<p>Just wondering how big a part research is in the admissions process-if I send a scientific paper in, will the admissions staff get it evaluated by an appropriate professor and use that in their decision making? Also, will being a participant in the Intel and Westinghouse competitions pretty much guarantee I'll be deferred EA at least-so that they can wait for the results (obviously being a semifinalist or finalist in those would probably put any reasonably competitive person over the top)?</p>
<p>From a blog entry by Matt last</a> fall:
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Research papers. I think research papers are best talked about in the completely optional essay ("about something that you have created") or in an extra recommendation from your research mentor. It is unlikely that if you submit a complete research paper that we will be able to have it properly evaluated during our process. We'll be most interested in your research experience: how you got interested in the field, how you acquired your research opportunity, your results, what you learned, how this experience influences your future plans, etc.
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<p>I also wouldn't say that Intel/Westinghouse participants are guaranteed to be deferred EA -- after all, about three-quarters of applicants in general are deferred EA, research contest participants or not. In other words, you're likely to be deferred EA in the first place, and participating in a science contest would never be the only reason someone was deferred to the RD pool.</p>
<p>Thanks for the thorough response-reason I had asked was because Caltech has a part of their application where they actually encourage submissions of papers so I was curious to know if MIT did the same. So basically any research can be talked about in the "creation" essay-it doesn't have to be an invention or something?</p>
<p>I know admitted students who included an essay about their artistic creative efforts for that section, it definitely does not have to be about an invention. :)</p>
<p>Good thread, I was wondering about that too.</p>
<p>So we shouldn't send them our paper? Matt said "It is unlikely that if you submit a complete research paper that we will be able to have it properly evaluated during our process." It doesn't hurt if we do right? And I'll be writing about the experience in the extra essay and getting a rec from my mentor.</p>
<p>Intel has a space on their application where it says to describe your project in laymen's terms in 150 words-this seems to be the right kind of thing to send in right?</p>
<p>Both of my boys sent in a one paragraph abstract of their research papers as an optional essay type thing. I would not send the whole paper.</p>
<p>I thought about this last year. Here is what I did.</p>
<p>My teacher recs were about my research. One of my essays was about my research. Most of my awards and time committment sheet thing was towards my research stuff, so I sent both copies of my research paper. I had a format of title, author/mentors, abstract, where it was presented and any awards, and hten the full paper. I sent a hard copy of each paper, with a note saying that of course I didn't expect them to read the whole thing. </p>
<p>I do think it adds to the psychological effect when the admissions guy just flips through your paper. Writing about passion staying up every night and blah is one thing, having the real equations in front of them to show them you did it is another.</p>
<p>Edit: Also, the Siemens (it's not called Westinghouse anymore, that part of the title was dropped) results come out before EA decisions. This is done specifically so that the winners can gain an edge in EA Admissions (from talking to the director of the Siemens Foundation). The Intel results come out in the spring, but the intel results are based on many things they can already see on your application, so they won't weigh it against you negatively.</p>
<p>Thanks differential.</p>
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I know admitted students who included an essay about their artistic creative efforts for that section, it definitely does not have to be about an invention.
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<p>I personally submitted an essay I had written for UChicago - i.e., I "created" the essay, so it fit!</p>
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Matt said "It is unlikely that if you submit a complete research paper that we will be able to have it properly evaluated during our process." It doesn't hurt if we do right?
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No, it won't hurt. But if it's not evaluated, it won't help you -- it would be a better use of your time and application space to send in something that will help, such as some of the things Matt suggests.</p>
<p>Like over30, I would suggest sending an abstract if you're tempted to send an entire research paper.</p>