Sending Research Abstract

Applying to College
1

I want to send a research abstract of the project I worked on this past summer. Because of some complications, I won’t have the data necessary for a full research paper for early action deadlines. I have a few questions:

  1. Is it appropriate to include the abstract in the "additional information" section of the Common App?
  2. Do I need to include references in the abstract? Even if some parts (for example, the specific procedure) were made by the lab I worked at, and they haven't yet published those procedures?
  3. Should I include a sentence to introduce the abstract like: Abstract of my research project at ______ Lab this past summer:?

Thanks for the help!

2

Unless your PI has approved publication of this abstract, skip it. Do not discuss any techniques that are new!!! That could compromise your PI’s whole project. Just make a general summary to include in your resume section.

“I spent X weeks in the lab of Dr. Science, where I assisted with ongoing research on General Topics 1, 2, and 3, and developed skills in related laboratory techniques. This research will be presented/published at meeting Q/Journal Y in year Z I expect to be included as an author.”

3

Agree. It is not appropriate to jump the gun for application purposes. Believe me – my kid applying for grad schools has the same issue, and no way would she send the abstract for a paper not yet published. She would describe her work on it, and would say her expected author position if it was firmly known. But not send the abstract.

4

@intparent

You saved my life.

5

@happymomof1 @intparent if the PI has been helping me edit it and I’ve discussed sending it with him, do you recommend sending it? I don’t discuss any specific procedures or anything that could be replicated based on reading the abstract. Since this is the case, do you recommend sending it?

I was not going to submit a resume as I did a pretty good job of outlining pretty much every other important activity to me on the Common App, and I didn’t want to force an admissions officer to pretty much re-read all my activities just to read this one piece of information that I wanted to share.

Thanks for all the help :slight_smile:

6

If the PI says it is okay, that is different. You have the be clear about your role/projected author position and where the paper is in the development process.