What looks better for grad school admissions? An independent research paper or an REU?

I plan on doing independent research in astrophysics and the research published. I didn’t apply to an REU or any research summer program since I believed that I had no chance of getting accepted to one as a freshman.

I’m looking to go to Caltech, Princeton, or MIT for grad school in astrophysics.

Yes. GPA and course selection are pretty important too. As per your other thread, focus on your mental health, overall well-being, and getting the best grades possible in your undergrad studies. If those are taken care of, research and graduate opportunities will follow. But you seem to be getting things a bit out of order.

As a physics professor, I would advise you to start by getting good grades then when you have your academics under control, start doing research under the supervision of a faculty member. Getting results which are publishable can take several years and it is always good to have someone experienced to work with.

First things first, though. Start attending classes and putting in the time needed to get those good grades. Do whatever you need to make sure you are mentally fit to do this and then find a professor you can work with.

Right, getting published can be a lengthy process. My kid who is finishing her 2nd year of grad school finally had her first couple of papers for projects she participated in as an undergrad get published in the last month. There is another she worked on more than 3 years ago that still isn’t published yet.

My advice is as a freshman, don’t fixate on any one or small number of programs just yet. Your research interests may shift and change over the next few years.

When you say ‘independent research,’ what do you mean? Are you conducting research under the supervision of a professor this summer, with the hope towards working towards publishable work sometime in the future? Or are you striking out on your own? If it’s the latter, I would reconsider your plans. Completely independent work without the collaboration or supervision of a person with a PhD in your field (or at least who is working towards one, like a graduate student) is likely to appear dubious to graduate programs, as there’s no outside vetting to make sure that you know what you’re doing. This would be true at any stage of your undergraduate degree, but is especially true in your freshman year, when you don’t have much college-level education or knowledge in your field yet.

In your college years, as xraymancs and others have said, I’d focus on getting good grades and getting research experience with a professor in your field. A published paper is a nice-to-have, but it’s difficult to plan for as a college student.