<p>I need exact dates. Even just 1 day difference can cause you ineligible for an REU / SURF as some are not flexible with their starting and ending dates.</p>
<p>Last day of finals is May 10. Classes start aug 26</p>
<p>What if your GPA is less than spectacular? I’d say my GPA would be around a 3.3 cumulative but my “institution GPA” would be a 4.0 at the time of application (am a transfer student)? Are there still opportunities for 3.1-3.3 GPA’s for REU’s, specifically in Applied Math? Or Science?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>This seems like something to me to be worth working out after admission to the program instead of assuming that because you might have some conflict there’s no chance they’ll work with you.</p>
<p>I’ve never had any luck negotiating a start date for a REU / SURF (even after admission), but that’s just me I guess (same with my friends). What is your major, CalDud?</p>
<p>My major is Applied Mathematics.</p>
<p>What dates do you get out and start school? Also what school do you go to? What is your race and gender? Are you a US citizen?</p>
<p>Start: September 17
End: June 14</p>
<p>I go to Cal Poly Pomona. I’m Filipino/White and male. I am a U.S. citizen, yes.</p>
<p>Is REU possible for rising sophomore? what about international students ?
Does the length of the program depend on each school or is it standard ?
Is the GPA all that matters ?
And would the experience be enriching for a rising sophomore ?
Is it easier to get into the REU program of one’s school ?
Thanks</p>
<br>
<br>
<p>Yes, my son said that he ran into a few at his REUs but the number is fairly small. The purpose of REUs is to expose college students to research along with providing university professors free (to them) labor. The university professors would like to ensure that the students will contribute something to their research areas and would typically want skills from courses taken after the first two years of undergrad.</p>
<br>
<br>
<p>There were no international students at his first REU. He didn’t say anything about this aspect to me in his second.</p>
<br>
<br>
<p>It varies. I’d suggest taking a look at the websites of a few programs to get an idea as to what they are like.</p>
<br>
<br>
<p>No. They can ask for LORs, transcripts (high-school and college), a resume, statement of purpose including the area of research that interests you, etc.</p>
<br>
<br>
<p>Yes, especially if you haven’t done any research and are interested in what it is like and might be interested in graduate school.</p>
<br>
<br>
<p>Son’s REUs were half from the local school and half from other schools so I would say that it’s easier applying to your own school.</p>
<p>^Thank you BCEagle91 ! You have provided me with a tremendous help!!
I’ll have to search the websites of the REUs in order to find out abt restrictions concerning international students ? :p</p>
<p>CalDud, apply to the one in SDSU for your Math REU. </p>
<p>Ghastn, are you from Europe? If yes, apply to Amgen Scholars Program.</p>
<p>bump. Sorry if this thread is old, but it’s one of the better NSF REU threads out there. But anyway,</p>
<p>I understand that REU’s are meant to provide a serious research opportunity for students who don’t have that much research experience. However, I believe a few responses here and elsewhere said that they already had research experience and applied.</p>
<p>Therefore, do you suggest downplaying or emphasizing your research experience, especially if you don’t think your current research experience was that great at your university?</p>
<p>To give some context, I am a sociology student at Lehigh University, which as you probably know, is mainly geared towards engineering and business students. While it’s known as a “research university” (but not as much as, say, UC Berkeley and other state schools), it doesn’t offer that many research opportunities for those in the social sciences, or many quality ones, at least. The social sciences department is pretty small and isn’t that strong.</p>
<p>I already have a semester of research experience in my freshman year doing 3 hours/week, and research for a semester long class project, but this coming semester, I will probably have one or two more research positions in sociology. I mean, I have research experience, but it probably isn’t of the quality that you’d see at a research university with a stronger sociology department. Also, I don’t think one of the research positions doesn’t start until midway through the semester.</p>
<p>In the applications (some of which are due this or next month), they ask you to list what research experience you’ve had, so do you think I should add that I have further research experience this semester (since I will have more research experience by the time the REU’s start in the summer), or do you think I should leave it off entirely (since I haven’t exactly started it yet by some of the applications’ deadlines)?</p>
<p>Sorry if that was rambly or anything. Let me know if you need anything cleared up.</p>
<p>Thank you so much!</p>
<p>Edit: Also, do you have any suggestions about going about for LOR’s for REU’s and recommendations in general? You all have mentioned that because REU’s are so competitive, you had to apply to many of them, and all of them require LOR’s. If you needed so many, how did you go about asking your professor’s for LOR’s, and how did they write them? I’d assume that you asked them for LOR’s for other summer opportunities as well.</p>
<p>For example, did you ask the same ones? Did you ask them to tailor them for each of your applications, or did they tailor them automatically, or did they not tailor them at all? Anything else you’d like to add?</p>
<p>Because I’m probably going to be applying to a lot of opportunities now and in the future, REU’s included, I just feel really bad about asking the same ones over and over again, especially when they’re so busy.</p>
<p>Once again, thank you so much!</p>
<p>I PMed msu123, and if anyone wanted to know what they said, here’s their response:</p>
<p>"I only got into REU’s once I actually started doing intense research. In short, the schools don’t care if you haven’t had a chance to do research, they want the best students possible - so it basically means working on serious research projects (3 hours a week won’t cut it).</p>
<p>I went to a fairly mediocre school, but still undertook serious research at that school and published a paper. You should try to do the same. I would emphasize two things, your research experience as well as your capacity for independence and thinking intensely about a project. Lehigh is a good school, take advantage of it."</p>
<p>"So, I started working with a professor at the beginning of my second semester at school, about a year later we were fairly well acquainted, so asking for a LOR was no problem. I just put everything into a single PDF file with all the deadlines and the website/email he/she needs to send the LOR too. You’d be surprised how easy it is actually. I asked a professor for some 15 letters, and she submitted every single one. </p>
<p>I would say that you have to show enthusiasm for research and show that you are intelligent and knowledgeable, they will recognize this."</p>
So question. I was only planning on applying to 3 materials science reu’s: harvard, penn state, and univ of florida.
I am a 3.98 (got a B in a 1cr lab class) sophomore white male Mechanical engineering major at a large southern research university. I did research in a relevant area(materials science) my first semester and a half and was published as a second author, and then volunteered in a Mechanical engr lab summer through December. I previously worked a summer doing statistical analysis in manufacturing.
I know it sounds a little pompous, but do I really need to apply to more than 3 REU’s? Im worried, but more than anything else, I don’t want to make my references write like 10 letters.
can graduating seniors apply to REUs? if not, are there any post-bacc REUs? i wanted to have some research experience before grad school but found out about REUs late.
HELP PLEASE!!
I didn’t know how competitve REUs are. Can someone tell me if I have a chance?
I have applied to about 8-9 REUs and it could be too soon to be hearing back from them. I’m really nervous about the results. I don’t even know my chances of getting into my own home institution. So I’m a Sophomore and I got to a good public school. I have a 3.73 gpa and a good research experience in astrophysics statistics to show. I have experience in programming languages (I know python and JAVA). I have also been in student government for 2 years (not a volunteer but an exec elected member) and I’m developing an app. Oh and I’m also a woman/minority.
I don’t know what to expect as I had no idea how competitive this would be before applying
My son is a freshman at an Ivy and he applied to about a dozen. He has no research experience, so he was concerned. He got accepted to 2 and had to give answers to them this week, so he picked one. He didn’t hear back from all of them yet, but is happy with his choice. Best of luck with your REUs. They sound like a wonderful opportunity for students.
My daughter is a sophomore. She applied to 8 and has heard back from 3. So far she has 2 acceptances and 1 rejection. Still waiting for 5 more but she will accept one of her offers which was her #1. She has had 2 research positions so far.
I think besides a good GPA, it is important to have strong letters of recommendation.
Just got accepted to 1. Haven’t heard back from the other yet.