<p>Need advice.
I did research this summer (no awards yet). My research paper is 10+ pages and my mentor is also writing me an extra recommendation letter. I'm pretty sure my research paper is not all that impressive. I've already stated that I did research in the commonapp and my recommendation letter will also expand on that. Should I still submit an abstract or paper? Or will the mediocre abstract or paper detract from my app?
I'm planning on asking my mentor to explain my research and my involvement in his lab in the rec letter. I'm applying to competitive ivy schools.
All advice is appreciated. Thanks!</p>
<p>Did you write the research paper yourself?</p>
<p>Yes. I have decided not to send in my research paper because it is 20 pages, and I doubt they want to read that. Instead, I’m having my research mentor write about my project and experience in lab in the additional recommendation letter. Hope this helps anyone who is also having the same problem.</p>
<p>I submitted an abstract, but not an entire paper!</p>
<p>I contemplated submitting an abstract but my research is not completed yet (gene sequencing takes a long time…). I know someone who did not finish their research, submitted an abstract, and got into Princeton, so I don’t think it’s a big deal. I just had my mentor write about my involvement in research, did not submit additional paper or abstract, and got into Yale! Whether or not an abstract was submitted was not that big of a deal</p>
<p>I would strongly suggest submitting an abstract. (I’m applying to Princeton, and I’m planning to do so. )</p>
<p>My understanding of the process is that they send your abstract to the appropriate department (it would be molebio in your case I guess) which assesses your work, and then writes a letter to the admissions committee discussing its caliber etc. A full paper, however, would take waayyy too much effort to read and comment on, as you noted.</p>