<p>Is working (on actual projects) at a very honored biochem lab (2 summers as full time, and two years part time) (at a distinguished school) an excellent EC or just average?</p>
<p>It is more than average, but it is hard to tell how an admission officer would see it. From my perspective, you are passionate about science and will want to pursue a major in engineering or science in college. Passionate students are what colleges look for in an applicant. Specifically, what do you work on and what does it go towards?</p>
<p>well, this isnt the whole story, i did a summer research program and yearlong research project (the year prior to working) where my project won first place in all science comp. untill regional, where the fairs ended. since i loved doing research so much, i decided to work in a lab. every year so far i have taken at least 2 science courses (all a’s in them) and plan to major in biochem. my work is contributing to a long term project in the lab.</p>
<p>It’s a great EC, if everything else is stellar for the schools you’re applying to, it will certainly be seen as a significant commitment.</p>
<p>^^ from the added information above, the schools you apply to should be excited to see experience you have gained from your work. From my perspective, it seems that you already know a great deal about biochem, which will make you a stronger applicant.</p>
<p>if the Principal Investigator writes you a letter of recommendation that is personal because she/he clearly knows you and is impressed with your work – that is an excellent EC. If some postdoc or grad-student pens it, then it doesn’t carry near as much weight. Same thing if the PI signs her/his name to a letter someone else wrote; its a much smaller world than you think. See, the adcoms don’t know anything about the academic research world. So if you get a letter of rec from the lab they’re going to ask someone in their department “Is Dr. X well known in <field>?” But in the world of research its a small club, and the faculty member either knows X or someone else in the department does; they’ll call X, and if he’s never heard of you then that’s what the adcoms will be told.</field></p>
<p>You may be thinking “I’ll just list the EC and not submit a letter”. But any adcom worth their salt will wonder why someone who has done such a bang-up job at the lab didn’t send in an extra letter of rec when that would be such a plus; the obvious conclusion is no letter because you didn’t do such a bang-up job after all.</p>