Seeking research as CC student?

Graduate School
1

<p>I am attending a CC at the moment but understand the advantage of having research experience when applying to Grad school. My major is Chemistry, I'm only in my first term and will be transferring after two years to Portland State University where I am aiming to graduate with honors (meaning with a year of research). I am going to put as much effort and energy as I can to get into a top tier school.</p>

<p>Is there anyway that a CC, planning to transfer to a local university, can start right now on getting some experience that will show the top universities that he his proficient and capable in research?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance.</p>

<p>PS. Sorry if this is the wrong section, but I posted here as my final intention is Grad school.</p>

2

<p>Cyaneus,</p>

<p>Yes, there are various summer and semester internships available to CC students. You can participate in the programs offered by the [DOE:</a> Office of Science](<a href=“http://www.scied.science.doe.gov/scied/sci_ed.htm]DOE:”>http://www.scied.science.doe.gov/scied/sci_ed.htm) for opportunities to do summer or semester research at a national lab. Particularly, look into the [Community</a> College Institute (CCI)](<a href=“http://www.scied.science.doe.gov/scied/CCI/about.html]Community”>http://www.scied.science.doe.gov/scied/CCI/about.html) program. You can participate in that program for two summers or sumesters (including the summer before transferring) as a CC student. Once you transfer to a university, you can participate in the [url=&lt;a href=“http://www.scied.science.doe.gov/scied/erulf/about.html]SULI[/url”&gt;http://www.scied.science.doe.gov/scied/erulf/about.html]SULI[/url</a>] program for an additional two terms. Also, look into the other programs listed on the DOE website shown above to see if any apply to you. I also recommend to look at Career websites of any research institution for any student assistant openings.</p>

<p>Don’t forget to look for REUs on this [url=&lt;a href=“http://www.pathwaystoscience.org/Summerresearch.asp]website[/url”&gt;http://www.pathwaystoscience.org/Summerresearch.asp]website[/url</a>]. A friend did a summer REU while he was still in CC so it is possible.</p>

<p>NASA offers the [url=&lt;a href=“http://usrp.usra.edu/]USRP[/url”&gt;http://usrp.usra.edu/]USRP[/url</a>] program so keep it in mind for later.</p>

3

<p>Awesome, thank you MetalFace! Exactly what I was looking for.</p>

<p>Also I imagine that getting into these REU programs are competitive. Any advice on increasing my odds of getting into them?</p>

<p>If I could do one every summer and maybe find an assistantship or some other REU that I can do simultaneously with coursework, throughout my time at CC and junior year at university, I’d be much more confident in applying for Grad school.</p>

4

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<p>Yes, all of the programs I listed are competitive. There are many more out there, I’m just too lazy to do the work for you. Use Google to look for research internships, but just consider listings from universities as a starting point.</p>

<p>My advice is to develop a good relationship with your CC professors because you will have to request letters of recommendation for the programs. Give yourself enough time to write a strong statement of purpose because most, if not all, require one. Perhaps the most obvious, keep your grades up.</p>

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<p>REUs are usually offered for the summer. The CCI, SULI, and USRP programs can be either during the summer or during a fall or spring semester (18 weeks). The fall and spring semester appointments require that you take the semester off from school so you will probably delay graduation. However, there’s a higher probability that you publish your work if you do a semester and summer for SULI or CCI, assuming you’re working on something exceptional. I’ve know people who have done that.</p>

<p>Publishing the USRP work is a bit more difficult depending on what you are working on.</p>

<p>As for doing research while taking classes, you have a better chance of asking a professor to join his group. Just don’t expect to get paid initially.</p>

5

<p>Thanks again MF, great advice.</p>