<p>Okay, I have already registered for MRC for the learning communities. Is it still possible for me to register for UROP? and which one would be better? Any opinions? I know that the biggest difference is the residence in which you live in. I'm going to go through engineering though.</p>
<p>The MRC is the residential affiliate to UROP. If you are accepted to the MRC, you are automatically accepted to UROP. If you did not originally sign up for UROP, the MRC will notify you to fill out a quick application to make sure you are in the system. However, if you are still able to apply to UROP, I would. The reason being that if you are not accepted to the MRC you, will still have a chance of getting into UROP. Good luck!</p>
<p>As a freshman engineer, just like yourself, I applied to MRC. I figured it would be a good resume builder + i get to live on central campus?? sign me up!! right?</p>
<p>im not sure what their criteria is for picking people but I wasnt accepted. i managed to get west quad (lucky) and applied for UROP only to not end up doing it. the only reason one should do one of these programs is for work study award (i didnt have it). otherwise don’t do it. </p>
<p>In retrospect I’m glad i didn’t end up doing research cause it takes up a lot of time and as an engineer you could easily get research during the summer after your freshman year.</p>
<p>I recommend UROP for its educational value. You are attending a research institution and here’s your chance to get a taste of what research is all about.</p>
<p>UROP and especially MRC provide an excellent experience if you are really looking to get involved in research</p>
<p>Some people who are in UROP or MRC say they wish they didn’t have the time commitments of the UROP seminars and projects, this is especially true for UROP cuz with UROP you don’t get the perks of central campus etc. that you get with MRC. They say they could have gotten a job without the extra UROP commitments. I talked to an MRC student who said that some people are in it just for the dorm location, also according to that student, MRC picks for diversity, so international students have a relatively large representation (her claim, not mine; she was an int’l student herself). Personally I thought being part of MRC would be an advantage not only for the dorm, but because the MRC community & the people you live around/spend time with are (generally) committed and hard-working, smart students. On the other hand, working during first semester engineering would be a challenge. On the whole, I personally would try for MRC but maybe skip UROP. (But if you know for sure that you have to work somewhere, then better to sign up for UROP and work in a lab than in the cafeteria.)</p>