Helping a prof with his research vs doing your own research.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Simfish
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Research
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the value of assisting a professor with research compared to conducting independent research as a student. It explores the implications of each experience for graduate school applications and the nature of research involvement in academia.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether assisting a professor is the norm for students applying to grad school and whether it is viewed as a disadvantage compared to independent research.
  • Another participant suggests that it is common for students to work with professors and that many PhD candidates do not originate their own research ideas, indicating that collaboration is a significant part of the research process.
  • A different viewpoint emphasizes that independent research is not entirely independent, as even those who write their own papers often rely on guidance and ideas from professors.
  • One participant claims to have written their research papers independently but acknowledges that they received ideas from references to enhance their work.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the significance of independent research versus collaborative work with professors. There is no clear consensus on whether one experience is definitively better than the other for graduate school applications.

Contextual Notes

Some participants highlight the complexity of defining "independent" research and the varying expectations of graduate programs regarding research experience.

Who May Find This Useful

Students considering graduate school, particularly those evaluating their research experiences and how to present them in applications.

Simfish
Gold Member
Messages
811
Reaction score
2
So all of my research experience so far has been done with helping a prof with his research. I haven't really done any independent research on my own. Is this the norm among students who apply to grad school? Is it not as good as me doing my own research? (and compared to students who have done their own research projects, is it a significant disadvantage?) Of course I can put it in my personal statement and say that I understood what my role was and the direction the research is supposed to take (e.g. show that I'm perfectly capable of having my own research project should I have the chance to do it)
 
Physics news on Phys.org
It's unusual for students who haven't already spent a few years in graduate school to know enough about a topic to come up with something original to study. Grad schools will expect you to have worked with a professor, and you'll be doing that in graduate school as well. Many people finish a PhD without having come up with very original ideas of their own and working on a suggestion from a professor instead.
 
Simfish said:
So all of my research experience so far has been done with helping a prof with his research. I haven't really done any independent research on my own.

Yes. It's normal. Also I don't think any research is truly independent, and if you find yourself a senior professor you'll find yourself talking with other professors and exchanging ideas.

Is it not as good as me doing my own research? (and compared to students who have done their own research projects, is it a significant disadvantage?)

I don't think that an undergraduate who writes a statement of purpose that claims that they have done their own research project without significant assistance and advice from a professor is going to be taken seriously.
 
Actually all my research paper are written on my own. Although I got some idea on the different references to make my research paper more academic one. Cause if you write your own research paper, you can explain it easily.
 

Similar threads

Ideas for a research project for my Aerospace dissertation?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Admissions PhD Admission: What Do Committees Want from an MS Applicant in Research?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
1K
Programs Take a 5th year to do more research?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
I'm sick of research and I haven't even started my career yet lol
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
4K
Admissions How Can I Overcome Limited Research Experience for Grad School in Physics?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
Admissions Research experience for physics grad school application
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
Other Looking for advice about my career....
  • · Replies 26 ·
Replies
26
Views
3K
Is Spending an Extra Semester in Undergraduate Research Worth It?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
Other Trying to find research opportunities but I am doing something wrong
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
1K
Other Need advice regarding choosing my master's research project in theoretical physics and applied maths
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K