Publication before application???

[knight3w]

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I am not sure how extensively this has been talked about before. I searched but I wanted to get some updated opinions on it...

Has anyone been published before they applied and do you believe this helped you?

Do you think first authorships would help at schools that a person is not normally competitive at?

If you inferior stats at a research oriented schools, would they still consider you if you had a good publication record?

Thanks for your help...

 

[Pinkertinkle]

I think publications are of marginal value in overcoming a bad GPA or MCAT. However, they can much improve one's chances of getting into the top schools if one has otherwise reasonable numbers.

 

[knight3w]

I think publications are of marginal value in overcoming a bad GPA or MCAT. However, they can much improve one's chances of getting into the top schools if one has otherwise reasonable numbers.

Yeah, I dont mean bad gpa or mcat. Rather, I am talking about average MCAT and GPA like 3.5, 32. Anyone have any experience with this?

 

[MassTransport]

It'll depend on a lot of things, but I'd think a first authorship would do some good. Try your luck in the mentor forums, one of them can give you a better answer.

 

[knight3w]

It'll depend on a lot of things, but I'd think a first authorship would do some good. Try your luck in the mentor forums, one of them can give you a better answer.

Cool, I'll try that. But if anyone has any experience applying with these things, you're input is much appreciated.

 

[premeddick]

Cool, I'll try that. But if anyone has any experience applying with these things, you're input is much appreciated.

I am applying this time with some pubs. I dont really know how much it will help but we'll see? I have been highlighting my research in all my secondaries. And I talked about my pubs a lot in my primaries. My hope is that it will draw attention from the research schools.

 

[knight3w]

I am applying this time with some pubs. I dont really know how much it will help but we'll see? I have been highlighting my research in all my secondaries. And I talked about my pubs a lot in my primaries. My hope is that it will draw attention from the research schools.

I want to try and leverage my publications as much as possible at the research schools too. This should help, I think? How many applicants actually have publications????

 

[knight3w]

bumpity bumpity bump

 

[HreComesTheSun]

i had multiple publications when i applied, including first author...i would say it helped a bit at the stage where they screen for interviews, because it makes you stand out, as most applicants don't have any publications period. however, i think a solid mcat score was much more important for me at that stage, because a colleague of mine has even more pubs than i do, but markedly lower mcat, and a reapplication is very likely for her.

once you get to the interview, however, publications can make you shine as an applicant. i showed up with color reprints of my most recent first author pub to every interview, and my research would almost always take up the half hour. the best part of discussing your work is that you will know more about it than your interviewer the vast majority of the time, and this is why for me the interviews were generally pretty enjoyable. and fwiw, i never got grilled about any weaknesses in my app. as a matter of fact, the only time it was mentioned was when we finished discussing my research and an interviewer laughed at me for not being as focused during undergrad coursework. that's about it. i ended up with 3 interviews-->3 acceptances