<p>Is it wise to do UROP as a first semester freshman? Most of the professors seem to want people with at least some experience with college courses....</p>
<p>I think professors prefer upper divs for URAP. Plus many of them have prereqs. But there's no harm in applying.</p>
<p>"Is it wise to do UROP as a first semester freshman?"</p>
<p>The difficulty is getting accepted in the first place, and most likely a freshman will not be accepted unless he has some sort of previous research experience relating to what he applied for.</p>
<p>It's URAP, not UROP.</p>
<p>And I don't see the rush. Get good grades and wait until your second or third year before applying. You'll have much better chances.</p>
<p>Your chances of getting into URAP are virtually 0% unless you're an Intel STS or Westinghouse finalist or something like that.</p>
<p>Some of the URAP things don't seem as difficult to get into as you guys make it seem. I would say this- apply if it interests you and you think you are capable of doing the job. You might not get it, but so what? That's the case with most desireable jobs or opportunities. If you don't get it, you spent a few hours on an application that could have helped you greatly, and you will fill out a better application next time. If you get it? Well, you win at life, so go you! :)</p>
<p>There are reasons why professors prefer upperclassmen, for many of the same reasons why it's advisable for a first-semester freshman to take 13 units instead of 17. The biggest difference is that if you take 17 units and your grades are screwed, you're the one who takes the hit; if you participate in URAP and can't hold your end of the bargain, the professor and his funders get screwed. With all that said, there is a percentage of URAP positions that don't get filled each semester, either because they are too specialized in topic or because there is limited interest. Here, "limited interest" means that there might be several applicants and by no means none at all, but the professor has the final say as to whom will get the position (if anyone, at all). So if a professor gets a pair of freshman as his only applicants, he might just decide it is in his best interest to do the work himself- even if the work is tedious and takes up 10 hours a week.</p>
<p>Something to consider,
TTG</p>
<p>Just a clarification - there is a "UROP" at Berkeley, but is specific to College of Engineering. The "URAP" is the far bigger one that is specific to L&S (I think).</p>
<p>And yeah, I agree with the others - unless you've had prior research experience - meaning ACTUAL, significant research as opposed to just being a lab slave - it's going to be very difficult to be accepted because you will be competing with upperclassmen who have taken pertinent classes and have more extensive knowledge in regards to the lab topic.</p>
<p>I meant URAP. I think I will apply second semester. Thanks for replies.</p>