. Forum

[zaetoroftheprotoss]

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[ph14]

Hey everyone,

I was just wondering if adcoms would be concerned about having done research work without having any publications to major journals to show for the effort? More specifically, I received an A on my honors thesis, which covered some of this work, but I have 2 years of research experience in one lab and about a year in another without any first or second authorships. I hope to have at least two publications sometime this year before I apply, but I am wondering about the (potential) impact in case I have none.

Background: I just graduated with a STEM major from a top research university in the US.

I seriously doubt it.

[zaetoroftheprotoss]

I seriously doubt it.

If you don't mind me asking, why? I thought that not having anything tangible to show for the work would be considered akin to a gap in employment?

[ph14]

I seriously doubt it.

If you don't mind me asking, why? I thought that not having anything tangible to show for the work would be considered akin to a gap in employment?

Because you're applying to law school, not a Ph.D program in that field. And, in any event, with the way law school admissions is generally accepted to work, publications would be a positive, but the lack of publications is not going to be a negative. Either way, you're going to get results in the ballpark of your LSAT/GPA.

[cron1834]

I seriously doubt it.

If you don't mind me asking, why? I thought that not having anything tangible to show for the work would be considered akin to a gap in employment?

It's not. That's stupid. I've been involved in both private sector hiring and grad admissions, and I've never heard anyone say that. Research operations need assistants, and assistants don't always get authorship. Plus, lots of people do research just b/c it's what one must do in order to get a degree(s) and teach.

[zaetoroftheprotoss]

That makes a lot of sense! Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions!