Should I submit an update?

[MikeA613]

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Hi yall!

I wrote about a lit review for one of my experiences on my primary, and I titled it First Author Publication – [Title of paper]. However, it hadn't been published by the time i submitted. It was just published today in my school's science journal. Should I submit an update to schools or not bother?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I'd wait until you get interviewed. Even so, if this is your student science journal, it's not going to carry much weight for you IMO not knowing details.

 

[PickaGodnPray]

The way you worded that is misleading. I don’t know the specifics of your school’s journal, but it doesn’t carry the same weight as an externally peer-reviewed publication. I hope you clarified in your application that this was a student or institutional journal, rather than implying external peer review. As someone involved in graduate admissions, I did a double take reading ‘school’s journal’ next to ‘first author publication’—that phrasing can come off as disingenuous even if unintentional. Best case reviewer rolls their eyes and moves on, worst case we flag it for misrepresentation.

 

[MikeA613]

The way you worded that is misleading. I don’t know the specifics of your school’s journal, but it doesn’t carry the same weight as an externally peer-reviewed publication. I hope you clarified in your application that this was a student or institutional journal, rather than implying external peer review. As someone involved in graduate admissions, I did a double take reading ‘school’s journal’ next to ‘first author publication’—that phrasing can come off as disingenuous even if unintentional. Best case reviewer rolls their eyes and moves on, worst case we flag it for misrepresentation.

That was total oversight. However, I did write the "The Science Journal of ____ School" for the organization. What do you recommend I do?

 

[PickaGodnPray]

Then you are fine and don't worry about it. Best thing to do is when your interviewer asks if you have anything else to share, you can mention that your paper was published in the schools journal but make sure not to make it sound stronger than it is. Use it as a springboard to explain how while writing it, you found yourself wanting to know more and hope to explore it through xyz at School X.

 

[MikeA613]

Would you recommend I send an update with the link to the pub and clarification of my title? I would hate to get screened our for something like this....

 

[MikeA613]

Here is how i worded the description with a few blanks for privacy:

This led me to investigate if ____, a common household item, could pose public health risks. Through a critical review of peer-reviewed literature on _____, I found _______.

 

[PickaGodnPray]

No, the publication isn’t significant enough to justify an update. Drawing more attention to it might actually hurt your app, especially if reviewers interpret it as overstated. Best to let it lie and focus on stronger elements of your application.