Research??? · Rishab Academy

Research???

I saw an poll about highschool research, and it looks that people have come to the concensus of either wanting to do research, or are currently researching. I'm curious why?

High school research used to be a standout feature in college applications, but now that everyone and their grandma is doing research, the atmosphere feels different. Published research looks great (and is great) because it shows you cared so much about a topic that you contributed new knowledge at a collegiate/PHD level. But that's the key: collegiate level. The truth is that colleges will disregard your research if it's not published (either not at all, or published in an illegitimate journal). It doesn't matter how many predatory journals or research startup programs you got into, if at the end of the day, you had no impact in the field.

What I said you probably already know. From here on is where you might disagree with me, so let me know if you have differening opinions.

To even have a chance at publishing, you NEED a professor who has both the knowledge and resources to make a contribution to the field: otherwise it is not possible. Herein lies the problem: if everyone is cold emailing professors and being second/third/etc. author on research papers, it becomes no longer a standout activity, but a borderline required extracirricular. Colleges know that if you aren't first author, the paper was likely the professor's research idea/planning and you were just there to collect data and draft. (again, I might be wrong here, so correct me if I am). Obviously high-schoolers are capable of publishing breakthrough research as the first author (just look at Rishab), but what percentage of us is that?

Point being, there's so many people "doing research" just for the sake of publishing under a professor's wing that it detracts from research should be: a very big deal. I mean, what happened to making an impact just by building an app or inventing a product that helps others? I think the goal of doing research has moved away from making an impact in the field, to simply publishing a paper. Surely colleges see through this too?

I am not currently doing research, and by the end of this month I'd like to have made the commitment to either doing it or not doing it (I already have a topic in mind, sufficient knowledge of the field, and prior experience at a Duke engineering program. I.E. I am confident I could find a research position if I sent enough cold emails). The question is whether or not research is worth it, if the end result (publishing as nth author in a mediocre journal) is something thousands of other high-schoolers have on their application.

I want to hear opinions from people that have published research (sorry if you haven't published, your input is welcome but not exactly what I'm looking for). Should I do research with a professor, or spend that time making an impact in a different way? I am a sophomore, so I still have time to begin research, but no time to waste deciding.

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