<p>Is it common for a first-year to receive a research position? I plan on applying for a couple. Overall, how many are successful in getting a research position?</p>
<p>It's incredibly competitive and assuming you haven't taken any classes in the field or have prior experience you can brag about on the essay, it will be incredibly hard for you to make it.</p>
<p>what about if I have done research for the past 2 years, at the University of Southern California and University of North Texas in Neuroscience. Then, do I have a better shot at getting a research position</p>
<p>Uh, no, they'll see you did it at USC and send you away immediately.</p>
<p>;)</p>
<p>yes, it will help you out.</p>
<p>Sort of on the topic, are the research position paid? If so, can I apply for a research job as a work study job? I am not too sure how to seek out research jobs before I reach Cal. </p>
<p>Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>"It's incredibly competitive and assuming you haven't taken any classes in the field or have prior experience you can brag about on the essay, it will be incredibly hard for you to make it."</p>
<p>How much is incredibly competitive greatestyen? As in odds?</p>
<p>It's difficult because other applicants have research experience while you, as a freshman probably do not. A professor would rather choose a student with research experience than one without so he doesn't have to train him from the very beginning- unless that student has some compelling story to tell.</p>
<p>"It's difficult because other applicants have research experience while you, as a freshman probably do not. A professor would rather choose a student with research experience than one without so he doesn't have to train him from the very beginning- unless that student has some compelling story to tell."</p>
<p>Hmm unlimitedx, how about for transfers? I have no pure research experience per say but I think I have other activities that might enhance my qualifications (biopsy + english tutor, student gov etc). Or do professors only favor pure research experience? If thats the case, I begin to wonder how is it possible to obtain a research position if they already expect you to have research experience...?</p>
<p>Yep, catch-22. You have to find other venues to obtain research first. A friend of mine simply emailed a professor and he allowed her to join in (mostly monkey work she tells me, but you need to start somewhere). URAP is not the only way to participate in research, but certainly one of the most competitive ways due to its publicity. My cousin is researching at a lab this whole summer, so her chances to participatein URAP this fall will probably be much more higher than last year. I'll see :)</p>
<p>Bummer, I had the opportunity to do institutional research at my cc but let it slide...Fack a lack.</p>
<p>The URAP program is designed to begin the process for you to learn to research. When you apply, the URAP app will ask for classes which you think will make you a reseracher. The reason for this is because professors going through URAP know that students coming in may not have had a lot of research experience. That's why the "A" stands for "Apprentice."</p>
<p>If you have more research experience, than you should contact a professor personally that you might be interested in. I know several students who are working for Professor Filippenko, a distinguished lecturer as well as researcher.</p>
<p>Cardinal: For transfer students, there are some specific programs exclusive to transfer students. The Miller Program is one of them.</p>
<p><a href="http://www-miller.berkeley.edu/%5B/url%5D">http://www-miller.berkeley.edu/</a></p>
<p>what's the time committment when you do research?</p>
<p>It depends on the research project. Some are 6-9 hours a week, some are more than 12 hours a week.</p>