<p>So I have some questions regarding research at more Berkeley, more specifically research apprenticeships/assistants. Hopefully this will help others having the same questions.</p>
<ul>
<li><p>I am currently applying some URAP positions and some research assistant positions within the psychology department. What is the difference between the two? </p></li>
<li><p>I know you cannot be involved in more than one URAP position, but does the same apply for research assistance positions?</p></li>
<li><p>In terms of graduate/professional school, which of the two looks better? </p></li>
</ul>
<ol>
<li>It’s the same work.</li>
<li>Don’t do more than one research project. It’s infinitely better to excel at one project than do a mediocre job in 2 or more.</li>
<li>See 1.</li>
</ol>
<p>I wanted to revive this thread to ask another question.</p>
<p>So, my professor actually took me on to work with him; however, I have to be honest, I don’t find the material interesting at all - I just applied to have some backups while I waited for replies from other positions. I was warned by this early on from others, but he hired me on the spot and has already begun assigning me readings, tasks, etc. I can’t really get out of it now. On the plus side, I will be working with a professor 1 on 1 as opposed to a grad student with various assistants.</p>
<p>After the semester is over, I plan on looking for another position, but I’m afraid I won’t have time to get acquainted with a professor who I actually want to work with and be my mentor for my thesis. For getting a mentor, do I have to stick with a professor who knows the material, or, in my case, just ask your current mentor to help me even though they don’t know the material?</p>
<p>EDIT: Also does anyone know if its possible to have two research assistant positions? I only have 13 units, so I think its doable, but is it frowned upon?</p>
<p>1) you get 199 credit instead of ugis 192 (im doing 199 too right now) with a title of independent research which always looks nice.</p>
<p>2) you can. but that might be stretching it.</p>
<p>3) I think its more of how you describe your experience with the position over the course’s title, overall.</p>
<p>and knitknots: dont give up on it so fast, you might grow on it. but if you absolutely hate it, and want a mentor for a different dept for your these, at least pull out now so the prof had enough time to get another RA</p>
<p>Your professor is priming you to do actual work. In order to do research, you need to do…research. I mean, you need to develop enough background knowledge in the field such that you can grow intuition towards some subfield. When you do that, you can conduct experiments relevant to that subfield to fill in gaps in your (and possibly other researchers’) knowledge. Don’t give up so quickly. It’s a very long process, but it’s equally rewarding.</p>
<p>@waiting and inconnu - I’ll just go through with it. The bajillion other emails I’ve sent in reply to RA postings have never been responded too. I think I’ll just count my blessings with this one.</p>
<p>@cwk221: The professor actually announced in class on the first day that he was looking for research assistants. Whats funny is that I was the last to apply, but since he was looking for guys, he took me on the spot. I was flabbergasted because I expected to go through an extensive interview process. </p>
<p>However, if you want to approach your professor, I’d recommend doing it on the first day of class; chances are other students will do the same. Explain why you want to study under him/her, your future goals and how being an RA would assist in competing them. Also, depending on your major, you might have research postings by department. For example, in the psych dept. an email is sent about 1 week before class begins advertising labs/grad students/SOMETIMES professors in need of RAs . If you cant do any of the above, your best bet would be to go through URAP. I’d also recommend going to the workshops given by the undergrad research department. </p>
<p>I will say one thing regarding becoming a research assistant, landing a position was harder than I thought. Out of the 7 positions I applied to only 2 got back to me. It’s a good thing you are getting started now. If you need any more help, jsut ask.</p>
<p>I won’t say which department, because now I’m scared to.</p>
<p>But it was because the only people interested in his research and who have assisted him in past semesters were women and so he wanted to change things up a bit. IIRC, the other people working with him on his other project are women so its not like he’s sexist.</p>