<p>I'm admitted as a regent scholar at UCSD and I am offered the opportunity to perform research with a mentor for 1 unit credit. It's a part of the RSRI program. Please share some thoughts if you have done it... is it worth it? did you learn a lot from it? would it take too much time to distract you from your other classes or social life? thanks.</p>
<p>I was a regents scholar, but I didn’t take advantage of the research program because I was in the phage genomics program in the bio department. I can’t speak to the program exactly, but from my understanding, you work out a schedule with your mentor and I don’t think the time commitment is very much at all (and if you only get 1 unit for it, it probably won’t be that much of a time commitment). I can say that I regret not doing it, and if you’re planning on being a science major, I highly recommend doing any sort of research program you can. Even if you don’t think you’re interested in research, it will look good and being handed research opportunities and a mentor doesn’t happen often. This can be an easy way to get involved in something that will look good later, could open doors if you’d like to pursue research, might get you a letter of recommendation if you need one, etc. It may seem like a small thing, but your first research opportunity is usually the hardest to get. Other labs are much more willing to hire you if you’ve had some experience before hand.</p>
<p>So I recommend that you definitely do it. It’s much easier to drop out of something like this than to add it later.</p>
<p>thank you for sharing this
now i’m certain that i want to do it :)</p>
<p>@baktrax: How was the phage genomics research program? I recently got an email inviting me to apply for it, but I’m not sure if I should (I’m doing the RSRI program, but I’m not sure what kind of research I’ll be doing yet.) The phage genomics program seems more structured and gives more units. Is it pretty basic research though? Mainly to help you learn the processes and technology you can use in the field? Or actual original research?</p>