References in Research Essay

[CaptYossarian]

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I know that any citations for my own posters should go in the work/activities section, but how about other references? In general, I guess it can't hurt--it shows I've done my own reading to develop ideas--but I'm starting to run up to the 10,000 character limit (spread over a few labs) and I don't want to skimp on my own work to include something that might be viewed as padding. Conversely, would omitting them be suspicious? It would only be some (author et al, 2032)'s included in the background sections.

 

[StIGMA]

It will be fine if you add a few citations. You are not writing a paper or a review article though, so only put them where required. It is not an issue if you don't cite some generic fact/background info (even though you would for a paper). Your readers are not going to go read your references. You will only get in trouble if you claim other work as your own.

To people who have not started yet: for most applicants, if you require citations of work from other labs to describe your project, you might be writing too detailed. Do you really need to describe your hypotheses by citing their data? Being more general may help, as researchers and MDs from various unrelated fields will be reading this essay. You will have a chance to show off at the interview.

 

[Neuronix]

I always recommend not putting citations in essays. A general explanation of the project's aims, significance, what you did, and impact/future goals is fine. This should take about a sentence each for each project. It should be understandable by any PhD or MD scientist, even outside that area of research.

 

[bd4727]

Yes I agree with Neuronix-- I guantee you that if you are writing an essay that requires citiations, you are not writing this essay correctly. No one cares about whatever pathway you studied. They want to know what you did on the project, what you learned from it, how much insight you had on the design, etc.

Seriously, do not go into detail about the science other than what is completely necessary to talk about what I described above. Doing so is, in my opinion, a Top 10 mistakes that applicants make.

PM me if you have more questions.

 

[StIGMA]

To reiterate, my statement to include citations was only directed at the OP. I specifically meant that it would be OK for him/her to include them IF removing them would be too time consuming (because the essay seemed nearly complete). It is not necessarily harmful to have a few citations (if you threw one in your intro and your app is submitted, don't sweat it!), but they are harmful if they are part of an unnecessarily complex essay that goes beyond what Neuronix and bd describe.

 

[CaptYossarian]

Thanks! I think most of my essay conforms to your recommendations, but I definitely need to cut down on the science in some parts.