What Are the Best REU Opportunities for Graduating Physics Seniors?

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A graduating senior with a bachelor's degree in physics is seeking summer work opportunities, particularly in research experiences for undergraduates (REU), but has missed application deadlines for many programs. They are considering reaching out to local faculty members for unpaid research opportunities to gain experience, emphasizing a desire to learn over financial compensation. Although their background is in theoretical physics and they applied for graduate school in that area, they express a growing interest in experimental research due to concerns about their chances of admission. The discussion highlights the challenges of securing unpaid positions due to university labor laws and the potential benefits of gaining additional research experience to strengthen their graduate school application. The individual is open to the idea of volunteering but acknowledges the complexities involved.
bluechic92
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Hi everyone,
I will be graduating this spring with a bachelors in physics. I love research and I do have research experience and I have applied for graduate school in physics. Now I am just waiting around. However, I am trying to find work during the summer and I was wondering if anyone knows of any programs that accept graduating seniors for REU.

The deadlines passed for the programs I found :/... for ** Future students DOE SULI accept graduating seniors!**

I was also thinking of contacting a faculty member I want to work with around the area I live in so that they don't have to fund me. I truly just want to learn and get more experience, it's not really about the money. Do you think it is a good idea as well?

I applied for theory because my research background in physics is all in theoretical physics and I LOVE it. However, I am realizing that the chances of me getting into grad school is small for that. I was unsuccessful in getting an REU for experimental but I do want to try it and I wished I had sooner =(. So I am mainly looking for experimental research.

Any help or comment is appreciated.
 
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It's almost impossible for a professor to take on a non-student for free. The university will usually step in, citing labor laws.
 
Thank you for the reply! What if I call it volunteering? However, I do see your point. I might email and ask around anyways though because it would be great to have more research experience. If I am unsuccessful in getting admitted to graduate school the first time, I can only improve my app with Gre/physics gre scores and research experience.
 

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