How's this for summer?

<p>I'm spending the summer in a biochemistry lab at a nearby-ish college, not doing my own research but definitely helping with theirs. I'm learning a lot about research techniques and procedures and just a lot about biochem in general, and by the end of the summer I will be able to smoothly go all the way from induction through protein purification. Will this help me get into college at all? I know individual research would help a lot, but... this was the next best thing I could find. Does it help?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>It's definitely helps. My D applied for the local college to do cancer research but she did not get in,lacking a certain pre-requisite class. But if she were picked it would be extremely good EC. At least it helps her solidifying the understanding of one of her favorite subjects, science.</p>

<p>I think individual research is a misconception. What you are doing is the only way to do any research?</p>

<p>In my situation, yes. I have big problems with transportation, and it was this or one other program (that I didn't get into, but would have been more individual research). It's not individual research... it's THEIR research and I'm helping them prepare the correct cells.</p>

<p>bumpppppppp</p>

<p>Your summer is pretty much...well...lame.</p>

<p>yeah, i know. but is it worse than, say, taking a course at a community college over the summer, or working as a camp counselor?</p>

<p>bumper cars</p>

<p>do you get paid?</p>

<p>at the moment, no. when i first talked to the professor i offered to do it without getting paid (because i was really desperate to find SOMETHING to do in a lab). but the professor said that since i'm doing pretty well she'll pay me starting next week.</p>

<p>I'd say it's equivalent to camp counselor in the sense that you get paid. It's equivalent to cc class in that you learn some things. It's better than both because student intern at a research lab looks better on a resume than the camp counselor/classes everyone else does. Are you a rising senior?</p>

<p>Yeah. Last year I took a class at Stanford Summer College and got an A+, and the year before I went to England for a month with ASA Oxford.</p>

<p>research is amazingly common</p>