<p>I just got an e-mail today regarding an acceptance into UT-Austin's summer high school research institute. I was thrilled, BUT... I don't think that I can go, and the subject matter sounds incredibly boring. </p>
<p>The program signed me up for a different session than I am able to do though, as during that time I will be volunteering at a residential camp for children with special needs. There is no way that I would even think of picking research over this opportunity. Plus the research is over a random protein in cells and its effect on folic acid levels. This might sound interesting to some, but not to me. </p>
<p>So am I going to be missing out on a huge opportunity to boost my application? Or is summer research really not a big deal?</p>
<p>It really isn’t a big boost to your application unless it leads to say co publication of a research paper or achievement in say the Intel STS or Siemens.</p>
<p>Think about it this way. Do you hear about (or read on College Confidential about) an awful lot of people doing “research”? </p>
<p>I do. If that many people are doing it, it can’t be the key that unlocks the ivy-covered gates.</p>
<p>If doing research during the summers fits with who you are, then do it and be happy. But if it doesn’t–and it sounds in this case as if it doesn’t–then let it go. It’ll look contrived. It’ll look as if you only did it because it would “look good” to college admissions committees. And in the end, you’ll get into the same colleges you would’ve gotten into without it, and you won’t get into many colleges (if any) that you wouldn’t have gotten into without it.</p>
<p>JMO.</p>
<p>Totally agree with Sikorsky. If you already have lined up a job you much prefer, then go with it. Life is too short to do ECs you don’t care about just to impress some random group of people in admissions (who won’t be impressed anyway.)</p>
<p>I’d contact UT Austin right away to explain the conflict. Hopefully they might be able to place you in the session you wanted. Good luck.</p>