Publications and Posters

[reluctantPhd01]

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I feel like I am asking a lot of dumb questions---sorry!

I know this has been mentioned before, but I wanted to bring it up again, mostly because the previous post I saw about this was older.

How much do publications/papers REALLY help your applications for PhD programs?

Currently, I have two first-authored publications (my mentor is really fantastic; though I will admit, I have worked three years to get these), one co-authored chapter, and a dozen or so posters (some first author, some second or third author).

I know that these help, but do they compensate for a kind of sucky GPA (3.4 from an Ivy league)?

Also, since they are so commonly brought up as something that really helps for graduate school, how do students get accepted without them? Are they less necessary if you have a perfect GPA or something?

 

[dustycat]

I would think they would help a lot and it sounds like you have some good experience. It is just my experience (with a 3.9) GPA and good GRE score that a couple of professors told me I would have done better this application cycle with pubs. As it is, I only have a few posters.

Good luck! 🙂

 

[okayroots06]

I feel like I am asking a lot of dumb questions---sorry!

I know this has been mentioned before, but I wanted to bring it up again, mostly because the previous post I saw about this was older.

How much do publications/papers REALLY help your applications for PhD programs?

Currently, I have two first-authored publications (my mentor is really fantastic; though I will admit, I have worked three years to get these), one co-authored chapter, and a dozen or so posters (some first author, some second or third author).

I know that these help, but do they compensate for a kind of sucky GPA (3.4 from an Ivy league)?

Also, since they are so commonly brought up as something that really helps for graduate school, how do students get accepted without them? Are they less necessary if you have a perfect GPA or something?

not a problem. assuming your pubs are peer-reviewed and 1+ IF (impact factor journal) will boost your application. 1st author publication stands out and if it is published in a respectable journal (e.g., cognitive therapy and research, depression and anxiety).

a 3.4 GPA is not terrible and you will be fine on that front.

 

[reluctantPhd01]

One of my papers is Journal of Affective Disorders and the other is Emotion!

Do many people apply with more than 1-2 pubs?

 

[okayroots06]

One of my papers is Journal of Affective Disorders and the other is Emotion!

Do many people apply with more than 1-2 pubs?

J. of Affective is a great journal. Emotion is a top top journal with a very high IF. You will be a top candidate and will likely have a lot of schools knocking on your door.

Most individuals are likely if they have 1 peer-reviewed pub. You are in great shape. Congrats on your accomplishments.

 

[DocRacz]

Based on this and your other post about Letters of Rec, I honestly think you're overanalyzing things. From the sound of it, you have more publications than 99% of students, and you'll be getting good letters of rec. Relax. You'll be just fine.

 

[ventstri]

J. of Affective is a great journal. Emotion is a top top journal with a very high IF.

Not to nitpick, but from an impact factor perspective, these journals are identical. J. Affective's IF is 3.763 (http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/506077/description#description), and Emotion's is 3.726 (http://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/emo/index.aspx) (for those who don't know, a journal's impact factor is the ratio of the average number of citations of papers published in that journal for the last 2 years to the total number of papers published in that journal over that period--so an IF of 3 indicates that, on average, each paper published in that journal is subsequently cited 3 times over 2 years). Of course, IF is a debatable indicator of journal quality. Regardless, first-author papers in both journals bodes well for a grad school app.

 

[reluctantPhd01]

DocRacz, thanks for your indirect CBT!

And thanks for everyone's comments. I guess I just get paranoid because everyone seems crazy qualified!

 

[O Gurl]

I agree with everyone else that you are in great shape-- congrats! (And chill out )

A few additional points, though:

I know that these help, but do they compensate for a kind of sucky GPA (3.4 from an Ivy league)?

Also, since they are so commonly brought up as something that really helps for graduate school, how do students get accepted without them? Are they less necessary if you have a perfect GPA or something?

Like someone already pointed out, while a 3.4 is far from perfect, it is not "sucky." Esp. when coupled with solid research productivity. The rule of thumb in my grad program was that if you have a 4.0, you are probably neglecting some other important area of training (research or clinical development). Which, in my case, was true. I was a year late completing my thesis, but I had a really high gpa from my first 2 years. 🙄 I really had to get my act together for my dissertation.

Also, in terms of your question about successful applicants without pubs, I would say that this is more likely if one is applying straight from UG, has STELLAR academic records (summa cum laude/4.0 GPA, 1300+ GRE, phi beta kappa, so on...), has strong recommendation letters, and has some decent research exposure, like completing an honor's thesis project or presenting at a few conferences. That can make for just as strong an applicant as someone who took a couple years to produce good research like you did. Regardless of the route taken, if one works hard and plans well, it will work out. 🙂

 

[okayroots06]

Not to nitpick, but from an impact factor perspective, these journals are identical. J. Affective's IF is 3.763 (http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/506077/description#description), and Emotion's is 3.726 (http://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/emo/index.aspx) (for those who don't know, a journal's impact factor is the ratio of the average number of citations of papers published in that journal for the last 2 years to the total number of papers published in that journal over that period--so an IF of 3 indicates that, on average, each paper published in that journal is subsequently cited 3 times over 2 years). Of course, IF is a debatable indicator of journal quality. Regardless, first-author papers in both journals bodes well for a grad school app.

i stand corrected. i thought Emotion had IF of 7+. thanks for the correction.