<p>Has anyone heard of the NASA USRP program, been in it, or want to share any information about it?</p>
<p>yes, yes, and yes. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>[url=<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Traffic_in_Arms_Regulations%5DITAR!!!!!%5B/url">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Traffic_in_Arms_Regulations]ITAR!!!!![/url</a>] :mad:</p>
<p>I am a US Citizen :rolleyes:.
Can you tell me how competitive the program is, and what kind of exciting work you did?
I hear it is research based, so how will you get an offer when you graduate?</p>
<p>
[quote]
I am a US Citizen :rolleyes:.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Uh, good for you :rolleyes:.</p>
<p>I brought it up because scientists and engineers at NASA bring it up every time they plan to go to conferences. Basically, it limits what they can share with the scientific community about the work that they're doing, among other things. That sucks because others are doing the same work but they are forced to reinvent the wheel.</p>
<p>But what the hell do I know?</p>
<hr>
<p>From what I hear, the program is very competitive something like <7% acceptance rate. Like any program, the quality and the amount of actual research is a mixed bag. I was planning on giving my own thoughts and details about my summer experience but I'll wait until winter break.</p>
<p>I have heard that some previous interns have been offered full-time positions. All you have to do is work hard, network, and hope they're hiring. USRP is also great to get your foot in the door. Some co-ops have done the USRP program in the past so it was easy for them to get into the co-op program. I would strongly encourage anyone that wants to work for NASA to do USRP before going into the co-op program because the co-op program is a 2 or 3 term commitment, if possible. If you're interested in the co-op program look at: NASA</a> - NASA Jobs. I recommend you look at the JSC website because they have more info.</p>
<p>There is also a forum that interns and co-ops from one of the NASA centers use. I'm not sure which one. One of my friends did a USRP there two summers ago so I can try to get you the link for it, if you're interested. I'm sure you would get more insight from them on at least their experiences at that particular center.</p>
<p><7%? Really ... that's lower than I thought. My friend said it wasn't too difficult to get in ... just a lengthy application process. At least it's a better chance than Boeing (1:1100 per requisition!)</p>
<p>Thanks for the info.</p>
<p>That's what I have heard from other interns and mentors about the acceptance rate. What has your friend told you? Just curious.</p>
<p>The application is not long at all. You just have to fill-in some basic information, submit an unofficial transcript, letters of recommendation, and write some essays. I think that the letters of recommendation and the essays will set you apart from your competition so don't overlook the essays. The letters of recommendation are out of your control.</p>
<p>If you want to work for Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, etc.. Then you should definitely apply to them. In my opinion, those companies seem to be looking for leadership qualities and social skills. That means that if you're involved in some school club put it on your resume. If you get an interview with one of them, study their website because you'll get asked what you know about their company. Every company does it! Also, network because it's not what you know, but who you know.</p>
<p>If you happen to get into USRP, use it as a stepping stone to get into the private firms. Although it seems cool to work for NASA, the truth is it doesn't pay as much as the private firms. I have heard something like ~$40K for new hires (w/B.S.) as temporary civil servants. That means that you can be a temporary for several years and still not be offered a permanent position. However, if you get offered a permanent position then you won't be able to lose your job that easily.</p>
<p>You are right, Wikipedian. I just am back from their conference and they said last summer, they accepted a little over 100 students out of 2000 who applied. That's around the 7% you said.</p>
<p>I think having more coursework would be more advantageous. There were lots of freshmen and clueless people who were going to apply, so I guess chances should probably be not as bad as you think, but still competitive.</p>
<hr>
<p>
[quote]
If you get an interview with one of them, study their website because you'll get asked what you know about their company. Every company does it!
[/quote]
As for other companies, you always want to go into an interview knowing about the company and what you will be doing. If you don't, then you're not a match. Interviewers won't 'test' you anything specific about the company, but you should just know some stuff so you can breing it up and prolong the interview. It'd be quite boring just to ask what the company does and just nod and say 'yes, okay, uh huh'. You want to be involved in the interview and talk at least more than 35% of the time.</p>
<p>
[quote]
You are right, Wikipedian. I just am back from their conference and they said last summer, they accepted a little over 100 students out of 2000 who applied. That's around the 7% you said.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Well, summer is always more competitive. You should try Fall and/or Spring terms. I think they have a much smaller pool of applicants. IIRC, some centers have <150 applicants. Of course, they also take less number of interns.</p>
<p>Now, if your on the quarter system, then you should try a fall term internship because a spring term would take up two quarters.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I think having more coursework would be more advantageous. There were lots of freshmen and clueless people who were going to apply, so I guess chances should probably be not as bad as you think, but still competitive.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Yes, to a certain extent. Some interns are given projects outside of their field of study. For example, I knew a couple of interns that were majoring in ME but worked on atrophysics simulations/experiments. When I asked them, they openly admitted they had little to no background in that research area. However, they seemed to be open to explore other areas of research so maybe that's why they were chosen.</p>
<p>I also know that Freshmen and Sophmores were selected for internships. For example, I knew that at least one of them had a connection to the center so it was easy to get an offer. Again, it's not so much of how much you know, but who you know that matters.</p>
<p>Good luck with USRP and maybe [url=<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SunROcwJuJU%5Dthis%5B/url">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SunROcwJuJU]this[/url</a>] can be you someday!</p>
<hr>
<p>
[quote]
As for other companies, you always want to go into an interview knowing about the company and what you will be doing. If you don't, then you're not a match. Interviewers won't 'test' you anything specific about the company, but you should just know some stuff so you can breing it up and prolong the interview. It'd be quite boring just to ask what the company does and just nod and say 'yes, okay, uh huh'. You want to be involved in the interview and talk at least more than 35% of the time.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I just thought I should throw it out there.....:rolleyes:</p>
<p>
[quote]
When I asked them, they openly admitted they had little to no background in that research area. However, they seemed to be open to explore other areas of research so maybe that's why they were chosen.
[/quote]
How do they get selected then ??? I thought this program was extremely competitive, so people who were matched with certain projects had some experience in their area!!</p>
<p>Dude, I thought you had a friend that did USRP?</p>
<p>I don't know how they got selected because I don't have access to that information. My guess is essays, LORs, technical skills, center preference, and/or GPA. It can be any combination of those things.</p>
<p>“Some interns are given projects outside of their field of study. For example, I knew a couple of interns that were majoring in ME but worked on atrophysics simulations/experiments. When I asked them, they openly admitted they had little to no background in that research area. However, they seemed to be open to explore other areas of research so maybe that’s why they were chosen.”</p>
<p>yeah, i was chosen to work on astrophysics simulations, since I’m a physics major, but I wanted to do an engineering internship. Thus, I’ll probably have to reject the internship offer. Unless working on that will help me get a full-time engineering position with NASA?</p>