<p>Which do colleges prefer a student to have done? I understand that they view programs like RSI in very high regard, but how does that compare to their opinion on independent research over the summer at an Ivy League school?</p>
<p>What about versus a lesser known program like the Stonybrook GARCIA program?</p>
<p>Independent research = your mentor is more likely to get to know you and be able to write you a better reference.
Independent research = cooler, because you get to do more stuff and feel more responsible for your project.
Independent research = you're more likely to get authorship in papers.</p>
<p>anyone else?</p>
<p>If you are worrying about what colleges will think, you are doing it for all the wrong reasons. You should focus on doing what interests you. Colleges can see through people just trying to pad research onto their resume. (not saying that you are one of those people, just that you should keep it in mind)</p>
<p>Yeah differential is right. At a research summer program, you're more likely to make friends but I've always preferred an independent program because I got to know my mentors really well and was more involved in the actual research.</p>