Summer CS Internship vs REU

Career Opportunities & Internships
1

<p>I am a junior majoring in Neuroscience. I was on the premed train but now am planning on a career in Computer Science. I have been taking intro courses so far, and probably will end up with a minor.</p>

<p>So I have been offered two amazing opportunities considering my crap GPA, both CS, for this summer. The first is a summer internship with a local government. I will be using Microsoft Access, Excel and Visual Basic to analyze database information for their contracts department. The position is 12 weeks.</p>

<p>The second is an REU at Clemson University, for computational neuroscience, analyzing MRI scan data. I contacted the professor that I would be doing research with and know I am very lucky to have been accepted. This program is 8 weeks.</p>

<p>The stipends for both are around the same amount. Both are 40 hour work weeks. Both would definitely give very good recommendations/resume entries. On one hand, the first will give me real world job experience. For the second, I will get research experience which may help in applying for grad school. The first does not offer housing or food, while the REU does. </p>

<p>I am still undecided about what I will do in the future with CS as I have not learned too much yet but hoping to get your opinions on which would be a better option. I am currently leaning towards the internship, just because I want some real world experience working in an office.</p>

2

<p>Hi there, I am going through the same dilemma, so this may not really answer your question. I am open to feedback, though.
I too, am a junior debating internship vs. research. I’m majoring in Computer Science, where a large majority of people have proven that the only way to succeed with this degree is to get an internship. So far, I’m choosing to do summer research with a professor over 2 internship offers, one of which pays well but seems rather invaluable to me. And I have not even done a single thing in research or industry experience.
If you can’t get a better internship offer than that, my suggestion is to choose the research. I don’t think that internship even requires CS experience. It sounds more like menial labor. You’ll receive a more rewarding experience doing the research instead.
And like I mentioned, do give me feedback on my decision.</p>

3

<p>I would say go with the REU program. It sounds much more interesting, and you’ll probably learn a lot more.</p>

4

<p>REU! Much better experience and will be great for grad school!</p>

5

<p>I’d go with the REU given your choices. You will most likely be in a living situation with other CS students so you have a community available related to your major and you’ll get more one-on-one time with professors and research. You will probably have to present and do a poster and and those experiences may be useful down the road.</p>