So far my research has been inconclusive whether I should as my situation is not the traditional my mom knows . Essentially on my own merits and outgoingness, I attained a research opportunity/research at a nearby university’s lab. For about 10 months, I worked on research on about an every three-day basis(averaged out). At the peak, I put in a 40+ hour week, so I was grinding pretty hard. This summer they offered me a paid internship to continue and expand my research where I will work 5 days a week during standard work hours (ish).
So this summer, I have become somewhat more visible and established due to my presence at lab meetings and such. So I’ve become more acquainted with other lab’s personnel because our PI and 3 others work very closely. Now it so happens that PI(one of the 4) of the lab adjacent to us, is a Nobel laureate. I’ve come to speak frequently and learn a lot from one of the members of that lab(who’s job is very related to my intended major).
Would it be appropriate for me too after writing about my research experience mention that I additionally had many meaningful interactions about [my field of interest] with another researcher who works in the _____'s Lab with some more stuff about the topic. This research experience stuff would be mentioned in a few supplemental, not the common app. Would it be too much to mention the Nobel laureate status of the PI. I have met the Nobel Laurette a few times but mentioning that might be too much.
My parents want me to milk it, especially my interactions with the Nobel laureate but I shut that down because i wouldn’t think of them as noteworthy. Would you say I’m right with this course?
This post may seem silly or paranoid but to in the words of Ivy Coach:
"Name dropping in college essays is a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad idea. It seems obvious on the surface why dropping names in the Personal Statement and supplemental essays is ill-advised. "
“Dropping Names in College Essays Always Backfires”
So what do you think would be appropriate to mention given the circumstances? Also, would this even be namedropping?
You did not actually work with this Nobel laureate on their research, but had some interactions in lab meetings. If you had worked closely with them, or they mentored you, then that would be different. I don’t see how you can mention this in your application.
I don’t think it matters much. What matters is, who you ask for a recommendation from this lab, and what they say about you. Also you should submit a research paper or summary of your research work, to your universities as a supplement , if they allow it. Some schools like MIT have an optional research portfolio you can submit. College Admissions Officers are usually English majors and will not care about name dropping, nor will they know the Nobel Laureate. What matters is, your scientific literacy, your abilities in the lab, and finding someone who can speak to your skills as well as discussing your scientific results in a meaningful way, and any tests and grades you have to back up your college application. Also did you submit your research to a local science fair? Did you win? Did you move on to a regional science fair with your results? Did you win a national prize in science? Then an Ivy League science might be open to you! Also, did you take optional exams like AIME and score well enough to qualify at a National level? Those are the markers that college admissions officers look for, as they tend to separate very talented science students from the pack of students who try to do research at a university.
One other hint, do not use the word “grind” if you hope to succeed. If the work was a grind for you, find another field to study that is not a grind. It sounds like you don’t really like science, if you phrase it that way, but I believe you are trying to say you put in a lot of hours and worked hard. Simply state the number of hours. It will be clear.
Yes.
I totally agree with @Coloradomama
But adcoms are not “usually English majors.”
There’s a way you could mention the laureate, especially because you said supps, not the main essay. But first you’d need to nail the rest. And your research doesn’t need to win anything. Adcoms know most kids are not breaking new ground. Often, just getting out of the hs box does it.
Right now, the important task is to ensure you do have some idea what your targets do look for.