Applying to Math REUs Summer 2009: Results & Discussion

[pipie]

pipie my impression was that MASS is competitive and they don't accept whoever applies on a first come first serve basis (they actually reject a lot of people). When were you accepted pipie because I didn't know they made any official offers yet? I received an e-mail stating that they are planning to make me an offer. I wonder when they will make official offers and who else here was accepted?

Ah, I c. I was there last semester. I liked it a lot. During the semester, I asked the director of the program if I could participate MASS again. He said "yes, as long as you do well in MASS this semester." I did fine. So, the last day, when I was there, I asked him about it too. He said "yes, of course, we will. apply it!" I applied for it, and got accepted. I just felt bad that I could not go there. I am so tired after taking math courses the whole year... I need a short break for myself.

Are you Jr or senior now?

 

[RCA_0]

I'm not a Junior nor am I a Senior. Did the MASS program give you the math background you lacked while in the program and as I asked "how much math do you feel like you learned after you completed it? Were you able to skip the basic introduction to algebra/analysis (assuming those were the courses you lacked) or any upper intro level courses and take the more advanced section of those courses due to the MASS program at your university when you returned? Also when did you get an official offer?"

 

[pipie]

RCA_0, I had not taken abstract algebra before I went to MASS program. (I knew some about groups and rings though) They helped me a LOT. The TA for algebra class helped me go over all the basic things I needed to or shall know from number theory and abstract algebra. TA from the analysis class helped me with analysis and topology. (I took analysis for a year, but I had never learned measure theory or very advanced analysis.) People there help you through the whole program. Each class has a TA. So, if you do not know something, just go and ask them. They can give you lectures about certain things that you should know. (I was lucky there too. I met some graduate students there and made friends with them. So, I sometimes get extra help from those graduate students. Penn State has a lot of very good graduate students!)

I've gotten the official offer for this year.

 

[pjfoster]

Woot! I got accepted to the physics REU program at UIUC this morning! Anyone else going there by any chance?

 

[mathhhh]

I got my offer for MASS and the REU about a week ago. Had to turn down the REU though. Looking forward to MASS in the fall!
By the way, if you are curious RCA, I considered myself an average applicant at best compared to the competition I see for the REU'S.

The relevant courses to MASS that I have are:

Intro to proofs (1)
Real Analysis (1)
Complex Analysis (1)
Geometry (1)
Linear Algebra (1)
Abstract Algebra (2, but I will have taken 3 by end of this year)

(also courses in probability, statistics, ODE, PDE)

However, the MASS program may be looking for students who have yet to take analysis and algebra courses.

Good Luck RCA and let us know if you get an offer!

 

[pipie]

Have fun in MASS program!

 

[RCA_0]

Congratulations mathhhh! I got accepted to the MASS program a few days ago!

 

[winterwind]

Even though I am not a math major and so obviously did not apply for math REUs, I have been following this discussion for a while. I am a chemistry major, and applied for 18 (anyone here apply to more?) chemistry REU programs. I just found out I got accepted to LSU yesterday, and I am super excited. Knowing how competitive these REU programs are, I was expecting nothing but the worst, and am truly relieved to find out I made the cut for at least one program. I have been rejected from 4 other programs so far, and am still waiting to hear back from 13 more. Good luck to everyone!

 

[Sheneron]

Well, I got in one! Really excited about it. Its an astronomy internship. Would say more, but Linear algebra test tomorrow is calling me.

 

[Ai52487963]

I am a chemistry major, and applied for 18 (anyone here apply to more?)

WOW. I thought 13 was a lot but woah. Congrats on getting into one, though!

 

[sciboinkhobbes]

Well, dang... As of today I was officially rejected from all 6 physics/astronomy REUs I applied to :(

Anyone know of any super-late-deadline summer internships?

 

[Jacobpm64]

I've been rejected to 7 out of 8 math REUs.

I'm going to be self-studying some math subjects over the summer instead.

Won't be a waste regardless :).

 

[Ai52487963]

I guess the DOE sent out their rejection e-mails today. In any case, I got accepted for a summer internship at University College, London, so my applying to 13 programs wasn't totally useless.

I'd recommend those going for REUs next year to look into international opportunities as well. Summer internships are all over the world and, who knows, you may get into one that's your favorite, non-native country!

Also, the SETI program told me that, due to the stimulus package, they're probably going to have more intern slots available. The SARA program also said that they have some open slots, too.

 

[winterwind]

Is it easier to get into an REU if you already did one?

 

[lurkre]

I've been rejected to 7 out of 8 math REUs.

I'm going to be self-studying some math subjects over the summer instead.

Won't be a waste regardless :).

Have you heard from LSU?

 

[Jacobpm64]

nope, i sure haven't.

But, i did have some problems when i submitted the application online, so the application to LSU may not have even been completed

 

[Vid]

LSU is on spring break this week. I was told on Thursday that I would be receiving information soon so I'd expect they'll be sending out notices this week or next.

 

[Jacobpm64]

oh okay. well there's still one more chance then :P

 

[winterwind]

Not sure if this will help, but I already heard from the chemistry REU at LSU. I don't know if math and chemistry REU at LSU are coordinated by the same people though.

 

[Ai52487963]

Anyone know of any super-late-deadline summer internships?

I just got an e-mail from SETI today pointing to this: http://reu.stmarys-ca.edu/Welcome.html

Deadline is April 20, if you're interested
The SETI REU is still awaiting NSF funding for some extra positions and will be announcing those towards the end of April.

 

[owlpride]

For the sake of everyone who is applying to REUs next year, I thought I would share a conversation with our REU adviser at Cornell.

Over lunch someone asked him how competitive the REU at Cornell is, and he said that there were about 80 applicants for his group (there are 3 groups). Then he said that he chose the 5 of us because everyone of us stood out in some way. One student asked him if he remembered what stood out about his application because it might help his graduate school applications. The adviser's answer: "Oh, it's nothing you did. Your letters of recommendation stood out."

Now you know the secret :)

 

[pipie]

For the sake of everyone who is applying to REUs next year, I thought I would share a conversation with our REU adviser at Cornell.

Over lunch someone asked him how competitive the REU at Cornell is, and he said that there were about 80 applicants for his group (there are 3 groups). Then he said that he chose the 5 of us because everyone of us stood out in some way. One student asked him if he remembered what stood out about his application because it might help his graduate school applications. The adviser's answer: "Oh, it's nothing you did. Your letters of recommendation stood out."

Now you know the secret :)

Yeah, I heard of that too... are you in the group group?