Anonymous
04/23/2026 10:55
Subject: Published author?
Anonymous wrote:People here are not parsing Q and A to match.
1. Publishing something is a good thing. Certainly mention it.
2. DO NOT USE TERM "PUBLISHED AUTHOR" ever in referring to yourself. You say you "wrote X," which you cite including the publisher. Look at some real CVs or something. Professors all have them online as do many academics. Or look at a style manual or bibliography in your field.
OK...enough with the symantics bullshit about calling yourself a "published author". We get it.
Here's the point. If you write a book as an 18 year old, it's published by a legitimate publishing house, if you can walk into Barnes & Noble and there is the book on the shelf...yes, this is impressive. It likely factors importantly into your Common Essay because one has to believe either the topic of your book (if non-fiction) or the act of writing and your thought process (if fiction) is core to who you are as a person.
If it's self-published/you just pay a company to publish it, well it's impressive if you are one of the 0.1% who actually produces a hit self-published book (there is some massively successful book that came out in like the last year written by some 80 year old person that had this backstory and then it was picked up by a major publisher after it had become a hit on its own)...but other than that, it's just interesting but not the same as the former example.
Anonymous
04/23/2026 10:43
Subject: Published author?
People here are not parsing Q and A to match.
1. Publishing something is a good thing. Certainly mention it.
2. DO NOT USE TERM "PUBLISHED AUTHOR" ever in referring to yourself. You say you "wrote X," which you cite including the publisher. Look at some real CVs or something. Professors all have them online as do many academics. Or look at a style manual or bibliography in your field.
1. Publishing something is a good thing. Certainly mention it.
2. DO NOT USE TERM "PUBLISHED AUTHOR" ever in referring to yourself. You say you "wrote X," which you cite including the publisher. Look at some real CVs or something. Professors all have them online as do many academics. Or look at a style manual or bibliography in your field.
Anonymous
04/23/2026 10:33
Subject: Published author?
Maybe better to get published in a well known journal or magazine? Lots of creative writing kids are published in university and or well-known literary journals, and the ones we know are all at top colleges. There is a version of this for all types of writing. Or win a NY Times contest or something like that and be published there. Of course, it requires a lot of talent to accomplish this which is why these kids end up at top schools.
Anonymous
04/23/2026 10:28
Subject: Re:Published author?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I am OP. I’m a student. Humanities major
Two of DC's private high school friends were published before 11th grade. Neither got in to UVA in state or any T25. They were typical 10-APs-1400 to 1450 students who were above average yet not outstanding in any other way besides the publication. Publishing only helps if the stats and rigor are there.
DC Private parent. Classmate published a children’s book and is at Michigan. Famous parent.
Anonymous
04/23/2026 10:23
Subject: Published author?
I think you don't want to write published author, like try pubished author or extinguished auteur or something.
Anonymous
04/22/2026 16:05
Subject: Published author?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:OP, it's not crystal clear what your real question is. Do you mean for getting into college, transferring to a better one, getting better recommendations by impressing people, getting into grad school?
Your caginess in saying impress who and why makes answers less helpful. Try asking clearly lol.
But short answer, both DH and I have been published. Him more than me, by Springer Verlag and others. Books, refereed journal articles. I have had technical books published by for profit publishers,
Never ever use the term "published author." It is cringe-inducing. Cringeworthy big time in the vircles you likely want to impress.
Just include it in your CV or resume or mention it in your cover letter, brief bio or whatever under publications,,other activities, even interests.
Other Interests and activities:
Volleyball:'Member of Wicked Wahines Volleyball Club 2921- present
Ornithology: Author of "Birds in my chimney," Larla Climber, Springer Nature (2026). [can't underline title on my phone]
This is weird advice if OP is truly a published author with a legitimate publishing house.
I mean, if I was signed to Geffen records and released an album, I wouldn't just list it under my "Other Interests and Activities". It would certainly get mentioned more prominently if anything because music likely takes up most of the EC time.
I am PP. First, I said not to refer to themselves using the words "published author." It's cringe
Second, where else is a student going to put it, if not in their cover letter, initial statement or bio dummary, and in the "other" category? If they have a list of "Publications" well then but they seem to have one. So putting "Publication" with one thing isn't super. And don't put in your college papers either.
Anonymous
04/22/2026 15:49
Subject: Re:Published author?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I am OP. I’m a student. Humanities major
Two of DC's private high school friends were published before 11th grade. Neither got in to UVA in state or any T25. They were typical 10-APs-1400 to 1450 students who were above average yet not outstanding in any other way besides the publication. Publishing only helps if the stats and rigor are there.
I think people are misunderstanding what I'm saying. Obviously this will supplement my application and I need to have other standing ground. Also, in music terms, I DO want a deal with Def Jam or Sony, rather than a Soundcloud album. Also when you say "published" do you mean they published a book with a reputable publisher?
Obviously I don't know if this will even work out, but I am trying my best. Thanks so much for the help everyone!
Anonymous
04/22/2026 15:34
Subject: Published author?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:OP, it's not crystal clear what your real question is. Do you mean for getting into college, transferring to a better one, getting better recommendations by impressing people, getting into grad school?
Your caginess in saying impress who and why makes answers less helpful. Try asking clearly lol.
But short answer, both DH and I have been published. Him more than me, by Springer Verlag and others. Books, refereed journal articles. I have had technical books published by for profit publishers,
Never ever use the term "published author." It is cringe-inducing. Cringeworthy big time in the vircles you likely want to impress.
Just include it in your CV or resume or mention it in your cover letter, brief bio or whatever under publications,,other activities, even interests.
Other Interests and activities:
Volleyball:'Member of Wicked Wahines Volleyball Club 2921- present
Ornithology: Author of "Birds in my chimney," Larla Climber, Springer Nature (2026). [can't underline title on my phone]
This is weird advice if OP is truly a published author with a legitimate publishing house.
I mean, if I was signed to Geffen records and released an album, I wouldn't just list it under my "Other Interests and Activities". It would certainly get mentioned more prominently if anything because music likely takes up most of the EC time.
To keep it in music terms, I think the student is asking about their Soundcloud album, not their deal with Def Jam or Sony Music.
Is a Soundcloud album helpful for college admissions? Maybe. Probably for the music department. But there is an opportunity cost to doing big projects like an album - or a book - when you are 16. Colleges are still going to look at your GPA and SAT scores. And the other ECs.
Anonymous
04/22/2026 15:13
Subject: Published author?
Anonymous wrote:OP, it's not crystal clear what your real question is. Do you mean for getting into college, transferring to a better one, getting better recommendations by impressing people, getting into grad school?
Your caginess in saying impress who and why makes answers less helpful. Try asking clearly lol.
But short answer, both DH and I have been published. Him more than me, by Springer Verlag and others. Books, refereed journal articles. I have had technical books published by for profit publishers,
Never ever use the term "published author." It is cringe-inducing. Cringeworthy big time in the vircles you likely want to impress.
Just include it in your CV or resume or mention it in your cover letter, brief bio or whatever under publications,,other activities, even interests.
Other Interests and activities:
Volleyball:'Member of Wicked Wahines Volleyball Club 2921- present
Ornithology: Author of "Birds in my chimney," Larla Climber, Springer Nature (2026). [can't underline title on my phone]
This is weird advice if OP is truly a published author with a legitimate publishing house.
I mean, if I was signed to Geffen records and released an album, I wouldn't just list it under my "Other Interests and Activities". It would certainly get mentioned more prominently if anything because music likely takes up most of the EC time.
Anonymous
04/22/2026 14:51
Subject: Re:Published author?
Anonymous wrote:I am OP. I’m a student. Humanities major
Two of DC's private high school friends were published before 11th grade. Neither got in to UVA in state or any T25. They were typical 10-APs-1400 to 1450 students who were above average yet not outstanding in any other way besides the publication. Publishing only helps if the stats and rigor are there.
Anonymous
04/21/2026 21:00
Subject: Published author?
Rife with typos but you get the ides
Anonymous
04/21/2026 20:59
Subject: Published author?
OP, it's not crystal clear what your real question is. Do you mean for getting into college, transferring to a better one, getting better recommendations by impressing people, getting into grad school?
Your caginess in saying impress who and why makes answers less helpful. Try asking clearly lol.
But short answer, both DH and I have been published. Him more than me, by Springer Verlag and others. Books, refereed journal articles. I have had technical books published by for profit publishers,
Never ever use the term "published author." It is cringe-inducing. Cringeworthy big time in the vircles you likely want to impress.
Just include it in your CV or resume or mention it in your cover letter, brief bio or whatever under publications,,other activities, even interests.
Other Interests and activities:
Volleyball:'Member of Wicked Wahines Volleyball Club 2921- present
Ornithology: Author of "Birds in my chimney," Larla Climber, Springer Nature (2026). [can't underline title on my phone]
Your caginess in saying impress who and why makes answers less helpful. Try asking clearly lol.
But short answer, both DH and I have been published. Him more than me, by Springer Verlag and others. Books, refereed journal articles. I have had technical books published by for profit publishers,
Never ever use the term "published author." It is cringe-inducing. Cringeworthy big time in the vircles you likely want to impress.
Just include it in your CV or resume or mention it in your cover letter, brief bio or whatever under publications,,other activities, even interests.
Other Interests and activities:
Volleyball:'Member of Wicked Wahines Volleyball Club 2921- present
Ornithology: Author of "Birds in my chimney," Larla Climber, Springer Nature (2026). [can't underline title on my phone]
Anonymous
04/21/2026 20:50
Subject: Published author?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Little to none. It’s not peer reviewed so almost anyone can publish.
We aren't talking about a Phd program here...
But getting published is going to require a high level of expertise. I think a teen might have more luck publishing something more teen-related than humanities nonfiction.
Or nepotism
Anonymous
04/21/2026 20:34
Subject: Published author?
I know someone who self published a book on Amazon and got into Columbia. They did a ton of other meaningful work too, of course.