<p>As far as recognition, I don’t know. However, it is a rigorous research program that you commit to for four years, and hopefully come out of with a significant achievements. </p>
<p>Consider this:
UNC graduate, let’s say 3.7 GPA. Has research experience but in other people’s labs, doing grunt work for other people’s projects.
UMD graduate, same GPA. Might have experience in another lab, but was also one of a team of undergrads that successfully created a molecule that could travel through the blood brain barrier and pull attached medications with it. (This is one of the remaining projects for the current freshman class, and will likely become a team.)
Which of those people would be hired, or accepted to a grad/med/whatever school?</p>