Reu Definition and 200 Threads

Hey all, while I've applied to several REUs for this summer, I've mostly been applying in areas that I'm only tangentially interested in. Last week, I received an email about a new REU that's opened up at Case, and was ecstatic to see the following research program: (T4) Phase transitions in the...

I want to get an REU, how do i do this? Obviously I'm a bit late for this year but I want to start working on stuff now that will make me stand out for one next year. I'd like to do it in astronomy or similar but any field is fine. I have solid programming skills(former CS major) and a good GPA...

I am staying in the United State as a political asylee since 2006. Asylee status is similar as a refugee. I am at a local community college and have applied for summer research program (REU) funded by National Science Foundation. The NSF website says that to be eligible for summer research...

Hello First off, a little background information. I'm a second year physics major planning to go to grad school, so I'm looking to start doing research (preferably this summer). The trouble is, I've only taken intro physics courses so far and am not close enough to any professors to ask for...

I am a freshman physics major at a top university in India. I was considering (as a really long shot) applying to REU programs in the US or Europe. What places should I consider? Obviously, places like Caltech SURF come to mind, but do I have a better chance at a less glamorous program? Some...

I have been looking at research programs not for this summer but the next, most of them want a few letters of recommendation, however since I will still be pretty early in the physics program when I am applying who could I consider writing my letters of rec, does it have to be physics...

Should I list a publication if the paper has my name in there but I didn't actually write anything in the paper? (except producing some plots and results). Particularly when the professor just put my name there as a sort of "courtesy"? If so, how do I specify that I am not the primary author or...

I'm not actually a freshman. I'm a sophomore. But I didn't start doing physics until this year and fell in love with it and decided to declare it as my major. But I'm wondering is if it would be possible for me to find a summer REU program with only 2 semesters of physics? By this summer...

So the topic is kind of vague, but allow me to expand: I'm applying for 10 summer REU programs for next year and I was wondering just how important the "memberships" category of my cv is. If I were to lay down $70 for a membership in both the Planetary Society and also the Seti Institute...

Hi all, I am planning to apply for some REU during the summer of 2009, but since i am an international student, i am facing difficulties finding a programm that accepts international students, and most importantly that offers financial aid to international students, since i cannot afford it...

What are the main differences between personal statements ( / statements of purpose) written to support a graduate school application versus one for an REU? I have now written two successful REU personal statements, so one might assume that I was doing something right when writing them. In...

I've been looking into some summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) programs here in the US, but is there some kind of equivalent program for countries in Europe and elsewhere?

Last summer I participated in a physics REU. The REU was a ten week program. Things started to go wrong as soon as I arrived. One of my official mentors had already left and gone to work at CERN for the summer and my other official mentor was going to work at CERN the next day. By elsewhere I...

In the spring, I'll be graduating with a math degree from one university, I'm still continuing my undergraduate education next fall to get a physics degree (and/or to do premed studies) at another university. So basically, I'm going to be a graduate in limbo between two universities during...

in order to be accepted into grad school? People tell me they are hard to get into. Would grad school committees consider the research you do in the summer at your own university?

Greetings... I'm looking for opinions about whether I should apply for an REU next year. My situation is the following: I'm a physics undergrad student at a school with a fairly good physics reputation (UTexas at Austin). I'm certain that I want to pursue an academic career, and therefore plan...

So I applied for a number of REU sites earlier this year. So far I've only heard back from one (and they didn't accept me). As the end of the academic year approaches, I need to start considering where I'll live and how I'll employ myself during the summer, but I've been putting off those...

I applied to the physics REU at University Park where i attend school. I sent in 3 letters of recommendation and sent my transcript. My Cum GPA is 3.83. I am a freshman, but have completed Calc I,II,II, Linear Algebra, Dif. Equations and 2 physics (Mechanics, and Electricity and...

Idk if this is the right place to post this but, I'll ask anyway. So, I actually applied to two REU's for this summer, one at UNC and one at MIT, and the decisions should be coming back sometime soon. So, basically, I was told the MIT REU only accepts around 10 students for the summer...

Hello, I'm a math major so this is primarily posed at people who have done math REUs, but I welcome comments from the physics people as well. My question is: How does taking part REU compare to just doing research on your own under minimal supervision by a professor? Are REU's just more...

I was wondering if anyone here has previously participated in this REU. I got accepted into this one about a week and a half ago, but I have yet to accept their acceptance - they gave me a week to respond but I asked for an extension which they granted. I applied to about 20 REUs in math and...

Hey, I'm a physics and mathematics major 1.5-2 years into my degree and I am not sure if I should apply to some of the NSF Physics REUs. Mainly because I am not sure if I am a good candidate. I was lucky enough to get a NSF Physics REU at another University at the end of my freshman year...

For those of you that have completed REU's, can one or all of you explain what you actually did? How many of your REU's were just working on circuits or building hardware. That's what machinists and Electronics Technicians are for right? Has anyone done a REU at the University of Alabama or...

I am a sophmore in a physics BS program at University of Minnesota, and I applied for an REU at University of Indiana. What am I looking at for my chances of getting this? It seems like a really good deal as far as doing actual research, shopping around for possible grad schools, etc. Here is...

where can i, any help would be apreciated

How difficult is it to obtain an REU position, do you need to be at the top of your class? How far into your degree must you be? Here's an example of what I'm talking about: http://www.physics.wsu.edu/reu.htm Do all REU positions have such good 'benifits'? EDIT: Also does anyone know of a...

Hey guys, I just have a couple of questions. I am currently a freshman at a small state school. First off, I was wondering what level of mathematics and physics is sufficient to do an REU summer program. I've emailed a few programs, and they have constantly stated that there are no specific...

So, now that many REU's are nearing the end of their 10 week run, how was everyone's time? Did you enjoy the work? Would you do it again? I think a thread like this could help those thinking about applying for these programs in the future. Personally, I had a great time. Things got off...

When applying for the REU program, how many physics courses should I have completed, how high should my GPA be , and how much research experience should I have beforehand. Would assisting graduate students and/or a professor on a physics topic , such as rotating black holes or topics in nuclear...

I'd like to know if it's possible for non US-citizen students to apply for the research experience for undergraduate programs in various US universities? Many of the websites of the universities clearly state that the REU programs are only for US citizens, while others don't answer this...

Hello guys, I'm working on a REU project right now, and my job is to try to design a better vacuum system. being a noob at any aspect of mechanical engineering and designing (I'm a physics major, I know the physics but I am not familiar with how mechanical engineer does/designs things)... I...

I was just accepted to the Physics REU Program at the University of Pittsburgh.:cool: Will anyone else here be a part of this program?

I'm waiting on this REU application. They sent me an email last week asking me if I was still interested in a position. I told them yes, but have yet to hear back from them. I called them on Tuesday, they said that they hoped to make their final decisions by the end of the week. AHHHHH! Just...

REU project--need help on preparation. Hi, I have gotten a REU project from U of Toledo. as they e-mailed me, my project will be on two medium energy ion accelerators--from modeling instrumentation to data acquisition and analysis So, I am wondering... what programming language would...

I started an REU a Wayne State Univ at their Smart Sensors and Integrated Microsystems lab in the middle of January. Since then I have only been working there 10 hours a week. So far, it doesn't looks like I will even be getting started on any particular research project there any time soon...

Hey, has anyone heard from REU programs? I applied to the following mathematics REU: ASU - ? Calstate Chico - ? Calstate San Bernardino - ? Cornell - (no way I am getting in) ? Grand Valley State - ? Penn State University Park - ? University of Wisconsin - ? Pitzer - ? Williams...

My REU experience so far... I started my REU a couple weeks ago (only working 10 hours a week during the spring semester). I am working with a professor that is growing AlN wide bandgap semiconductors bu molecular beam epitaxy. So far it hasn't been what I expected of it, based on what others...

So I started my REU a couple days ago... I will be working on growing Aluminum Nitride wide bandgap semiconductors by molecular beam epitaxy. I am not sure what my specific project will be yet sicne I just started. My advisor has had me read a textbook on MBE technology, and he had me read up...

My REU letter: comments? criticisms? Hey everyone, I wrote the following REU letter, it's for a Canadian university. (NSERC is kind of like the Canadian equivalent of the National Science Foundation). I'd greatly appreciate it if you all could evaluate it. Any things I should add or take...

phew... I've been looking over the REU applications and working on the statement of interest. Being from a non-english speaking country, I'm nervous about writing a statement for something as important as the REU. I don't have any previous research experience, and am an undergraduate freshmen...

I am currently applying to several physics REUs for this summer, in the hopes of being accepted into at least one of them! Since this is my first attempt at this endeavor I am a bit concerned as most applications include sections for "Honors and Awards" and etc. Currently I am a Junior with no...

i'm applying to some math reus for summer and have to write statements of interest. i searched google for some tips on writing them but have only found very general things; can anyone give me some pointers on what to say specifically for an reu statement of interest or refer me to a relevant...

Is it more important to get into an REU at a "big name" school, or is it better to get into a program that offers YOU the best research esxperience? I ask, because I have been involved in research for a couple years and have interned at a few different locations, and know what my research...

Hi, I'm currently an undergrad freshman in some university. I think I should be applying to REU programs right now...well I just got a couple of questions: 1. how likely is it for a freshman to get into a research opportunity? I am probably above average Joe, i am taking some second year class...

So I wrote this personal statement for my REU application... Could you critique it? At this point it still needs a lot of work but I need to have it done by Monday so I can start asking professors to write letters of recommendation. Below is the first draft of the personal statement...

So I've been wanting to get an REU for the summer... and have it constantly in the back of my mind that I need to apply but I haven't had much time since I have been swamped lately with school work. The applications are due around February. If I send out applications in the next couple weeks...

I applied to a bunch of programs with 2/15 deadline and haven't heard back from any. This is my first time applying to REUs so I have no idea when I should be expecting the decisions to come. Can anyone provide insights?

REU for EE major that wants to get into applied semiconductor physics... hello, I am a dual major in EE and compE, with minors in both chemistry and physics (3 credits away from the chem minor, and I would like to take quantum mechanics, contemporary physics, and solid state physics, which will...

I have been trying to apply to summer REU (research experience for undergraduates) programs, in particular in material science and nanoscience. Last year I didn't get into any of the four I applied to. This year I applied to another six, and so far I have received one denial. I'm beginning to...

Ok, now that I have applied to six (six!) REU's, I would basically like an objective look at my chances at these programs. Here are the schools I applied to: Tennessee Lafayette Iowa State Mount Holyoke Rutgers Clarkson (SUNY Potsdam) Basically, I'd just like to know the relative...