Should I include things about the time between application and enrollment ?

[AeroStu]

I got a research assistant position offer from a professor that I worked with in undergrad. This project will last for 3 months and will start January 2016. so it is well before enrollment for the fall of 2016. 

My question is, should I mention anything about it in my SOP? or would it look sketchy and just sound like I'm trying to improve my profile? 

I'm worried because I'm not certain if the professor is going to mention it in the LoR he is going to write for me. Is it ok to ask him to? 

 

[med latte]

You're trying to gain crucial research skills, and you've taken steps to do just that. Improving your profile is a nice side effect.

I don't know if you want to take up too much space on it in your SoP, because you can't yet talk about how that learning experience shaped your research interests, etc. But I think you should include it somewhere. Perhaps you can have it as a line on your CV?

Research Assistant, Jan 2016 - March 2016 (expected)

[fuzzylogician]

It's okay to mention it in the SOP if there is a way to naturally bring it up as part of a related discussion, or it could just be on your CV. It's good to have the experience and it says good things about you, but it's only 3 months so it's also not something to waste too much ink on.

I think it's entirely fair to ask the professor to mention this in his letter, as well as anything else that it's important for you that make it into the letter. You certainly have a better memory of everything that you've done than your professor does.