Tell me about REU's...

[Lynn in Caribbean]

My dd will be applying next school year for summer 2018.  We are looking into this right now, because she has a free week before starting a summer internship, then it will be back to school and no time to really check this out again till Christmas break.  So, at this point, just trying to learn about the options and get a feel for the application process.

 

She is a rising junior, studying Molecular Biology, and interested in medical research.  One of her professors has encouraged to apply.  

 

I would be interested in hearing about your student’s REU experience. Which school did they go to?  Was it a positive experience for them overall?  

 

And about applying…Did they apply to a bunch of these?  Seems they are competitive, so she should apply to several, in the hopes of getting one.  Any helpful hints on the application process would be appreciated!  

Edited June 2, 2017 by Lynn in Caribbean

[8filltheheart]

My ds applied to 6 for the summer between sophomore and jr yr.  He was accepted by 3.  I don't remember anymore where they all were, but he accepted the one at Cornell.  This yr he applied to 4 and was accepted by 3.  (The 4 were for nuclear physics at Michigan State, Duke, Notre Dame, and a gov't facility (I think Jefferson Laboratories or maybe Oak Ridge....I don't remember this one for sure and it is the one that rejected him). He accepted the one at Duke.

 

For him (physics major planning on applying to grad school) they have been fabulous experiences.  The pay is great.  Housing is included.  This yr he has something like a $100/week food stipend. He has learned a lot about different projects and how the teams interact.  He is also using them as an opportunity to explore different types of research situations so that he can start thinking about what he wants in a grad program.  They are also great for LOR.  His research prof from last yr wrote a LOR for his application this yr.  He has really enjoyed the other REU students.  All positives from his POV.

 

FWIW, he completed his applications over Christmas break or shortly thereafter both yrs. The application typical requires a CV, 2  LOR, essays (usually about why they want to be involved in research), and a transcript. Prior research experience is a huge plus for the application.  Even though applications didn't open until later during Christmas break, he had researched the various programs before hand and had already requested LOR, so that when they opened he knew exactly which ones he wanted to apply to and his recommenders were ready to go.  (Another fwiw, I do think his # of acceptances is not the norm, so applying to multiple is definitely a good decision.)

Edited June 3, 2017 by 8FillTheHeart

[8filltheheart]

 Ds told us that nearly all of them were making the point to ask females to apply. 

 

I think that some kids are under the impression that REUs are for women and minorities or students without research opportunities on their campuses.  That is not what our ds has witnessed at all. Obviously male.  As white as they come.  Last yr the other REU kids were all from great schools (ND, MIT, UPenn, etc).  I don't know where the other kids are from this yr, but I have only heard from him once since he started earlier this week.  (He texted that he likes his roommate and found a group of them that like to play strategy games.  ;) )

[Pegasus]

DD just started her REU internship.  She mostly just fell into it, to be honest.  She put lots of effort into applying for another research internship and ended up being rejected because of an administrative mix-up.  That was highly disappointing.  She didn't even hear back from some industry internships she also applied for.  She was looking at another summer slicing meat at the Kroger deli when one of her professors mentioned that they had extended the deadline on this REU at her own school and encouraged anyone interested in applying.

 

Fortunately, she ticked all the boxes of what they were looking for: female, computer science, and willing to commit immediately due to the late timing.  She was accepted as soon as her application and letters of reference were received.

 

Out of the program for 20, she is one of 4 females. About half of the students are from Hong Kong and half from the U.S. Most of the students are in other engineering disciplines but the projects will all include significant computer programming so the computer science students are split up among the project groups.  They are given a couple weeks to get familiar with the different projects and can request a change to one of their choosing. I don't know what they'll do if most of the computer science students choose the same project. Their time will be split between the university campus and the Oak Ridge National Lab.

 

I've been very impressed with the enthusiasm and friendliness/helpfulness of the professor who is organizing this experience.  I think will make the biggest difference between programs.

 

Her experience will be 10 weeks; stipend is $500 per week plus $100 per week subsistence plus housing costs.  Even though DD is local and could commute, they wanted her in the student housing to promote teamwork. Those that needed to travel also got a travel allowance.  It's a cushy deal, in my opinion.

[Riverland]

DS is doing an engineering REU this summer. He only applied to 3 or 4.

 

He had no prior research experience, but an excellent GPA and faculty recommendations, and strong prior work experience.

 

My take is a bit different from other posters. DS was thrilled to be offered the position because he intends to go straight to grad school after undergrad. He both needed and wanted research experience. But, it is definitely not well-paid compared to his other options. His REU pays a $6,000 stipend plus housing plus travel expenses for 10 weeks. This is $15/hour plus extras. Last summer he made $22/hr (no housing) at his internship and had he returned this year it would have been more. This summer he also turned down an offer (to take the REU) of $24/hr plus housing plus travel at a company in his specialized area of interest. The internships also encourage 12 or 13 weeks of employment, rather than just 9 or 10 at most REU's. So, he's effectively making 50% less at his REU than he was offered in industry. Add that to the crappy way that REU pay is taxed at a higher rate (unearned income vs earned income).

 

There was definitely priority hiring for women and minorities at his REU, as they make up the majority of participants in an engineering field.

[Clemsondana]

I did a summer REU and was also in labs that hosted REUs when I was a grad student. If you are interested, definitely apply to several, since most don't accept many students. These can be a great introduction to research, but they can also be situations where a prof tells you to shadow somebody for a week (standard when you are getting started in a new lab) and then sort of forgets about you. Some labs have a well-planned set of work, and in others you may wind up doing odds and ends. In my own experience, a collaborating professor a few doors down came and rescued me from a lab where I went in every day and waited to be told who to help that day. These experiences are often far more work for the mentor than the benefit that they get because it can take a month or 2 before a student really starts producing good independent work...and by then they are done. But, some faculty/grad students/postdocs see these as a chance to do some hands-on educating and lab work while their teaching load is light, and in these cases you can learn a LOT.

 

Besides these programs, I strongly encourage students to work in a lab if they are at a school that has research facilities. Every lab has a different culture, and until you've worked in a few you don't really get a good understanding of what the 'standard' lab environment is like. If students need paid work, starting as a dishwasher/media maker may lead to being able to do some bench work. My alma mater required all students in my major to do a research project as seniors. These experiences definitely made the transition to grad school easier, and really helped make the theoretical class material more understandable.