<p>I am currently a sophomore Engineering Physics student at Cornell U. I am looking for some advice on what to do this summer. I was offered a job doing research with the Nanotechnology group that I am currently involved with here at Cornell, but I am also interested in some REU programs. I think I could get the same pay at both, but I'm not sure which would be better for me as a student. On the one hand, I could get diversity and experience with students from around the country at an REU, but on the other hand, the research would have to start AND stop in 10 weeks. I could work on developing a project and relationship this summer that I could keep going all year at Cornell.</p>
<p>REU's I was looking at are University of Minnesota, NIST in Maryland, and Rice in TX. I am interested currently in nano and medical physics. However, I'm not sure this is want I will always want to do. Is it possible to do an REU in something like astrophysics or something like that if I have a rec from a nanotech professor?</p>
<p>Anyway, and insight would be really helpful. It's about time for me to start applying to REU's. </p>
<p>PS I have a 3.7 with a good amount of math/science, but I got a C- freshman year in calc (A's since in everything). What types of REU's are in my range for admission?</p>
<p>I'd say if you haven't had any prior research experience, an REU would be best for you because the project is designed in such a way that you can complete it within 10 weeks or at least make some good progress on it. Also you can get a lot of help from the mentors (grad students) to get started. Moreover you're expected to write a report and give a presentation at the end of the program. This way you get exposed to the not-so-technical part about research as well. It is also a good way to test the waters and find out if you're really interested in nanotechnology research. Personally I think there is a lot of hype around nanotech and the truth is that the research in this field is not always as exciting as you see on newspaper. There will be a lot of mundane work like sitting in front of an AFM all day long just to do some repetitive measurements to get enough data. If you decide that you actually don't like nanotechnology research, you'll be done with it when the program is over.</p>
<p>On the other hand, if you get into a research group you're likely to be assigned to work on a larger project that will take much longer than 10 weeks to complete. Since there isn't a definite deadline you tend to lose motivation and productivity - that's what happened to me. Also you might not have the skills and knowledge to work on a substantial project yet and it'll seem overwhelming at the beginning. This is especially bad when your grad student is an a$$ and doesn't want to teach you stuff (that's also what happened to me).</p>
<p>As an undergraduate researcher I am a little biased but I think you should take the Cornell position.</p>
<p>Beyond the convenience of staying in Ithaca, this could open up opportunities to become a full time researcher throughout the year and might culminiate into thesis worthy material or something for graduate school.</p>
<p>At the very least you'll get to know your professors at Cornell better and develop stronger relations.</p>
<p>Thanks for the opinions! I need all the help I can get.</p>
<p>I should add that I am going to be doing independent research for 2 credits this next semester in the nanotech group I worked in last semester. I should have fair to medium lab experience by this summer.</p>
<p>are u thinking about grad school? then getting a paper published puts u on the short list and staying at cornell will allow u to do that.</p>
<p>if ur worried about not meeting more people, then maybe consider an internship at a company instead. that would be much or worthwhile than the reu. so IMO, it's better to choose either staying at cornell, or working at a company, which will give u much more powerful and extensive contacts than an reu would.</p>