<p>Does anyone have any advice on how to find a position at a lab as a freshman? I don't mean research for publishing anything (well not yet anyways) but just research to put on my resume. The college I am going to is very competitive so I am worried that I might not have a chance.</p>
<p>My school is really competitive for premed. All of my friends who wanted a research position freshman year was able to get one. I guess it helps when you're top 5 as a research med school according to US News. Just start looking at professors who are doing research now and try to find ones who are doing things you might be interested in. Have an open mind too. Then, maybe a week before school starts, or in the first few weeks of school start emailing as many professors as possible and ask them if they have positions open.</p>
<p>No. If your school has tons of research labs and is well-known for it, ask for a lab position in July (or at least a month before school starts). Email professors with a short and sweet message (your name, why you like his/her lab IN PARTICULAR, any significant experience that might help, etc.). Do not say that you are a freshman unless they reply and ask specifically. Professors usually aren't interested in freshmen but if you're nice and have the ability, it can go a long way once they get past the fact that you're just 18 or so. If they haven't replied in a week, move on. They're busy people. Expect a return of 1 in every 3-5 emails you send out. Expect grunt work (autoclaving, prepping solutions) and in time, you will be rewarded with "real" research.</p>
<p>My school is competitive for research too. No one gets research their freshman year without connections, and some get it sophomore year by merit and dedication. Labs are most accepting junior + senior year.</p>
<p>Generally, more competitive colleges are more receptive to having freshmen work in research labs, typically as a sort of "intern" at first. (My shadowy reasoning: Student "caliber level," so to speak, is "higher," and there's a higher chance that students might know more going into the position, although I wouldn't say that this is a rule of thumb. At MIT, for example, UROP is pretty wide open for freshmen and sophomores.)</p>
<p>To actually FIND a position to intern first (because to do UROP you have to know what you're doing, be taught a bit, etc.), go to your school's biology page, assuming that's your intended major (?), and look at the faculty listings. Read about their research. Email professors with whatever interests you. Something like: "Hi, my name is XYZ and I am a student here at ABC. i've just read about your research online and it sounds very interesting. I'd love to work in your lab if space is available" or something like that. Maybe include some specifics about what you like about his person's research (it's what I did).</p>
<p>I emailed about 10 professors, heard back from 3 (one replied about a month later -- remember that over the summer, the majority will probably not be emailing ASAP) , interviewed with 2, and ultimately chose 1.</p>