manuscript that might or might not be submitted by app deadline

[applyingtograd]

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I'm a co-author on a manuscript that is very very close to being done. We have someone looking over it and then the first author is going to submit it. We think we can get it done before the Dec 1 deadline, but if that does not happen I am planning on putting the paper in my in-progress section on my CV. So I have a couple of questions regarding what I should do if we are unable to make the app deadline...
1) Is there some way I can indicate that the manuscript is complete on my CV or should I just list it as in-progress?
2) The manuscript will definitely be done by the first week of December and I'm guessing this is before decisions about interviews are made. Would it be a good idea to e-mail the schools with a status update? If so, who would be a good person to contact...the graduate secretary, my POI's...?
Thanks for the advice!

 

[InNae]

Congrats on the almost-submitted manuscript! I think you have a number of options, and I'll be curious to hear what others think. If you were one of my students, we would plan for one of the below if Dec 1 didn't happen (and possibly sooner, because you probably don't literally want to wait until Dec 1 to submit applications/letters, right?):

Option A. List on CV as "in progress/preparation", and have a letter writer clearly state/emphasize in the letter that the paper is days/weeks away from submission. This is my preferred option, because it is honest and it will already be part of the application package.

Option B. List on CV as "in progress/preparation", and, if you have been in contact with POI(s), send a brief update email when the paper is submitted. This is less preferred in my opinion, because there is no guarantee that everyone on the committee will be aware of the update. It would also be odd to send an update without prior contact with a POI.

Option C. List as submitted on the CV. I do NOT recommend this, and aside from the obvious issue, it's also important to be aware that a letter writer could inadvertently contradict such a stretch/untruth by noting in his/her letter that the paper will be submitted soon. It might seem like a small stretch, but it can make a reader wonder what else in the application might be not quite true.

What do others think?

 

[ResearchGirlie]

Congrats on the almost-submitted manuscript! I think you have a number of options, and I'll be curious to hear what others think. If you were one of my students, we would plan for one of the below if Dec 1 didn't happen (and possibly sooner, because you probably don't literally want to wait until Dec 1 to submit applications/letters, right?):

Option A. List on CV as "in progress/preparation", and have a letter writer clearly state/emphasize in the letter that the paper is days/weeks away from submission. This is my preferred option, because it is honest and it will already be part of the application package.

I like Option A. Professors get a lot of email around application time, so I wouldn't expect that they'd read an email or even an addendum noting that the paper was actually submitted.

It's also a great chance for your letter writer to reinforce your strengths and give examples of why you'd make a strong graduate student.

 

[AcronymAllergy]

I like Option A. Professors get a lot of email around application time, so I wouldn't expect that they'd read an email or even an addendum noting that the paper was actually submitted.

It's also a great chance for your letter writer to reinforce your strengths and give examples of why you'd make a strong graduate student.

Agree with this as well; option A seems like the best bet.