Co-First Author

[ChymeofPassion]

How are co-first authors viewed ("2nd" co-first author, in this case) for M.D only admissions? I've been told that science is getting more and more collaborative and this is becoming a more common trend.

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[PhilzCoffeeAddict]

It's getting very common. I believe when you submit it'll state on the paper that you and the individual are both first authors of the paper.

 

[ChymeofPassion]

It's getting very common. I believe when you submit it'll state on the paper that you and the individual are both first authors of the paper.

Yes, there is an asterisk above names as well as a denotion * = co-first author. I was mainly asking about the perception with med school admissions, first author vs glorified second.

 

[PhilzCoffeeAddict]

Honestly, I haven't met any undergrads with first authors publications. If you can get co-first author, I think you're in great shape and I'm sure they'll be stunned (assuming GPA, mcat and ec are high as well).

 

[aldol16]

List it as co-first author. Unfortunately, due to the laws of physics, somebody has to come first in the publication and if they search the publication, they'll see it indexed with you as second. But if they read into it more, they'll see that asterisk and it'll be fine. But at the end of the day, it's still an achievement and you'll be asked about it on interview day. At that point, your position on the author list isn't as important as articulating your role in the project and what you learned from it.

 

[efle]

List it in your AMCAS as:

John Smith*, Jane Doe*,...

*These authors contributed equally to the manuscript

it will be very obvious it's a co first authorship and still interpreted as you leading on the project/paper

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

How are co-first authors viewed ("2nd" co-first author, in this case) for M.D only admissions? I've been told that science is getting more and more collaborative and this is becoming a more common trend.

Any publication looks great. Congrats on getting a first author pub.