DOE CCI vs SULI: Physics Summer Programs for College Students

[Leah123rose]

Hi everyone! I'm looking into summer programs for physics students. The Department of Energy allows you to apply to only one program and I'm stuck between CCI and SULI. I currently go to community college but will have completed a year of intro physics and math thru ordinary diff eqs by the summer. I'm considering CCI over SULI because I think it may be less competitive. Do you know if there are significant differences in the programs? Is CCI geared towards people who want to go into research?

 

[Vanadium 50]

I'm considering CCI over SULI because I think it may be less competitive.

SULI is very competitive. A year of intro physics is not very competitive for SULI.

 

[Dishsoap]

At Fermilab (where I was a SULI intern), the CCI and SULI students had very similar projects, were housed together, attended the same seminars, etc. As far as I could tell, there was very little difference.

 

[Joshy]

If I were in community college, then I would apply for CCI. I wish I had known and applied while I was in a community college.

• You can only participate in SULI two times and apply up to three times. (Reference: https://science.energy.gov/wdts/suli/eligibility/)
• Students not in community college cannot apply for CCI- you can apply for SULI later if or when you transfer to a university.
• SULI and CCI interns were indistinguishable without the paperwork- projects were equally interesting and prestigious.

 

[Leah123rose]

Thanks Dishsoap and Joshy, I will apply for CCI :)