SROP, REU, SURF, etc.

[VulpesZerda]

Did anyone complete one of these research programs during one of their undergrad summers? Or, has anyone who's on an adcom ever come across such experiences on CVs? I've been able to find threads on StudentDoctor discussing SURFs, but none on here (I like it better here  ). 

 

I am asking just because I applied to 16 of these this year as a junior-->senior, through various channels such as the CIC and Leadership Alliance, and I'm currently sitting with 13 rejections and 3 still deciding. Crazy competitive, and super depressing. My school won't fund any summer research and I was so focused on the SURF apps that I failed to apply to any outside grants. I really got my hopes of for these summer programs, and spent months working on the apps!! I'm just frustrated and disappointed and wanted to vent/see if anyone has ever been in my shoes. Thanks

[geographyrocks]

I did the SROP between my junior and senior year, but the program was through my UG school and the chair of my department wrote my recommendation so it was kinda in the bag.  I'm sure it's much harder to get into research opportunities at other schools.  I'm surprised your school doesn't offer some sort of research opportunity.  They're generally funded through grants that the school applies for. 

[bsharpe269]

I did an REU. I applied to 4 and was accepted to 2. One of the ones I was accepted to was my UG institution and the PI who I did research with fought for me. The other was actually a really highly ranked school and my gpa was only a 3.3 so I'm not sure how I got lucky with that. I had a ton of research experience by the time I applied and the professor who I wanted to work with was in a similar area so I assume that's what did it.

[Queen of Kale]

I did an REU one summer, a DOE program the following summer, and a few stints with NASA at develop.  I don't know how selective the DOE or NASA programs were but many people at the REU schools told us they are harder to get into then their respective graduate programs.  Which, I put to the test a few years later and it turned out to be true with my very limited sample size.

[VulpesZerda]

Thanks for the replies! 

 

I did an REU one summer, a DOE program the following summer, and a few stints with NASA at develop.  I don't know how selective the DOE or NASA programs were but many people at the REU schools told us they are harder to get into then their respective graduate programs.  Which, I put to the test a few years later and it turned out to be true with my very limited sample size.

 

That makes me feel better. I guess I just didn't realize how competitive REUs were - I had never really heard of them before my junior year.

 

I did an REU. I applied to 4 and was accepted to 2. One of the ones I was accepted to was my UG institution and the PI who I did research with fought for me. The other was actually a really highly ranked school and my gpa was only a 3.3 so I'm not sure how I got lucky with that. I had a ton of research experience by the time I applied and the professor who I wanted to work with was in a similar area so I assume that's what did it.

 

Ah, makes sense. I had a hard time finding a perfect research fit, but figured it wouldn't matter too much...I'm willing to cross into other areas!

 

I did the SROP between my junior and senior year, but the program was through my UG school and the chair of my department wrote my recommendation so it was kinda in the bag.  I'm sure it's much harder to get into research opportunities at other schools.  I'm surprised your school doesn't offer some sort of research opportunity.  They're generally funded through grants that the school applies for. 

 

Well, that's actually the reason I applied to these things. Many of them said that they want to take students who don't go to large research universities and therefore lack opportunities. I attend a very small liberal arts college--barely any research going on. All the experience I have is a result of me driving into the city and volunteering in labs of two teaching hospitals (both of an Ivy league school, at least that's going for me lol). I thought I was a good candidate just because I really don't know what it's like to work in a real university research lab.

[bsharpe269]

If you don't have luck with your final few than it may be worth contacting a few professors who are a great research fit to see if they are looking for some summer help. I have never done this but I have heard of others having luck with it. Maybe someone on here knows more and can give inforamtion. This would basically be an informal sort of REU but I think that it would look similar on a resume for grad school.

[VulpesZerda]

If you don't have luck with your final few than it may be worth contacting a few professors who are a great research fit to see if they are looking for some summer help. I have never done this but I have heard of others having luck with it. Maybe someone on here knows more and can give inforamtion. This would basically be an informal sort of REU but I think that it would look similar on a resume for grad school.

 

Well that's an exciting idea! Thanks, and yes hopefully other people have thoughts on this. I'm just hesitant because it's getting quite close to summer. I know a lot of professors that I have great fit with--they're the ones I'm sending my grad school apps to later this year. So maybe I shouldn't bother them? I'm always afraid of coming off as annoying instead of eager with these things.

Edited April 24, 2014 by VulpesZerda

[VulpesZerda]

Good news that I wanted to share - today I was accepted to one of these programs. I guess I was giving up too early! I'm very excited to go from a random liberal arts college to a prestigious university and see the differences. Any advice on how to prepare? I leave in June :-)

[bsharpe269]

Good news that I wanted to share - today I was accepted to one of these programs. I guess I was giving up too early! I'm very excited to go from a random liberal arts college to a prestigious university and see the differences. Any advice on how to prepare? I leave in June :-)

Congrats!!! As far as preparing goes, if you know who you'll be working with or what project you'll be on then I would start reading relevant publications. Other than that, you shouldn't need much preparation. If they didn't think you were well prepared already then you wouldn't have been chosen!

[VulpesZerda]

Congrats!!! As far as preparing goes, if you know who you'll be working with or what project you'll be on then I would start reading relevant publications. Other than that, you shouldn't need much preparation. If they didn't think you were well prepared already then you wouldn't have been chosen!

Thank you!! That's funny you say that because I already started a little. I just watched a talk he did on his most recent research. After my finals are over I will do some reading. Thanks again!

[Hopeful0914]

My biggest suggestion that I tell everyone (based off my previous experience with a similar summer research program) is to already have a list of universities and programs (and people within those programs) that you want to apply to. This way, you can narrow it down as you learn throughout the summer and also get some insight into potential advisors, whether through talking to grad students or other professors in the program. My program was research and GRE heavy and I should have did more grunt work for application season as I was a little stressed when it came to picking schools and writing my personal statements to tailor it to those schools during Fall semester of my senior year. Good luck!!

 

 

 

SN: I met some of my very best friends in my summer program because of our similar career goals and they helped my get through the application cycle. This is the beginning of a support network you will have in doctoral studies and it is going to be an amazing experience!

[VulpesZerda]

My biggest suggestion that I tell everyone (based off my previous experience with a similar summer research program) is to already have a list of universities and programs (and people within those programs) that you want to apply to. This way, you can narrow it down as you learn throughout the summer and also get some insight into potential advisors, whether through talking to grad students or other professors in the program. My program was research and GRE heavy and I should have did more grunt work for application season as I was a little stressed when it came to picking schools and writing my personal statements to tailor it to those schools during Fall semester of my senior year. Good luck!!

 

 

 

SN: I met some of my very best friends in my summer program because of our similar career goals and they helped my get through the application cycle. This is the beginning of a support network you will have in doctoral studies and it is going to be an amazing experience!

 

Thanks for the insight! I do have that list done, fortunately. 12 solid programs/POIs.

 

My summer program has GRE classes two nights per week so I should probably study more on top of that I'd imagine.