Hi, please help me to decide on an alternative summer plan

Parents Forum
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<p>Hi, I'm interested in a summer research program, and of course I want to get accepted to a competitive and free program, but I know that I would probably get rejected. I need an alternative other than competitive programs.
(Oh, by the way, I'm a student but some one suggested me to post it here.)</p>

<p>I am applyig to:
Clark Scholars Program
Young Scholars Program in California (UC Davis) or the one in Florida (which one would you recommend?)
SSTP (in University of Florida) --I'm not sure about this one.</p>

<p>and my stats are basically:
PSAT: 198 (CR61 M77 W60)
SAT1: didn't take it yet
SAT2: Math level 2 800
GPA: top5 out of 600students
ECs: okay i guess, no math/science related awards though cuz my school doesn't participate in any
I go to Columbia Science Honors program though</p>

<p>So, I thought that based on my stats, it's really hard to get into the summer programs I'm applying for. Is it really that impossible? I'm gonna try, but I'm not really putting any hopes on it.
I need alternative plan. Should I try to contact professors around my area and try to find a research opportunity that way? or should I just apply to a less competitive summer program? Is there any research program that is less competitive?</p>

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<p>Another alternative is to call professors at local colleges and volunteer to work in their labs. You might get lucky. I know years ago my son didn’t apply to SSTP because it started before school was out in NY.</p>

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<p>"Should I try to contact professors around my area and try to find a research opportunity that way? "</p>

<p>Simple answer…Yes! </p>

<p>Is there anyone at the Columbia program who can help connect you with someone’s summer research? </p>

<p>You can get a list from the Society for Science and the public: [Science</a> Training Programs](<a href=“http://sciserv.org/stp/]Science”>http://sciserv.org/stp/)</p>

<p>And here’s how one Intel finlalist found someone to do research with:
[Adam</a> Solomon: A Young Astrophysicist Studies Old Dwarfs: Scientific American](<a href=“http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=dwarfs-solomon-intel]Adam”>Adam Solomon: A Young Astrophysicist Studies Old Dwarfs | Scientific American)</p>