<p>Siemens, as far as college apps, is kind of a heavyweight... People at my school who have gone deep into the competition have usually done VERY well for themselves. This obviously has to do with the fact that they are all around exceptional people, but I was curious if similar activity had as much impact. </p>
<p>For instance, if someone did the same thing Siemens entrants do, i.e. do original research and write a paper that includes a literature review and lab procedures, but instead of entering Siemens submitted it for publication somewhere (a professional journal or some such), and then presented it at a conference like Siemens regional finalists do, which has more impact? Is it Siemens because the projects are actually judged on merit, or the alternative because it's treated as a higher level paper? Are they equivalent?</p>
<p>Do you know how hard it is to get published in a respectable peer reviewed journal? Do you know how long it is to get published? Even if your paper is chosen, the editor of the journal may very well email you back the paper and ask you to make changes or add experiments.</p>
<p>It’s on the order of magnitudes tuffer than getting SF recognition from Siemens or JHSH.</p>
<p>Credential: My uncle is a NIH researcher and I’ve seen him working on a FOURTH draft for a peer reviewed journal. The editor sent his paper back to him, asking for at least 4 to 5 more experiments/ more data/ clarification.</p>
<p>Well, I worked in a lab over the summer, and the scientist decided I put enough effort on the project (I basically did all the lab work and observations and just gave him data ands a couple of my ideas, haha) and such that he put my name in it. Somewhere.</p>
<p>Getting published is mucho hard. Most Siemens projects (even many of those at nat’l level) would probably get rejected without a second glance. My dad is actually an editor for a smaller journal ( don’t know which) and he told me that he doesn’t think he’s ever accepted an article on its first submission.</p>
<p>Well I tried to keep the discussion general but if we’re getting down to personal specifics that’s fine too. The reason I doubt it’d go far in Siemens is that a major criterion of that competition seems to be how “interesting” a project is (or it seems). My research is more of a pure knowledge thing, and it’s not “interesting” since it basically just aims to increase knowledge in a traditional way.</p>
<p>And I’m not talking hypothetical situations here - I’ve coauthored a review on the verge of publication and the research abstract for my own individual project is being presented at the Aquaculture America meeting… so yeah, Jason, I kinda do. The paper being published is in its sixth draft.</p>
<p>I’m not sure but from what my research mentor told me, Siemens is somewhat superficial compared to real nitty-gritty research. I’d think a presented abstract and being a published coauthor trumps a bunch of experts deciding that they liked what you did more than other people’s equivalent.</p>
<p>And chill, Jason. I’m sure the Force is strong with ultimatejedi hahahahaha. I’m sure he knows how tough it is.</p>