Mentioning Papers in Progress?

[samanark]

I'm currently finishing up some research and I have a paper in progress but it probably won't be finished by the time I need to submit my applications (almost certainly not in time for the Dec. 15th applications). Do I mention in my SOP that I'm currently working on a paper or no? I would think I should, since it shows I'm going to actually complete a research project but at the same time, will the committees care since I don't actually have anything to show at the moment?

[quizivex]

I'd mention it briefly. May or may not help at each institution you apply to, but has a decent chance of getting noticed somewhere, and couldn't possibly hurt. It'd be even better if you have the advisor you're working with to mention it in his recommendation letter.

[samanark]

That's what I figured. I have a sentence saying it's in the works and I also mention I'm giving a poster presentation about it at the AAS meeting. Just a short sentence to finish off the paragraph. I think my advisor will probably say something about it too. He was very enthusiastic about writing a recommendation letter for me when I asked him.

[Tom Joad]

That's what I figured. I have a sentence saying it's in the works and I also mention I'm giving a poster presentation about it at the AAS meeting. Just a short sentence to finish off the paragraph. I think my advisor will probably say something about it too. He was very enthusiastic about writing a recommendation letter for me when I asked him.

I'm in that exact same situation and I did the same thing. On some of the applications I'm also including a copy of the abstract if they have a spot for uploading "publications."

[bfollinprm]

I had conferences that I hadn't attended and publications that weren't finished listed on my C.V., with the publication date listed as 'In Prep'. It's common enough in the field I believe.

[TakeruK]

That's what I figured. I have a sentence saying it's in the works and I also mention I'm giving a poster presentation about it at the AAS meeting. Just a short sentence to finish off the paragraph. I think my advisor will probably say something about it too. He was very enthusiastic about writing a recommendation letter for me when I asked him.

If your poster presentation is already confirmed, then it's okay to list a "future" conference on your CV -- by the time they get around to reading it, AAS might have already happened!

[samanark]

AAS is like first or second week of January, so it'll definitely have happened by the time they get around to reading it.

Thanks for the input, guys.