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No Publications: Does This Matter?

Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2017 12:59 am
by FreddieBiddleBooty
Hey!

I am a masters student at a not-so-well known university with no publications. I have only a pre-thesis in number theory, and a pre-project in another topic (number theory with a different advisor). I also have an REU from undergrad with no publication. I know a lot of applicants have publications before they apply to schools. How important do you guys think this is? I guess I will also ask stackexchange academia this as well.

How would you compare someone with one (or two) publications to someone with a research profile similar to mine, in terms of grad school admissions?

Thanks all!

Re: No Publications: Does This Matter?

Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2017 1:15 am
by kieroda
Most people apply with no publications. Also, while publications do help, letters of recommendation are the most important thing, so just having a thesis adviser to recommend you is quite helpful.

Re: No Publications: Does This Matter?

Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2017 3:13 am
by djysyed
It also depends on the level of someone's publication. If a student produces an original high level research, then you will definitely have trouble against him or her. However, if it's some small project which you could have easily done yourself, then it's anyones game.

Re: No Publications: Does This Matter?

Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2017 5:34 am
by nothing
It mostly depends on the journal which that paper is published in. Most of the A and A* journals on austm are professional journals. If you have publications on A* journals than it certainly helps. However, I don't think it helps for the top 10 programs.