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How "Independent" does Independent Research Need to Be?

Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2008 10:58 am
by secander2!
I'm working on the Harvard application and there's a question (255 character limit) which asks:
Please describe any project(s) that required independent work on your part and/or laboratories in which you have conducted independent research.
How "independent" does this sort of research need to be? I've been working with one of the LHC experiments, but most of my work has been related directly to the goals of the project or experiment I'm with and I've always had an adviser kinda directing me. I've got a publication, but I'm pretty far from being 1st author... what have you all been putting for this kind of thing?

Thanks for the help!

Re: How "Independent" does Independent Research Need to Be?

Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2008 12:18 pm
by coreycwgriffin
I think you'd be fine there. From what I've seen so far, independent research can mean just about anything except for, y'know, "follow this lab print out." If you've gotten a publication or conference presentation you should be golden.

Re: How "Independent" does Independent Research Need to Be?

Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2008 12:48 pm
by robertson
I agree with the last post. They probably want to point out that a research project does not always mean proper research. You have to be able to differentiate between what is learning advanced topics and do research. If you're name is in a paper, you have done independent research for sure (unless someone put your name because your the son of the spokesman of the group, and that's not the case :D)

Re: How "Independent" does Independent Research Need to Be?

Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2008 6:43 pm
by secander2!
Thanks everybody! That's really relieving to know!!!