<p>Hey, so I have a chance to get published for a study our group did. Weird situation but I have a choice of either going home for a week or staying at school and working a ton on it and possibly getting my name on it. How impressive does ones name being published look on a med school application?</p>
<p>Oh, and itd be a paper about the binding modes of small molecules within nucleic acid strands in JACS. The grad says hes sure it will get published.</p>
<p>I’m not in college yet, but I would say to definitely stay at school for that week and get your name on the paper. It will definitely help on med school apps and you won’t regret the hard work.</p>
<p>Would your name actually be listed as an author? Or would you be acknowledged? </p>
<p>Unless you’re actually listed among the authors, it really doesn’t mean much.</p>
<p>There’s a pretty strict pecking order for authors: PI and collaborators (other professional scientists/professors), post docs, grad students. They’re the ones who typically the names that get an authors’ credential, with undergrads, techs, lab managers getting acknowledgements. At least that how it worked in most of the labs that I’m familiar with. An undergrad may get an author credential if he’s made a significant contribution to the project.</p>
<p>I’d be 4th author. I just found this out a little bit ago. I think I’ll be an acknowledgment otherwise.</p>
<p>Unless you have something pressing to do at home for that week, stay at school and do it. It’ll be a great experience no matter if you get published or not. The publication probably won’t help too much I believe, but there is nothing wrong in having it.</p>