I’m asking this for next year since programs have various application deadlines. I was digging through old threads, but I can’t find very many with responses regarding high school research programs. One poster said to “apply for as many as you can find that you like,” but then won’t I have to “reject” some of them?
I have found 5 programs all related to the fields I am interested in. I have not confirmed exactly what I want to study, but doing research would really help me find my “niche.” These programs all offer biology related opportunities. 3 of them have very low acceptance rates (under 10%, some around 5%), 2 are not nearly as competitive, but nonetheless are very interesting and provide extremely interesting opportunities.
I am not necessarily looking for prestige; I am just looking for a research in the biological fields at a place close enough to home!
So basically…how many summer programs is acceptable to apply to? They all require essays and recommendation letters; I assume that’s a lot of letters and a lot of essays. I don’t know if applying to 3 selective programs will result in an acceptance…I don’t want to just play it safe and go for my backup opportunities right away.
What do you guys think? Should I apply to all 5? Or should I narrow them down?
My D2 applied to 5 a couple of years ago. It was a lot of work. She got into 2 of them (the least selective ones). One problem is that unlike colleges, they have different acceptance dates, and different dates when deposits are due. You could look at that when trying to narrow down your applications. Also, my D still got into some top schools (U of Chicago, Swarthmore, Harvey Mudd) in spite of going to a program that wasn’t the most prestigious. The most important thing is that it helps you explore something you are really interested in. Colleges want students that are following their interests, not just building a resume.
I would try between 3-5. Too much will be really confusing as intparent said, and you won’t be able to focus on writing a good application for any one of them.
Thank you for your responses! It almost feels like I am applying for college now with all of these different essays and rejection rates.
Do you think applying to all 3 difficult programs is better than applying to just 1 or 2 difficult programs? They all provide interesting opportunities that I would enjoy, many research positions slightly similar, so it is difficult narrowing them down. I have no idea what to expect; maybe could someone tell me if these “10% and under” acceptance rates are really that harsh, as brutal or even more so than top tier colleges?
To give an example, the Rockfeller U SSRP
http://www.rockefeller.edu/outreach/summer_science
The website states 5%-7% acceptance. I know RSI is really hard (not even bothering) and doesn’t seem as appealing as other selections for me.
What kind of people are accepted into these programs? Do you need to have a ton of science EC’s already, or will they want people with a strong interest, great grades and essays instead? Like no other internships first?
Next summer I will go into junior year so I wasn’t allowed to do many internships due to my age this year. I have science EC’s, got into a science program with a 20% acceptance, top of my class…but I don’t know if that’s nearly enough for a 5% acceptance program!
So you will be a rising sophomore this year? I think it is very hard for rising juniors to get into a lot of these programs. You would be better off doing something that helps build your background/skills in one of the areas that is a focus of one of the more prestigious programs in the summer between sophomore and junior year, THEN hit the apps for the prestigious programs (and a backup or two) hard for the summer between junior & senior year.
Thank you for your response, intparent! I think I will apply for the two internships that don’t seem to have low acceptance rates. In fact, I think they accept basically everyone? Having previous research experience does seem like a good idea considering the level of competitiveness with apps.
Is there any other way to develop background skills without research? I definitely want to do research next year, so I will apply to the less competitive ones, but is there anything else that most applicants for summer programs have or something that would make me stand out? I definitely won’t join anything I don’t think I will enjoy, but I’m just trying to look at all opportunities!
bump! Any other pieces of advice on how to develop background skills and science opportunities besides research for the summer?
Join the science clubs at your school, and if you don’t have any, then make them! They show not only leadership, but also interest in the field. You could join Science Bowl, too.
Thanks @photogeek8. There’s only SciOlympiad at my school, and I’m planning on starting a USABO club because as I said I am obsessed with biology. I have another science program that has around 20% acceptance, had good freshman grades…I don’t want to say every single thing because this is not a chance me thread; just looking for ideas.
But are science clubs enough? I feel like just being part of a science club (I’m dubious that I would win any Science Olympiad awards, especially after 1 year) is not enough either…this seems like trying to get into an ivy with only science EC’s and nothing else?
I could use any advice I could get. Anybody else have been admitted to a science research program that is hard to get into that could tell me what science EC’s they were involved in?