Published Undergrad?

[hereandnowiamu]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hello everyone,

Recently I was able to co-author a paper on some interesting research and it is being submitted to a peer reviewed journal. I understand the process is tedious and may very well be sent back for revisions prior to publication, however I am only starting my 3rd year at my university and am hopeful it will be published by graduation. How helpful do you think this will be in my applications to medical school, if any?

 

[MassTransport]

Congratulations! It will certainly benefit you, but it's by no means a silver bullet. Research as an undergraduate is geared more toward getting an understanding of the process and cultivating interests and possibly contacts, not specifically toward making a substantive contribution. The benefit increases with number of publications and/or ground-breaking-ness of paper.

It becomes more important for MD/PhD candidates.

As with most things in this pain-in-the-rear process, the value comes in what you take away from it and how you present it more than what it actually is.

 

[littlealex]

It is definitely helpful, but by how much depends on the rest of your application.

Your question is like "how much do you think volunteering at the hospital will help?"

It is just one aspect of your entire application. It is a positive aspect, but it is still something you need to keep building on.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

Recently I was able to co-author a paper on some interesting research and it is being submitted to a peer reviewed journal.

I'm lead author on an article coming out this month, and another one coming out in October.

I understand the process is tedious and may very well be sent back for revisions prior to publication

Oh come on.....it's not that tedious. Just wait until you apply!

however I am only starting my 3rd year at my university and am hopeful it will be published by graduation.

Unless the paper is totally crap, it should be published before you graduate.

How helpful do you think this will be in my applications to medical school, if any?

It can't hurt.

It becomes more important for MD/PhD candidates.

What he said.

Research as an undergraduate is geared more toward getting an understanding of the process and cultivating interests and possibly contacts, not specifically toward making a substantive contribution.

Likewise.....most (probably >95%) undergrads lack the knowledge, skill and ability to contribute anything meaningful.

 

[Lonelion87]

I am in the same boat as you, and am waiting on a few articles to get through the 'maze'. I have heard from reputable sources that publications are a huge plus for medical schools with a strong emphasis on research. This leads me to believe you get more for it then the pat on the back you get for volunteering. Rightfully so. If you make a recognized contribution, it should garner more attention then answering telephones or handing out candy to the elderly (not that these things aren't important).

 

[neuro1617]

In a word: yes, it will be helpful. Especially for research-focused schools and if you really got somethign from it.

 

[hereandnowiamu]

I'm lead author on an article coming out this month, and another one coming out in October.

Congratulations on your paper. Without a doubt most undergrads do not contribute much. However, seeing as I am lead author on a second paper I highly doubt Northwestern would allow me to publish under their name if my contributions were not "meaningful." But thanks for the reply and good luck.

 

[HumidBeing]

OP, even though it's been awhile since you originally posted your question, you're obviously still around.

You're right. The process is long and tedious. I'd like to congratulate you on getting as far as submission. Submission, itself, is a first step toward publication, though it doesn't necessarily mean that it WILL be published. I know that I'm only stating the obvious, but many more papers are submitted for consideration than actually make it into print.

I'm a long way from ever even submitting anything, but when I do, I'll remember the words of our PI. He said not to be discouraged if a paper is returned heavily marked up. According to him, that's GOOD news because it means that it's under heavy consideration for publication.

So, I hope that, if you haven't already heard anything, that your paper is soon returned to you, heavily marked.

 

[Foghorn]

Without a doubt most undergrads do not contribute much.

Woooo!!! I've been co-author on 3 publications, 1 in Nature Genetics and 2 in Oncogene. Do abstracts count??? Currently working on project that will be, hopefully submitted sometime in Nature Structural Biology during late 2008, my first author publication