In the competitive world of graduate school admissions, having a strong research background can make all the difference. While numerical scores like GRE and GPA are important, they are not enough to set an applicant apart from the rest of the pool. This is where research experience comes into play.

Graduate schools look for candidates with a proven research potential, which can be demonstrated through internships, projects, and publications. These components can be mentioned in the applicant's statement of purpose (SOP) and resume, but it's important to go beyond just listing them. The applicant should also provide details about the research, such as the project's goals and outcomes.

Publications carry the most weightage, but the reputation of the journal or conference where it was published matters. The committee maintains a list of respected journals and conferences in different fields and refers to it to evaluate the worthiness of a publication. In addition, it's advisable for applicants to get recommendation letters from the professor or researcher who supervised their work.

While publications are the best way to demonstrate research capability, internships and academic projects can also help, especially if they are research-oriented. These components might catch the interest of a committee member if they are relevant to their own research work, and that member can influence the decision of others in the committee.

Overall, having a strong research background can help offset the effects of ordinary scores, and demonstrate a candidate's potential for success in graduate school. Applicants should focus on highlighting their research experience in their application, and how it can contribute to their future academic and professional goals.