Is submitting an abstract for a conference worthy of an update letter?

[CoolSpot7Up]

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I'm submitting an abstract for a conference next week. Is that something of significance that I could include in an update letter to the schools I'm applying to? Thanks!

 

[Quix]

I'm submitting an abstract for a conference next week. Is that something of significance that I could include in an update letter to the schools I'm applying to? Thanks!

I'd only mention it if it's approved. I can submit a crap article to JAMA and legitimately say it was submitted and under review without there being a chance in hell of it being published.

 

[CoolSpot7Up]

I'd only mention it if it's approved. I can submit a crap article to JAMA and legitimately say it was submitted and under review without there being a chance in hell of it being published.

Oh, I'm not referring to a manuscript. This is an abstract that gets presented at a conference as a speech/presentation of current research. We won't be doing the manuscript yet.

 

[Quix]

Oh, I'm not referring to a manuscript. This is an abstract that gets presented at a conference as a speech/presentation of current research. We won't be doing the manuscript yet.

I realize that (some of my colleagues are submitting abstracts, too); the issue is whether the abstract has been accepted for inclusion. If it has, then you can include it; if not, then I wouldn't.

 

[alwaysaangel]

I realize that (some of my colleagues are submitting abstracts, too); the issue is whether the abstract has been accepted for inclusion. If it has, then you can include it; if not, then I wouldn't.

Yeah I'd agree with this. If it hasn't been accepted yet then just wait until it is.

Another possibility is send it as an update discriminantly. Send it when its useful to you to schools you are really interested in (include it in letters of interest). In fact, one of my classmates is leaning over my shoulder right now and he says he got here (UC Irvine) by sending in a letter of interest that included an abstract that is STILL not quite published, but mentioned that it was in the process. He attributes his acceptance to it - so it will probably help you.

 

[nyct]

I don't think it's a big enough of a deal to write an update yet.

If I were you, I would wait and see if you are put on hold at any schools. After that happens, send an update... it'll hopefully prompt them to review your file again.

 

[Captain Fantastic]

I realize that (some of my colleagues are submitting abstracts, too); the issue is whether the abstract has been accepted for inclusion. If it has, then you can include it; if not, then I wouldn't.

+1

If during the interview you're asked about your research you can tell them you submitted it, but I'd hold off on the update letter until you hear it has been accepted.

 

[DoctorPhud]

I'm submitting an abstract for a conference next week. Is that something of significance that I could include in an update letter to the schools I'm applying to? Thanks!

I think you're getting the wrong end of the stick here, and I think most other people are too. A "published abstract" isn't anything to write home about. To me, "published abstract" says "Couldn't get a paper/article published, so I'm clutching at straws". Most authors will have a list of articles/papers and then a list of presentations which is separate... Many will not even list their poster presentations and certainly not any abstracts. AN ABSTRACT IS NOT A PUBLICATION.

The abstract isn't the point; it's a trailer to what you're actually going to be presenting.

So, tell them concisely about the presentation that you are going to give (oral or paper), where and when. Clearly give the conference title, the presentation title and a list of authors. Make it a professional reference as you would see in a paper/article (follow a standard style, including the use of bold/italics, which will add emphasis, draw the eye, and show that you appreciate the way these things are formatted). Make it clear that "I shall be presenting..." and how it relates to your research (it's a chance to show commitment and long-term interest!). Then you can attach the abstract to your LOI as an appendix.

 

[154465]

Hey, I'm sorry to sorta go off topic but I am in a sorta similar situation and I did not want to start another thread. I am going to be coordinating the entire Alternative Spring Break program at my school this year. I'm not sure if I should send an update letter, my gut instinct is no but it can't hurt to ask. Thanks guys.

 

[alwaysaangel]

Hey, I'm sorry to sorta go off topic but I am in a sorta similar situation and I did not want to start another thread. I am going to be coordinating the entire Alternative Spring Break program at my school this year. I'm not sure if I should send an update letter, my gut instinct is no but it can't hurt to ask. Thanks guys.

Send it when its advantageous for you (after being put on hold, mention in interview, after being put on waitlist).

You want your file to be reviewed as many times as possible, most schools will re-review files after they receive an update letter. So decide which schools to send updates to based on how their admissions process works and when the best time is for you.

 

[154465]

Send it when its advantageous for you (after being put on hold, mention in interview, after being put on waitlist).

You want your file to be reviewed as many times as possible, most schools will re-review files after they receive an update letter. So decide which schools to send updates to based on how their admissions process works and when the best time is for you.

Thanks, I figured saving stuff like that as a last ditch effort is probably the best idea.

 

[alwaysaangel]

Thanks, I figured saving stuff like that as a last ditch effort is probably the best idea.

Thats what I did. Because in the end when you're waitlisted you want something significant to add other than just I LOVE YOUR SCHOOL PLEASE LET ME IN!! So if you save certain activities to add later it lets you do that. I was able to send 3 different letters to UCI and ultimately got it - so I really do recommend it. Its the most advantageous and strategic way to go about it.

 

[154465]

Thats what I did. Because in the end when you're waitlisted you want something significant to add other than just I LOVE YOUR SCHOOL PLEASE LET ME IN!! So if you save certain activities to add later it lets you do that. I was able to send 3 different letters to UCI and ultimately got it - so I really do recommend it. Its the most advantageous and strategic way to go about it.

It's probably the only way Georgetown will not laugh at my app and throw it in the trash. I think 15 letters will do it for me. Good luck with med school!

 

[Captain Fantastic]

I think you're getting the wrong end of the stick here, and I think most other people are too. A "published abstract" isn't anything to write home about. To me, "published abstract" says "Couldn't get a paper/article published, so I'm clutching at straws". Most authors will have a list of articles/papers and then a list of presentations which is separate... Many will not even list their poster presentations and certainly not any abstracts. AN ABSTRACT IS NOT A PUBLICATION.

The abstract isn't the point; it's a trailer to what you're actually going to be presenting.

So, tell them concisely about the presentation that you are going to give (oral or paper), where and when. Clearly give the conference title, the presentation title and a list of authors. Make it a professional reference as you would see in a paper/article (follow a standard style, including the use of bold/italics, which will add emphasis, draw the eye, and show that you appreciate the way these things are formatted). Make it clear that "I shall be presenting..." and how it relates to your research (it's a chance to show commitment and long-term interest!). Then you can attach the abstract to your LOI as an appendix.

I do agree with you, but we're talking about undergrads and the medical school application process not post-docs and tenure track CVs. I mean volunteer hours and being president of a club gets high billing on the application. Surely presenting one's research at a professional conference passes the litmus test for inclusion on the app.

With any luck the abstract will just be the trailer to the manuscript's publication, but getting a paper accepted and published takes months. In the case of medical school applications and particularly the current point in the cycle, a conference presentation is worth writing home about. Even though it's small potatoes in the "real world", it's something most applicants won't have accomplished.

 

[DoctorPhud]

I do agree with you, but we're talking about undergrads and the medical school application process not post-docs and tenure track CVs. I mean volunteer hours and being president of a club gets high billing on the application. Surely presenting one's research at a professional conference passes the litmus test for inclusion on the app.

With any luck the abstract will just be the trailer to the manuscript's publication, but getting a paper accepted and published takes months. In the case of medical school applications and particularly the current point in the cycle, a conference presentation is worth writing home about. Even though it's small potatoes in the "real world", it's something most applicants won't have accomplished.

Don't get me wrong... I'm not knocking people who do a conference presentation. It's a good thing to have done and should be promoted.

What I'm saying, though, is that it is arse-backwards to announce that you've had a abstract published. You're better off discussing the presentation and what you've been doing than telling them that you've had an "abstract published" because it's not a publication and gives the wrong impression, especially when the presentation is what you should be trumpeting.

 

[medbunny56]

bump, i'm submitting 4 first-author abstracts to a national conference and was wondering if this is worthy of an update

 

[mistafab]

The answer today is the same that is was in September 2007. It is not worth an abstract for just submitting an abstract.

It is only worth sending an update if an abstract/paper gets accepted.

 

[kb1900]

The answer today is the same that is was in September 2007. It is not worth an abstract for just submitting an abstract.

It is only worth sending an update if an abstract/paper gets accepted.

What if it's an abstract in a undergraduate journal, campus journal?

I have other things in my update but just wondering. I stupidly didn't include the published abstract in my original amcas

 

[Shirafune]

What if it's an abstract in a undergraduate journal, campus journal?

I have other things in my update but just wondering. I stupidly didn't include the published abstract in my original amcas

Worth putting on your application, but not in an update.

Imo, the minimum update in regards to research would be an accepted, peer-reviewed abstract at a sizable conference recognized by your field. Peer-reviewed and recognized conference kind of go hand-in-hand, so you're really only looking for an accepted abstract. So, no, I would not update with a published abstract in an UG journal.

 

[happypenguin28]

Sorry to jump in, but what about if you gave a presentation at a conference but it's the first year this conference was held and it was a small (<300 attendees) sort of "expert opinion/consensus" type of conference with only a few dozen speakers rather than a 15,0000-30,000 attendee conference with like 3,000 abstracts? It was an international conference and the organizers are very well known in the field, but many who are even in the field might not have known about this particular conference. On the other hand, speaking at the conference involved being invited and the presentation was during a plenary session and the conference was single-track so everyone at the conference was listening/it wasn't just like a poster presentation or an oral that nobody attends...?

(This would be for an update letter hypothetically, btw)

 

[Shirafune]

Sorry to jump in, but what about if you gave a presentation at a conference but it's the first year this conference was held and it was a small (<300 attendees) sort of "expert opinion/consensus" type of conference with only a few dozen speakers rather than a 15,0000-30,000 attendee conference with like 3,000 abstracts? It was an international conference and the organizers are very well known in the field, but many who are even in the field might not have known about this particular conference. On the other hand, speaking at the conference involved being invited and the presentation was during a plenary session and the conference was single-track so everyone at the conference was listening/it wasn't just like a poster presentation or an oral that nobody attends...?

(This would be for an update letter hypothetically, btw)

If it's a peer-reviewed abstract, then update schools with a copy of the acceptance notice. Adcoms are not going to know if an abstract comes from a small or big conference. They will probably know if it's an undergrad or professional conference.

 

[happypenguin28]

If it's a peer-reviewed abstract, then update schools with a copy of the acceptance notice. Adcoms are not going to know if an abstract comes from a small or big conference. They will probably know if it's an undergrad or professional conference.

I don't actually have an "acceptance notice" or anything like that. Without going into too many details, I was offered this opportunity because I work for an organization with a well-respected patient opinion in this field and I was representing our views. We didn't conduct research and submit our findings, we were asked by the conference organizers to speak on a specific topic they assigned due to our perceived expertise/authority in the area. Most of the other speakers were easily aged 50+, very well-known in the field, and are frequently on the conference circuit (including the largest ones in the field) giving expert opinion/summary of the field talks rather than presenting abstracts (the new research they do present once in a while comes from global, late-stage clinical trials normally). It's kind of a weird thing for a young pre-med to speak at, but it was an incredibly interesting experience and I'm grateful for the opportunity, just unsure how to position it...

 

[Shirafune]

I don't actually have an "acceptance notice" or anything like that. Without going into too many details, I was offered this opportunity because I work for an organization with a well-respected patient opinion in this field and I was representing our views. We didn't conduct research and submit our findings, we were asked by the conference organizers to speak on a specific topic they assigned due to our perceived expertise/authority in the area. Most of the other speakers were easily aged 50+, very well-known in the field, and are frequently on the conference circuit (including the largest ones in the field) giving expert opinion/summary of the field talks rather than presenting abstracts (the new research they do present once in a while comes from global, late-stage clinical trials normally). It's kind of a weird thing for a young pre-med to speak at, but it was an incredibly interesting experience and I'm grateful for the opportunity, just unsure how to position it...

I would update, but with just that. You can lump it in with other updates about your activities.