Schools REU and Graduate School (Mat Sci)

AI Thread Summary
Participating in a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program at a university can significantly enhance the chances of being accepted into that institution's graduate program. Impressing faculty during the REU can lead to strong letters of recommendation, which are crucial for graduate school applications. The discussion emphasizes that performing well and building relationships with professors during the REU can create a pathway to graduate school opportunities at that university. Personal motivations, such as family reasons for attending a specific school, are also considered, but the overall consensus is that the quality of work and connections made during the REU are key factors in the admissions process.
Goalie33
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Hello,
Im looking for some advice. I have been accepted to REUs at Penn State, UPenn, and Notre Dame. I have been waitlisted at Northwestern and UC-Santa Barbara (all for Mat Sci/physics). My question is if doing an REU at a school helps in going to graduate school there. I am thinking about applying to grad school at all of these places. I have personal/ family reasons to go to Penn; but UCSB and Northwestern are ranked higher (lets just say that I get those two, hypothetically). I would just like to know if going to an REU at a school helps with getting into grad school.
Thanks.
 
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Goalie33 said:
Hello,
Im looking for some advice. I have been accepted to REUs at Penn State, UPenn, and Notre Dame. I have been waitlisted at Northwestern and UC-Santa Barbara (all for Mat Sci/physics). My question is if doing an REU at a school helps in going to graduate school there. I am thinking about applying to grad school at all of these places. I have personal/ family reasons to go to Penn; but UCSB and Northwestern are ranked higher (lets just say that I get those two, hypothetically). I would just like to know if going to an REU at a school helps with getting into grad school.
Thanks.

I am probbably not the best person to comment on this, but i would say that if you manage to impress them during the REU there, then your chances for getting in that school's grad program would certainly be higher.
 
1. Do the REU at X University.
2. Do good work and impress your PI.
3. Get letter of recommendation from PI at X University.
4. Apply to said university.
5. Profit?
 
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