Will non-relevant research/publication hurt me? Is it beneficial at all?

[nnguyen]

I am currently majoring in electrical engineering and mathematics. I am applying to graduate school for Operations Research/Industrial Engineering.

I did my senior thesis in electrical engineering (on circuits) and recently found out that it got accepted to a 2nd-tier journal.

Should I mention this in my statement of purpose? My advisor suggested that I do so as it shows that I am capable of doing research. However, as it is not relevant to the field where I am applying to, I am not sure if it would be beneficial at all. If I do mention the paper, I am not sure how I can tie it in with my research interests. Is it possible that it will hurt my application?

 

[stevenb]

I am currently majoring in electrical engineering and mathematics. I am applying to graduate school for Operations Research/Industrial Engineering.

I did my senior thesis in electrical engineering (on circuits) and recently found out that it got accepted to a 2nd-tier journal.

Should I mention this in my statement of purpose? My advisor suggested that I do so as it shows that I am capable of doing research. However, as it is not relevant to the field where I am applying to, I am not sure if it would be beneficial at all. If I do mention the paper, I am not sure how I can tie it in with my research interests. Is it possible that it will hurt my application?

It shouldn't hurt your application, and would likely help. Your advisor's advice (hmmm, is that why they call them advisors?) seems sound to me.

 

[jbunniii]

It shows that you are capable of performing research and writing a paper that passed peer review and was accepted for publication. That is, in a nutshell, precisely what graduate school is about. It is certainly worth mentioning, regardless of immediate relevance to your field. Many competing applicants will not have any published papers (unless it's MIT or similar).

 

[xGAME-OVERx]

I'd say it's 100% worth it. I mentioned a physical chemistry publication almost ad naseum on my theoretical physics postgraduate applications, and it seems to have done the trick. The publication was even mentioned on a scholarship nomination letter from one of the universities.

 

[twofish-quant]

Should I mention this in my statement of purpose? My advisor suggested that I do so as it shows that I am capable of doing research. However, as it is not relevant to the field where I am applying to, I am not sure if it would be beneficial at all.

I think it will be. There are some basic skills in doing research that are the same across different fields.

If I do mention the paper, I am not sure how I can tie it in with my research interests. Is it possible that it will hurt my application?

Ask your adviser. If you can't think of anything else, just mention that you've done research in an unrelated field and you liked it.

 

[╔(σ_σ)╝]

This is off-topic but did you actually double major in EE and math. I wanted to do this but my uni didn't let me. :'(

 

[nnguyen]

Thanks everyone for your input! I will definitely speak to my advisor on how to incorporate the paper into my SOP and make it align with my current research interests.

Also, yes, I am majoring in EE and Math. I had the Calculus sequence, Diff. Eq., Lin. Alg. and most of the Gen. Ed. requirements (Physics I&II, etc.) completed through AP tests and summer courses so I was a bit ahead. I finished my EE degree at the end of my junior year and now only have math courses left to take. My university had no qualms about my concurrent majors as there were a few people who had the same combination before me.

 

[oyolasigmaz]

So, from what I have read in this topic, can I say that if I do summer research about math -I am not talking about its possibility- and apply to physics grad school, it wouldn't hurt my application anyway, except when the research is not successful? I am thinking of summer research, and found out my math side is stronger than physics for now, as I haven't really gotten into too much physics, so I was thinking of applying to math programs.

 

[╔(σ_σ)╝]

Thanks everyone for your input! I will definitely speak to my advisor on how to incorporate the paper into my SOP and make it align with my current research interests.

Also, yes, I am majoring in EE and Math. I had the Calculus sequence, Diff. Eq., Lin. Alg. and most of the Gen. Ed. requirements (Physics I&II, etc.) completed through AP tests and summer courses so I was a bit ahead. I finished my EE degree at the end of my junior year and now only have math courses left to take. My university had no qualms about my concurrent majors as there were a few people who had the same combination before me.

How exactly did you finish and EE degree so fast? Where you taking 7 classes ? What about liberal art classes ? What you did is amazing !

 

[nnguyen]

So, from what I have read in this topic, can I say that if I do summer research about math -I am not talking about its possibility- and apply to physics grad school, it wouldn't hurt my application anyway, except when the research is not successful? I am thinking of summer research, and found out my math side is stronger than physics for now, as I haven't really gotten into too much physics, so I was thinking of applying to math programs.

I recently talked with my advisor and he helped me straighten out my SOP. I managed to tie some of my research experience to my research interests. I think any research opportunity is a plus regardless of whether you got something published or not. I also talked about an REU that I participated in which only resulted in a poster presentation at a small regional conference. I don't think the research was "successful" but it was still a great experience overall and something worth mentioning. I am pretty sure you can somehow tie in your math research with physics. If not, you can always talk about how it helped you developed mathematically. As everyone suggested, definitely seek help from a mentor or advisor. Helped me out a lot.

How exactly did you finish and EE degree so fast? Where you taking 7 classes ? What about liberal art classes ? What you did is amazing !

7 classes would be insane! The max I've done was 6 classes (digital circuits, solid state devices, analog integrated circuits, intro. to proofs and 2 Gen. Ed.) which was a horrible experience (got my first two B's that semester). I started research in my sophomore year which was approved for credit which helped cut back on the number of major elective classes I needed to take.

 

[╔(σ_σ)╝]

7 classes would be insane! The max I've done was 6 classes (digital circuits, solid state devices, analog integrated circuits, intro. to proofs and 2 Gen. Ed.) which was a horrible experience (got my first two B's that semester). I started research in my sophomore year which was approved for credit which helped cut back on the number of major elective classes I needed to take.

Even that is crazy. Right now I have 6 class ( signals, microprocessors (assembly), electronics 2, probablity and stochastic process, real analysis and eletromagnetism) and I am barely sleeping. The lab for assembly is a killer.

If I want to have a minor in math , note MINOR, I have to keep taking 6 all the way to 4th year plus summer school to take my librals.

I did research too over the summer but it didn't count for anything. :'(
What math classes did you take ?

 

[nnguyen]

Even that is crazy. Right now I have 6 class ( signals, microprocessors (assembly), electronics 2, probablity and stochastic process, real analysis and eletromagnetism) and I am barely sleeping. The lab for assembly is a killer.

If I want to have a minor in math , note MINOR, I have to keep taking 6 all the way to 4th year plus summer school to take my librals.

I did research too over the summer but it didn't count for anything. :'(
What math classes did you take ?

For upper division, I've taken ODE, Scientific Computing, Real Analysis I, Probability Theory, Applied Stats., Lin. Alg. and Advanced Lin. Alg. so far. This upcoming semester, my final one, I will take Real Analysis II, Stochastic Processes and a grad course in Combinatorial Optimization.

How many math courses is required your math minor? I find math courses less time consuming than EE courses as the amount of work is cut back severely. If you can, I would check to see if you can test out of some of the gen. ed. requirements through CLEP tests if you are at a US institution. I was lucky enough to get everything out of the way through AP and only had to take two upper division gen. ed. courses.

 

[╔(σ_σ)╝]

For upper division, I've taken ODE, Scientific Computing, Real Analysis I, Probability Theory, Applied Stats., Lin. Alg. and Advanced Lin. Alg. so far. This upcoming semester, my final one, I will take Real Analysis II, Stochastic Processes and a grad course in Combinatorial Optimization.

How many math courses is required your math minor? I find math courses less time consuming than EE courses as the amount of work is cut back severely. If you can, I would check to see if you can test out of some of the gen. ed. requirements through CLEP tests if you are at a US institution. I was lucky enough to get everything out of the way through AP and only had to take two upper division gen. ed. courses.

I have to take 2 more math courses. I have already taken analysis, I am taking abstract algebra next semester. I have already taken complex analysis, the usual calculus sequence for EE's and linear algebra. Basically, analysis was/is my only pure math course. Complex analysid was watered down for the biology students in the class; it was like calculus 2 all over, just with z's and laurent series and cauchy integral formula.

Unfortunatly, I am in Canada and my uni is strict with the gen ed classes.

I would like to taken general topology at some point. Btw heads up stochastic process can be difficult; but I guess you would know since you already took probability.

Probability and stochastic processes is one of the more challenging math courses for me.

Are you planing on taken an algebra or number theory class ?