Summer research program applications

oyolasigmaz

Hi everyone--

I am an international student, a sophomore currently, and for the summer I am applying for a few research programs in the States. I am trying to write the short essays for the applications nowadays, where most of them ask about "why would you like to participate in this program/internship, and why would we choose you?" As I have understood from reading topics in this forum, I should show them my qualifications and lay down the reasons for them to choose me, but those topics were mostly about graduate applications. Is it the same for such summer applications? I think the situation is quite the similar, but as I am a sophomore, I don't think I have that much of qualifications yet to describe. Is there some general strategy that I should follow? Is it OK to tell a thing and then give an example about it from my life (such as "I am good at this, and this specific example serves the best to illustrate this situation")? Is there anyone here who have applied to those, or who have worked for those programs that can give me advice? Any advice/idea/comment on the topic is appreciated.

Thanks.