Average Number of Publications for Graduate Students and Research Assistants

[AfternoonTea]

Hi everyone,

I was wondering if those who are currently, or have been in the past, graduate students or research assistants (after undergrad) could tell me what number of publications they had when they were awarded their PHDs, or alternatively, what number of publications they had when they finished their term as lab manager or research assistant at a lab before graduate school.

Also, if you had publications before applying to grad school and were accepted directly out of undergrad, please share that info too.

[Physwimic]

I was just accepted to 2 graduate programs out of undergrad. I have a publication in progress.

[_kita]

Just publications? Or presentations/conferences as well?

[yubby]

no option for none?

[Jameslv08]

I have been accepted to 2 I/O Ph.D programs with no publications. I do however have an extensive work history.

[lewin]

...what number of publications they had when they were awarded their PHDs, or alternatively, what number of publications they had when they finished their term as lab manager or research assistant at a lab before graduate school.

Also, if you had publications before applying to grad school and were accepted directly out of undergrad, please share that info too.

Pro tip: The thread replies might be informative, but your poll is going to have a lot of noise in it because it doesn't distinguish between these three categories of respondent. e.g., somebody answers "Three". Is that somebody entering grad school (where three is great) or leaving their PhD (where three is middling)?

(ETA: No publications when I entered grad school. Have five right now with a year remaining.)

Edited March 23, 2012 by lewin00

[BlueCamel]

I'm a senior at a small liberal arts college and manage to get one publication when I was applying. I was only accepted to 1 school out of 9 I applied, but I'm kinda glad cause I really like the program. To be honest, I was very very lucky. I had shit GRE scores, and I'm sure there were alot of great applicants. My research interests really matched the POI and the entire department so yeaaa

[carlyhylton]

If I may, I'd like to add the following questions: how many publications do you/did you have as an undergrad (specify type)? How many publications did you have when you were admitted to your Master's program? How many publications did you have when you were admitted to your PhD program?

[svh]

I've been accepted to five programs and have one manuscript in the works but zero official publications (I'm an undergrad, by the way). I think if you're a masters student applying for PhD programs, they'll expect more publications from you than if you're an undergrad.

Edited March 23, 2012 by svh

[psychgurl]

I had zero from undergrad. I've worked a couple years out of undergrad and co-authored 2 manuscripts that are still in preparation (they aren't totally related to psychology though...more health outcomes research). No presentations at conferences. I was accepted to 1 phd program and 1 fully funded masters out of 10 schools...hope this helps

[AfternoonTea]

Pro tip: The thread replies might be informative, but your poll is going to have a lot of noise in it because it doesn't distinguish between these three categories of respondent. e.g., somebody answers "Three". Is that somebody entering grad school (where three is great) or leaving their PhD (where three is middling)?

(ETA: No publications when I entered grad school. Have five right now with a year remaining.)

This is true, but I can't seem to edit my post or poll to change anything. Do you know of a way to edit posts?

I hope everyone will just specify what level they are at.

Just publications? Or presentations/conferences as well?

For the poll, it was intended to be just publications. But I am interested in how many presentations/conferences as well.

[nbrown07]

As an undergrad - I had one poster presentation, but no publications when I got accepted to a Master's program. As a Master's student applying to Ph.D. programs (accepted to 3 programs, waitlisted at another that would've likely become an acceptance), I have 2 poster presentations, but and two publications in prep, but none officially published. None of my schools expected me to have published anything - though being able to discuss my research in progress was a HUGE bonus.

[stereopticons]

As an undergrad, I had three conference presentations and one in prep manuscript. Leaving my MA program, I have 1 officially published, 2 revise and resubmits, 1 under review and a whole bunch in prep, including two first author papers. I also have 7 or 8 conference presentations. I applied to 10 schools and did not get in to any (assuming at this point). Clearly, publications are not everything.

[newpsyche]

As an undergrad, I was accepted with no publications or presentations but by the time I graduated, with 6 presentations and a few pending publications. I highly recommend an honors thesis, and then presenting the heck out of that thing! (:

[randompsychologist]

I highly recommend an honors thesis, and then presenting the heck out of that thing! (:

I second that!

It sucked though that my MA thesis was not as promising

So, three presentations no publications for me after my BA/MA

[lewin]

Pro tip: If presenting similar data at multiple conferences, change the title enough so it looks distinct on your CV.