<p>I'm applyin early action to MIT. I was advised by my EC to send a research paper that I wrote. Even if I didn't win any awards for Siemens, should I still send the paper, and can it put me at a disadvantage?
Also, if I do send the paper, should I not write about my research for the "Creating ideas" essay? Lastly, if I do send the paper in, and if it arrives to MIT late (2 weeks max), will the officers not look at it?</p>
<p>You should send in your research paper. Don't worry about if it didn't win anything in Siemens. Siemens isn't even a very good way to measure the quality of your work. You can write about it in your create something essay, but if you send in the paper, don't talk about the technical details. Talk about the other aspects of it. How did you work with people. What obstacles did you overcome, etc.</p>
<p>Even if it arrives 2 weeks late, o well. I suggest getting first class ground mail overnight. It costs $5 to send as much stuff as you can pack into the envelope. I used it to send 4 different papers, and some other stuff. Sure it's a tad more expensive than mailing it normal, but at least it'll take the worry off your mind.</p>
<p>I thought MIT specifically said on the admissions website somewhere not to send research papers, but to write about the research in the optional essay. I think they say they care less about the research and more about what you learned from it.... I forget where I read this but it was somewhere on teh admissions site I think</p>
<p>ive heard just to send abstracts to colleges. Do you really thipnk they're going to read ~20 extra pages from one applicant?</p>
<p>From Matt</a> McGann's blog entry last fall on the topic of Supplemental Materials (underlining mine):
[quote]
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.
[/quote]
Summarize and discuss your interest and your work, don't send the entire paper.</p>