<p>I just got done with my first semester of college, and I want to apply to these SURP programs. However, I just had some questions:</p>
<p>1) Is a LOR from a lab instructor ok? I thought it may fit well here because lab skills are the skills needed for research. This was a physics lab instructor. I think he will be able to write a really good one for me, better than an actual science faculty member. </p>
<p>2) Next semester I am taking an Intro to research class, in which we learn basic methods and then actually start a research project. This class (basically the semester) starts end of January. However, some applications for SURP are due beginning of Feb. When the application asks for research experience, would it be a good idea to include this course as part of the experience?</p>
<p>3) How much does GPA count on these things? I made straight A's my first semester, I don't know if that carries any weight. Do they even look at GPA?</p>
<p>1) No, LORs need be from a professor. You can submit a lab instructor but it will be considered a very weak LOR.</p>
<p>2) No, don’t include it as experience because you haven’t completed the course yet or started your project. You can mention you are currently enrolled under coursework in progress.</p>
<p>3) GPA counts for a great deal, but it’s not everything. Some PIs/programs are looking for specific coursework or specific lab skills/experience. </p>
<p>BTW, you should know that as freshman you chances of getting into one of the summer programs (SURP, REU, NIH etc) are quite poor simply because you don’t have enough lab experience to be useful and because you don’t have sufficient academic knowledge (not enough coursework). </p>
<p>These summer programs are really designed for upperclassmen.</p>
<p>If you want to do summer research, you will usually have better luck if you look for a volunteer lab position at your own undergrad.</p>
<p>^I agree. You will probably have a hard time being accepted to one of these programs for the reasons WOWMOM mentioned. </p>
<p>But that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck in terms of research. You could definitely start doing research at your school. Pay attention and work hard in this research class. Talk to professors about whether they have openings in their labs (but first: know what they’re researching by reading one/some of their pubs. Talk to a librarian about how to search for and download these pubs.). Talk to the honors college. Talk to premed or academic advisors. Talk with upperclassmen and/or TAs and/or lab instructors to figure out how they got started. There’s probably a research office at your school (assuming it’s a university)–might be affiliated with the university or the school of medicine or nursing or… There might even be an undergrad research website. </p>
<p>You’ll have to do a little homework, but identifying a lab and a mentor early on is surely worth it. Good luck!</p>
<p>1) A really strong letter of rec from a TA beats a weak letter from a Professor. (My D was accepted into her top SURP based off a strong rec from a TA.)</p>
<p>2) List all applicable stuff on your resume, including spring coursework/research projects pending. Just be clear on the start dates. The reviewer will then discount if if they do choose.</p>
<p>@bluebayou,
That is what I was planning to do, list the course and project but make sure to mention when I started (late January) and the fact that it was a course.</p>
<p>1) I agree with bluebayou on this point. As a rising sophomore, programs will realize that you’ve only had one semester of college coursework, and LORs from professors can be hard to find. A lab instructor who got to know you well over the semester and can speak about your abilities in a lab setting seems like a great LOR. I applied and was accepted to summer research programs as a rising sophomore, and my LORs came from a high school AP science teacher and a college administrator who knew my interests and personality well.</p>
<p>2) On the applications, I wouldn’t list anything you haven’t started yet in your experiences. Most have a space for future coursework, so you can describe that course there. If you have any research experience in college or from high school, be sure to list that in your experiences. When I was applying as a rising sophomore, I had no research experience at all. Instead I talked about my laboratory science classes (organic chem, biology, etc.) and how I’d felt about learning lab techniques in a classroom setting.</p>
<p>3) Congrats on your straight A semester! That will definitely mean a lot as it demonstrates your maturity/readiness for college, and potentially for summer research. I also sent a high school transcript with my applications. If you had a strong high school GPA that might be something to consider.</p>
<p>Best of luck with your applications. If you are accepted, you will most likely have a great project and a really fun summer experience . My first two summers were spent in such programs and they were wonderful. There are actually programs out there that target rising sophomores and juniors who have little research experience.</p>
<p>Are the lesser known programs less competitive? @plumazul, do you happen to know of any programs that target rising sophomores or students with little to no experience?</p>
<p>Yes, the lesser known programs are less competitive-- simply because they are not as well publicized as the summer program in NY, Boston, St. Louis, Chicago, Seattle, DC or California. Generally, the less populous the surrounding area is, the fewer applicants a program recieves.</p>
. My first two summers were spent in such programs and they were wonderful. There are actually programs out there that target rising sophomores and juniors who have little research experience.</p>