<p>In a rude awakening, I realized that REU programs are restricted to permanent residents and us citizens. I am a legal immigrant with a F-1 Visa...</p>
<p>Basically, I don't qualify for financial aid, most of the scholarships, most of the co-ops, most of the internships, and now... ALL of the REUs.</p>
<p>am I doomed to spend all my summers doing summer research with my regular professors?</p>
<p>P.S. I've lived in the US for 10 years. Maybe I can win someone's sympathy and get a decent REU without having to have a green card. But something tells me my innocent little wish is going to be crushed.</p>
<p>There is nothing wrong with spending your summer doing research with your “regular” professors. It might actually turn out to be better for you since you will be able to continue working with the same professor during the academic year. You will probably gain more by working long term with a single research group rather than by working on multiple REUs.</p>
<p>I agree. Besides the admissions committee will notice your immigration status when looking at your application and should understand fairly quickly why you didn’t do any REU.</p>
<p>Look for research opportunities not sponsored by NSF if you want varied experience. For example companies and also some government summer programs (ie those sponsored by DOE) do not require citizenship.</p>
<p>Just to echo previous posters, working in your school’s lab with “regular” professors might be better than an REU anyway. Good research experience doesn’t need to come from another school or an REU program.</p>
<p>Also, do international students get put into their own pool of applicants? or are international students, permanent residents and citizens all get evaluated equally?</p>
<p>I imagine your school probably has some fellowships or scholarships for undergraduate research. These types of things generally require that you simply are an undergrad at the university. Ask your professors/department.</p>
<p>I agree with the posters above. In your situation, you are going to need to work it, hard. I would dedicate at least two weeks to hard-core canvassing of everyone who could help you to generate funding leads, and at least one month to following up the most promising ones in-depth.</p>
<p>Can you work at all? Even on campus? I remember that some kids at my undergrad college could work on campus, though not off.</p>
<p>When I was in college, I worked in my normal lab during the summers. I found that I was much more productive without class and could put in a full 40 hour a week schedule. I wish I could have done REU type programs but in the end, I earned a bit of cash and became more intimately involved in my research projects.</p>
<p>I feel your pain. I am an F-1 student too. Last summer, I did research with Purdue SROP. I am applying to MSRP at MIT for this summer and SURF at Purdue and CRUISE at Georgia Tech. Just google these terms and you will get more information. Most of the applications are due in the last week of January or first week of February, so get to work writing the application essays. Also, some programs that say they do not accept internationals, may accept one or two if you contact them directly asking for such. I hope I was of help.</p>
<p>Gatech Undergraduate Summer Research Program
Gatech CRUISE Program
Harvard Research Experience for Undergraduates Program
UCLA RIPS-LA
AT&T Labs Research Summer internships
IBM Research - Almaden Research Internship for Minority Students</p>
<p>They all accept international students, and I think one pays as high as $7000. Thank me when you get in. Lol.</p>