<p>Hi CC,</p>
<p>I recently got a letter from UR about RIGs (I was accepted EN) saying I should apply. I am curious how difficult it is to get a RIG as well as what this invitation to apply entails, meaning how many people get a letter like this? I am just curious.</p>
<p>[University</a> of Rochester : College Admissions](<a href=“http://www.enrollment.rochester.edu/admissions/rig/default.shtm]University”>http://www.enrollment.rochester.edu/admissions/rig/default.shtm) </p>
<p>moonman, once you fill out your RIG application it will be reviewed by UR Admissions Faculty/Staff. Students that demonstrate an evident interest in the unknown realms of academia will be likely to receive RIG. You don’t need to know exactly what kind of research project that you want to pursue… we just want to know what captivates your interest / intrigues you. We don’t expect all high school seniors to have formal research proposals at this point. </p>
<p>I don’t know exactly how many students will be invited to apply for a Research and Innovation Grant (RIG), but I can tell you what kinds of students got the invitation…</p>
<ol>
<li> You were a REMS / GEAR finalist.</li>
<li> In your application, you specifically mentioned “research” or a specific academic “passion”.</li>
<li> An Admissions Counselor thought you could potentially benefit from a RIG, and noted that during application review in your file.</li>
</ol>
<p>Lily8476, I don’t have any personal experience with RIG, but perhaps a current student / parent can comment on research outside of the natural sciences. </p>
<p>Tyler</p>
<p>D2 received one of these grants–they used to be called Portable Research Grants (PRG). IIRC, in 2008, there were only 40 awarded. That number was increased to 100 in 2010. Invitations to apply are sent out to approx 10% of all accepted students. (That’s what the Dean of Students told me when we chatted at Parent Orientation 4 years ago. Things might changed in the interval.) </p>
<p>For the application, the student needs to write an informal grant proposal explaining what you would do with the grant. The proposal isn’t binding… your interests will change once you get exposed to research–but the review committee is looking for some specific, concrete ideas of what you would do with the money. You know, more than just “I wanna hang out in Italy for 3 months…” You’ll also need to have a faculty sponsor at your high school review and sign off on the proposal. </p>
<p>Even if you don’t get a RIG, there are other options to fund undergrad research thru the Office of Undergraduate Research. Undergrad Research offers summer grants to students who are actively engaged in a research project.</p>
<p>Undergrad Research also sponsors a series of informal talks by professors more or less once a month during the school year to make students aware of research opportunities at UR. Many of the speakers are from outside life sciences. </p>
<p>BTW, my kiddo wrote her proposal to do life science research, but ended up using her grant to do anthropology field work… Go figure. Anthro isn’t even one of her minors…</p>
<p>I got this letter too, but I was confused by the phrasing. The letter said that I have been chosen as a recipient of an RIG and that I could fill out the included application to compete for an enhanced grant. This seemed to suggest that no matter what, I am assured of receiving a $3000 grant. However, the inclosed application said that I need to fill it out to be considered for the $3000 grant. I would probably fill out the application either way, but I was slightly confused. Is this what all the letters said?</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure you’re reading it wrong. The $3000 grant only is awarded to the selected finalists. Not everyone who is invited to apply receives a grant. What the letter is probably saying is that you’re invited to participate in the RIG program, not that you’ve already been awarded a $3000 RIG grant.</p>
<p>No. The letter says we are given the $3000 no matter what. </p>
<p>“Congratulations! You have been chosen as a recipient of a University of Rochester Research and Innovation Grant (RIG)-a special opportunity available to a select group of incoming students.”</p>
<p>At the end it says</p>
<p>"*P.S. If you would like to compete for an enhanced grant (of up to $4,500), you may submit an application online […] A copy if the application has also been enclosed with this letter."</p>
<p>HOWEVER- the enclosed application says we are competing for $3000 not up to $4500. </p>
<p>The letter is contradictory.</p>
<p>Brand new this year… some, not all, of the RIGs are an automatic $3,000 *(these students demonstrated a strong interest in research / clearly defined academic passions… many of these students were also REMS/GEAR finalists.)</p>
<p>These students receiving the automatic RIG do have the option to submit a proposal to enhance their RIG to an amount of $4,500.</p>
<p>CPU, thanks for pointing out that contradiction, I’ll inform my colleagues tomorrow.</p>
<p>You’re welcome TSocash!</p>
<p>If we want to compete for up to $4500, do we still fill out the enclosed application? That one says $3000 at the top.</p>
<p>I did get the same letter as CPUscientist3000. Thanks for clarifying things TSocash!</p>
<p>Yes, if your letter already says that you’ve automatically been awarded the $3,000, you’ll have to submit the enclosed application in order to compete for $4,500. </p>
<p>Only the students who have been automatically awarded the 3k can compete for the 4.5k.</p>
<p>Okay, thank you!</p>
<p>Is there a deadline on the application?</p>
<p>There may be some confusion because my daughter’s letter says “Congratulations! You have been chosen as a recipient of a U of R Research and Innovation Grant…” Then at the bottom it states…“If you would like to compete for an enhanced grant (of up to $4,500.) you may submit an application…A copy of the application has also been enclosed with this letter.” However, the application copy enclosed is an application for the $3,000 grant NOT $4,500. So I can see why some are confused. It also says to submit application by deadline stated in your letter, but, I don’t see one.</p>
<p>The link to the online application at the bottom of the letter leads you to the 2011-2012 application with a deadline of March 25, 2011.</p>
<p>TSocash, do you know what the criteria are for deciding if the grant will be “enhanced”?</p>
<p>This is the first time that we have offered an “enhanced” RIG, so I’m not exactly sure how these recipients will be identified. I imagine that students with previous research experience and/or well-articulated research proposals will be strong candidates.</p>
<p>Oops, sorry for repeating what CPU already pointed out. I guess I didn’t read the entire thread. My bad. :(</p>
<p>Sounds like RD applicants do not have a chance at this since the deadline (I read on the thread) for the enhanced application is March 25th. Is this only for ED and EN kids?</p>
<p>D2 (who recieved a PRG in 2008) was RD applicant. She completed and submitted her PRG proposal in under 3 days.</p>
<p>UR usually starts sending out RD notifications around 15 March. There will be enough time–but just barely-- to complete and fax back the RIG application should your D receive one.</p>
<p>Can someone post the online link to the advanced RIG application? I cannot find my letter. </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Here’s the application link…</p>
<p>[University</a> of Rochester : College Admissions](<a href=“http://enrollment.rochester.edu/admissions/apply/rig.shtm]University”>http://enrollment.rochester.edu/admissions/apply/rig.shtm)</p>