<p>Hi. I'm looking at applying to USC for electrical engineering. (As much as a high schooler can know) I think I want to pursue research, possibly into graduate school.</p>
<p>I wanted to know if undergraduate research experiences are reasonably accessible at USC. I found programs like their "Merit Research Program" but that seemed pretty exclusive, definitely not a "pretty sure thing" if you work hard (freshmen are accepted based on their application, I believe). For the most part, I don't see many official programs at USC for undergraduate research.</p>
<p>If students talk with their professors/other resources are opportunities to become involved in research reasonably available? What percent of undergrads at USC participate in research?</p>
<p>Sorry, I'm having trouble finding this information through the website. I'm finding awards for research and some programs, but nothing that gives me an idea of what is reasonable to expect.</p>
<p>Here are most of the awards, [USC</a> Undergraduate Research](<a href=“http://www.usc.edu/programs/ugprograms/ugresearch/oncampus_awards.shtml]USC”>http://www.usc.edu/programs/ugprograms/ugresearch/oncampus_awards.shtml)</p>
<p>In addition to taking research as a class (2 or 4 units, look for the course in each department numbered 490) and working for free/volunteering and the professor possibly hiring you.</p>
<p>This is a great question that we hear all the time!</p>
<p>The Merit Research Program and the opportunities linked by the previous poster are fantastic resources for getting paid for your research, but they are far from the only ways to participate in research as an undergrad! I don’t have an exact percentage of students who participate in research, but in my experience engineering students that want research have found a lab they find engaging after putting in a little bit of effort contacting faculty. If a student isn’t doing research here, it’s most likely by choice.</p>
<p>As you’ve suggested, just talking to professors is one of the best ways to find research that interests you.</p>
<p>When I was looking for research, I asked my Biomedical Engineering 101 professor if he knew of labs that would take undergrads, he gave me a list of 5 or 6 to contact, 4 got back to me right away, and I ended up joining a retinal prostheses lab during freshman year! I know other people who had success just googling their research interests and emailing the professors they found, and others found opportunities by talking to speakers after research presentations they attend.</p>
<p>Of course not every lab has room or work for new undergrads each semester, and some of the more popular labs are highly competitive, but there is so much research going on here that I’m sure you could find something you like! For the most part, all students have the same opportunities, and Merit Research and the linked Awards are just ways to get paid instead of volunteering. However, some of my friends have volunteered for a semester and then their professor got a grant to pay them. Either way, lab experience and having your name on a paper are invaluable benefits.</p>
<p>I suggest you check out this great blog about undergrad research posted by my fellow Viterbi Student Ambassador, Rob.
<a href=“http://viterbivoices.usc.edu/rob/attending-a-research-university/[/url]”>http://viterbivoices.usc.edu/rob/attending-a-research-university/</a></p>
<p>Feel free to follow up here or email me at <a href=“mailto:viterbi.student@usc.edu”>viterbi.student@usc.edu</a></p>
<p>Steve
Viterbi Student Ambassador
Senior - Biomedical (Electrical) Engineering
viterbivoices.usc.edu/steve</p>