<p>Hey, I have a question about summer research.</p>
<p>I'm planning on doing a research internship during the next summer with a professor in a college (not prestigious) near where I live. I don't plan on doing my own research, since I don't have much knowledge about researching. I have taken AP science classes though. SO anyway, I just wanted to learn and help out in the professor's lab. THe thing is, I won't have anything to publish a paper in or enter competitions with. So would it be pointless to put on my college application? I really want the experience, I think it would be very enriching...but I won't be getting any awards or anything....</p>
<p>Is it still good?
I mean, I know most of you guys seek research internships so that you can do research and enter competitions...I'm not.</p>
<p>Try to make at least a part of it your own research- it doesn’t need to be anything huge, and you need to start somewhere. Does anyone know how to research when they first start?</p>
<p>Whether or not you’re conducting your own research, being published, etc. however, it should be a valuable experience. You’re working in a lab, after all. It certainly can’t hurt, it shows that you are doing something constructive with your summer, and also demonstrates that you have some lab experience.</p>
<p>;;Take with a grain of salt, just a HS junior</p>
<p>How do i go about making a part of it my own? Just…decide on a related research on my own and tell the professor?
It’s pretty intimidating for me! =[</p>
<p>I don’t know what you’re working on. My own research experience is confined to CS, which isn’t a traditional lab experience. However, I have peers who conduct research in other fields. For some, their research consists of taking already existing data and analyzing it in a different way. </p>
<p>Say you work in a bio lab that’s testing the effect of some drug on KO mice. The study is examining what occurs in the brain. One scan showed some abnormal readings in the Kidneys. The research group doesn’t consider it- there’s not enough time to examine every outlier. You, a student in the lab, may have time to examine it. The research may show that the random hunch was just that- random. That’s still scientific research with a clear hypothesis, data, and a conclusion. Just because your hypothesis was wrong doesn’t mean it was bad.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t suggest to just decide on a related topic. Talk to the professor beforehand- establish that you’d like to be doing active research, whether that’s involved in the main study or not. Talk about what might be possible within the constraints of the lab. And don’t get discouraged.</p>
<p>just to tell you, doing research with a prof IS PRESTIGIOUS. given that you get a paper out of it and even a publication plus a rec from the professor… that should be enough… just because you didn’t enter any science competitions doesn’t mean anything.</p>
<p>THank you for your input smarts1 but what if I don’t get a paper out of it and not even a publication? I guess…just a recommendation? You see, at the moment, I am not planning on having my own piece of research…just a intern/assistant at the professor’s lab… is this still okay? just the fact that I kinda ventured out to seek opportunities, even if it isn’t any fancy research?</p>
<p>Of course it will still be okay, it shows initiative and some dedication/interest. More importantly, who cares as long as it’s something you enjoy?</p>
<p>Yes-- that is exactly what i was hoping for, thanks ChasingRabbits!
I really love science and I am so excited to finally have my first experience at an actual research lab! If anyone else could share their experiences, I’d appreciate it-- i am mainly interested in what happened AFTER your research internship…</p>
<p>also, i just got turned down by one of the professors I contacted…
she said i had an excellent resume but unfortunately she had a full lab for next summer =[
I said I still appreciate the fact that she took the time to reply at least!</p>
<p>Carin-- it’s really simple i think
just introduce yourself and then tell them why you are writing to them (research internship) and then just write two or three lines specifically about their research and why you want to be a part of that research, etc…</p>
<p>Well, does anyone else have any other experiences? i am kind of nervous about actually trying to research…i mean, it still feels like a super-difficult thing…i will only have ap chem and ap physics done by the end of this year and i am looking for something related to those fields or even bio…what if I go in the lab and i have NO IDEA what to do??</p>
<p>Should I e-mail a bunch of professors at the same time or one at a time?
After I choose one, do i have to e-mail all the other ones that I e-mailed before to thank them and tell them that i have decided to research at another…?</p>
<p>so…is it okay even if i don’t get anything published or win any competitions after a summer of research? Is the research part good enough for admissions to colleges?</p>
<p>umm, research experience is always a plus. It means you are interested in science, and did something to pursue it. Do it for the experience and what you’ll learn, not necessarily for what colleges will think.</p>
<p>That being said, competitions and publications are things to add to your resume as well. You can do research at home, and still do well in competitions- lab experience is really a learning experience. Soooo…I’m not completely sure what I just said. Lab experience is good, but obviously winning a competition adds more to your resume. But lab experience goes on your resume too. There’s no one thing that’ll get you into every college, so its not like it won’t be “good enough”.
Who knows, if you helped in a specific project, you might get to be one of the authors of it when it gets published…</p>
<p>edit: and almafuerte, your working in the lab to learn right? so you’ll learn what to do
trust me, I had NO IDEA what I was doing when I started working, but I figured it out!</p>
<p>Wow almafuerte, you seem to be in the exact same situation as I am. Is now the right time to be e-mailing professors? What kinds of professors are you contacting? And is it really okay if I have no prior research experience?</p>
<p>hey-- thanks for the advice nith901
i am really trying to get a research internship for the sake or knowledge and experience, i just wanted to make sure it wouldn’t look STUPID if i put it on my application later on LOL
thanks for ur input</p>
<p>and to dunbar–
it’s good to know we have the same worries!!
i too don’t know when to send out e-mails…
i just sent two last week and two a few days ago…i am sending just a couple at the time, trying to avoid the holidays and new year’s day …to me, this winter break seems like the WORST and maybe the best time to contact professors, you know? lol</p>
<p>and i can’t get rides to any prestigious universities in california lol
and there’s no way my dad will let me fly there and stay in dorms for two months lol!
so unfortunately…i am looking at cal state long beach. it’s the closest college near my town other than community colleges.
i hate it tho =[ but i hope the labs are almost as good as like, the UC’s…</p>
<p>btw, so far…only two of six professors responded, both saying they don’t accept high school interns and “best of luck” and “ooo u have a great resume…” =[</p>
<p>i am starting to get nervous that no one will want me (sob)</p>
<p>you didn’t explicitly state that you are in high school, did you? You shouldn’t pose as an undergrad- mention the school you attend, but don’t say “I am a high school student”</p>
<p>I find this reaction odd because most people that replied to me were excited that a high school student wanted to do research. Maybe ask if they can forward your request to colleagues who might have an open spot in their labs?</p>
<p>Don’t worry, you still have plenty of time though :)</p>
<p>ha…well i did state that “i am a junior in ~~~ High School”…</p>
<p>HEY! one professor just responded (whoa that was so fast, he responded three minutes after i e-mailed him lol) but…uh…</p>
<p>what do i do? i want to wait for other to respond as well
and i still want to e-mail other professors…
and i…well, he was sort of my back-up plan in case none of the chemistry professors want me! uh…WHAT DO I DO NOW
and WHAT DO I DO LATER when i decided to work at a different lab!!!
what do i say! this professor wants to meet with me to discuss research THIS WINTER BREAK…</p>
