understand and be able to see right away why your research was important/relevant. I'm sure they want to see that you actually understand what your research is all about in more general terms and why it means something. I don't think you're going to impress them by throwing all this jargon at them.</p>
<p>i feel like if i just told them "i study _______ cancer" it wouldnt do my research justice. its so much more involved than that - and to explain the physiology of the cancer alone would take a typed page response - and then to tell what aspect of it im studying?</p>
<p>maybe youre right, and theyll just think "this is stupid, he threw a bunch of scientific lingo at us"</p>
<p>but oh well - i guess i interpreted the directions differently than they wanted me to...</p>
<p>think i can rewrite it and call them up and send them a new essay if i already submitted my supplement??? ;)</p>
<p>I think you're probably fine. They definitely want to see that you understand the science of your research, of course. I think that if people just add a sentence or two in less-scientific terms about why their specific research is significant in the bigger picture of all cancer biology, for example, it would go a long way. I mean, from your essay, that might already be clear, and you're fine.</p>
<p>So I guess the answer is that a good combination of scientific explanation along with a clear, broader description that anyone could understand is best. But I may be wrong.</p>
<p>I would have at least two sentences in the beginning that any non-science admissions officer could understand. Then go into more detail. If your reader can follow, he'll be impressed, if he can't, he'll still be impressed with your work and think you can express yourself well in a technical manner.</p>
<p>When I applied I submitted my abstract and then underneath it I wrote what I did in laymens terms. Each part took up like half a page.</p>
<p>should i submit my paper also?</p>