<p>I applied EA to MIT, and I’m now finishing up applications for the other 3-4 schools I’m applying to. Each time, I include the research I’ve performed at a local university as supplemental information. I’d be interested in knowing how MIT evaluates research, and if students with publications have a better standing than those who have none. Obviously, the process remains holistic and each applicant is judged independent of others, but the question remains: how interested is MIT in students who have demonstrated their passion for science through undergraduate research?</p>
<p>It’s definitely a positive, but with that said, MIT doesn’t punish those who do not have that experience. You will not be unique though in that you have the research experience.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Having done research as a high school student is a very positive thing to have on your application. MIT is, as one might imagine, very interested in students who have demonstrated interest and ability in science and engineering.</p>
<p>Publication is not necessary for an interesting and fulfilling research experience, and certainly the ability of a high school student to be published in the scholarly literature is highly field-specific – all publications are not created equal. So a student with a publication would not automatically be more attractive than a student without a publication, although it’s certainly positive if a student’s contribution to research is recognized with authorship credit in the scientific literature.</p>
<p>OK, that makes sense. I included with my supplementary materials two research papers. Not the full papers, mind you (MIT discourages this), but the published conference proceedings paper. This is a shorter, generalized version that is easy to understand by a layperson. To all those out there submitting research, I would suggest this route. If the paper was not published in the conference proceedings, I would just submit a well-written abstract with a picture or two. I would think both methods of submission would yield equal results.</p>
<p>I’ve always been under the impression that research is always favorable, but what Molly said makes sense too. I would think that if you’re coming from a school where it’s normal - if it ever is in high school - to be published, then it wouldn’t be as impressive as if you had to deal with much more limited resources.</p>
<p>Question for you, OP: I’m not yet published (hopefully this summer!), but I am planning to submit a research supplement to MIT. If you included pictures and formatting, did you send them a hardcopy in the mail? I was just planning to submit the research bit in the optional essay section. I’ve got an essay putting the research in context of my goals and whatnot along with a formal research abstract (ISEF) and a layperson’s summary (STS + a bit more).</p>
<p>By the way, if you’ve also done research, did you apply to STS?</p>
<p>I sent a hard copy in the mail, but I also uploaded my papers to GoogleDocs. I basically gave a brief description of my work in Part 2, but then said something like “more information can be found here” and provided the link. Also, I didn’t apply to STS (assuming you mean Science, Tech, and Society). I’m shooting for Course VII, concentrating in molecular biophysics/biochemistry. My papers were related to functional genomics and biochemistry. I’m hoping to start working under a physical chemist next semester whose research focuses on protein folding.</p>
<p>Ah, GoogleDocs, good idea; thanks for the information.</p>
<p>I was actually referring to Intel STS (Science Talent Search), I’ve not heard of Science, Tech, and Society. Wow, those sound like quite exciting plans. Good luck!</p>
<p>What percentage of MIT undergrads have already done research before going to MIT? I applied EA but I haven’t had any research opportunities where I live, and after seeing all of these I’m getting nervous…</p>
<p>I can’t answer for percentages, but from reading other posts on CC and on the admissions blogs, I don’t think that you should be worried about it. From what I’ve gleamed, I think that MIT looks much more at what you’ve done in context of your resources than at the absolute value of those achievements. Perhaps re-read post #3, as I think that touches on it as well.</p>
<p>But you can’t change it now, right? So no point in worrying about it. Good luck!</p>
<p>Thank you, I appreciate that. As soon as I hit hte last “Submit” button all of these second-guesses flooded in. Now I just have to wait!</p>