Research? (In need of someone who know what they're talking about)

Applying to College
1

<p>Hi
I am applying early to Northwestern University and will hopefully hit "Submit" either tomorrow or Wednesday, or this weekend by the very latest.</p>

<p>On the NU supplement to the Common App, there is an optional place to upload a document saying this:

[quote]
Statement on Research (Optional)</p>

<p>If you have done any research or independent study outside of school, please include an abstract or summary of your work.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Now, I know what research is, but I'm more of a humanities kind of guy so I almost always ignore these parts of applications. However, this one happens to include the bit about independent study. </p>

<p>This year, I researched, planned, and submitted to the school board a proposal for an independent study in Chinese Literature in translation. The curriculum I designed basically involves reading four novels from different periods in Chinese history and writing essays on each one to be evaluated by my Mandarin teacher. I could have done the reading on my own, but the proposal process allowed me to have it listed on my transcript as an actual class for credit. Chinese is my intended area of focus at college.</p>

<p>I have a document describing the entire program, with a statement of purpose and a short description of each book. I haven't completed the first of the books yet, but I plan to devote a lot more time to this after my college applications are finished.</p>

<p>My question is simple enough—is this the sort of "independent study" that the Northwestern supplement is referring to? I don't expect that it is, but naturally I want to include it if it would be at all acceptable. I have mentioned this independent study elsewhere on my application, but not talked about it in depth.</p>

<p>I can PM the complete proposal to anyone who is interested or who feels it would help them with their advice</p>

<p>Thoughts? opinions? your time is greatly appreciated!</p>

2

<p>My impression is that the application is looking for a summary of independent study you have substantially completed, not of a proposed project; after all, you may never get around to reading those books and doing the writing. Of course you could characterize the creation of your curriculum as a completed project in and of itself (and maybe that’s what you’re suggesting in your post?)–i.e. your submission to NU would cover the process of researching/creating a curriculum and drafting a school board proposal. Only you can determine whether that was a substantial enough endeavor to merit inclusion in the supplement.</p>

3

<p>I think you should describe the project in your app, in as much detail as space allows. Yes, you get course credit for it, but it shows the kind of independent initiative, creativity, self-motivation, and self-directed impulse to learn that are characteristic of genuine “research.” Frankly, if I were an admissions officer, I’d find this much more impressive than working X hours as a lab assistant on someone else’s research project—the kind of thing most applicants are likely to cite in filling up this space on the application. Be sure to explain that you’re getting course credit for doing the actual reading and writing. But to my mind, the original “research” here is in designing the course from the ground up, and then successfully making a case for it before the school board. That’s a major accomplishment that deserves more than just a passing mention in your application.</p>