What Are the Best REU Opportunities to Explore This Summer?

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SUMMARY

This forum discussion centers on the various Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) opportunities that participants are applying to for the summer. Key programs mentioned include SMALL at Williams College, Cornell University, Emory University, and UCLA's RIPS program. Participants share their application experiences, including acceptance and rejection notifications, and discuss the competitive nature of these programs. The conversation highlights the importance of timely communication regarding application statuses and the varying requirements for personal statements.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) programs
  • Familiarity with application processes for academic summer programs
  • Knowledge of personal statement writing and its requirements
  • Awareness of competitive academic environments and selection criteria
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the application processes for SMALL REU and its specific groups
  • Explore the requirements for personal statements in REU applications
  • Investigate the acceptance rates and experiences of past participants in Cornell's REU programs
  • Learn about the funding and project selection processes for UCLA's RIPS program
USEFUL FOR

Undergraduate students seeking summer research opportunities, academic advisors guiding students through the REU application process, and individuals interested in understanding the competitive landscape of undergraduate research programs.

  • #31
gblob331 said:
I know from last year, all positions for SMALL were filled up on 2/26 -> as in that was the day they sent the email to all remaining applicants that they had no positions left.

Well then there is still some hope for those of us who didn't apply to the commutative algebra or continued fractions groups.
 
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  • #32
Has anyone applied to the ergodic theory group at small and has been accepted? Thanks.
 
  • #33
someguy111 said:
Has anyone applied to the ergodic theory group at small and has been accepted? Thanks.

I know of someone who accepted an offer to this group several days ago.
 
  • #34
Oh. Congratulations to him/her! I was put on the shortlist about a week ago. I really hope that there is still a chance for me.
 
  • #35
someguy111 said:
Oh. Congratulations to him/her! I was put on the shortlist about a week ago. I really hope that there is still a chance for me.

How do you know about the shortlist? Anyone gets accepted into the geometry group yet?
 
  • #36
The program emailed me and told me. It was specifically from my group though. So the geometry group may email people independently.
 
  • #37
If I already have an offer from one REU (say program A) which I'm very happy with but if I slightly favor another one (say B) whose deadline hasn't even passed yet (it will in a few days, though), is it acceptable for me to contact B and request a faster decision?
 
  • #38
Yes, I think it is. Of course you need to write them in a manner, such that they don't feel you're actually expecting them to make a faster decision, but if you explain your situation, it can't hurt, and can only help. After all, it does show that you are more interested in their program, and it also gives them feedback on the situations students that are applying are in due to the timeline of their decision-making process.
 
  • #39
I got an offer from Cornell in the fractals group. I think I remember there were people here who went to Cornell in the past. If any of you are still around, what were your general impressions? Also, good advice Ryker. :D

(Ahh, who am I kidding, I'm going to take the offer, but I'd still be interested in hearing past experiences ha.)
 
  • #40
Congrats! Do you know about any of the other groups at Cornell?

On my end:
- rejection from Emory
- shortlist for SMALL in the number theory/probability group! But haven't heard back for a few days now...
 
  • #41
Haha, Cornell started sending acceptance? I feel like an idiot for not sending mine earlier. Mannn : (
 
  • #42
Rejected from Small:((. The email said I had a strong application and encouraged me to apply again, but apparently the geometry group this year are all juniors. Although I'm a freshman, I'm quite disappointed with this "biased" decision, especially when I already had a paper accepted for publication on a research math journal. Good luck to the rest of you guys though.
@lilli: How can you be shortlisted for 2 groups at the same time? Is any of them your first choice?
 
  • #43
Has anyone heard back from any Physics REUs?
 
  • #44
ghjk said:
Rejected from Small:((. The email said I had a strong application and encouraged me to apply again, but apparently the geometry group this year are all juniors. Although I'm a freshman, I'm quite disappointed with this "biased" decision, especially when I already had a paper accepted for publication on a research math journal. Good luck to the rest of you guys though.
@lilli: How can you be shortlisted for 2 groups at the same time? Is any of them your first choice?

Sorry about the rejection. But you still have two more years to try, am sure you'll get in! Good luck for your other apps.

It's actually one group, the "Number Theory and Probability" group, and yes it's my first choice.
 
  • #45
I haven't heard anything from SMALL.:(((
worried...
 
  • #46
deciding between utah's summer group program and unc-greensboro (which gave me 48 hours to respond)

any opinions? utah's is so short but i think i like the topic more
 
  • #47
automorphsim said:
I haven't heard anything from SMALL.:(((
worried...

I haven't heard anything from SMALL either. I wasn't that worried about this until I started reading this forum. I had applied to 14 and I kind of assumed that would be enough, but now I'm not as sure...
 
  • #48
mathandsci said:
I haven't heard anything from SMALL either. I wasn't that worried about this until I started reading this forum. I had applied to 14 and I kind of assumed that would be enough, but now I'm not as sure...

I just assumed that I was rejected...
 
  • #49
automorphism said:
I just assumed that I was rejected...

So I just emailed them, they said they will make the final decision in early march...
 
  • #50
Has anyone heard back from Clemson or SUNY Potsdam?
Also, Clemson listed that they were funding pending. Would they tell you if the program was just canceled?
 
  • #51
lei123 said:
Has anyone heard back from Clemson or SUNY Potsdam?
Also, Clemson listed that they were funding pending. Would they tell you if the program was just canceled?

I emailed SUNY Potsdam recently. They only started looking at applications this week.

I really hope I get in! Their analysis project looks really good.
 
  • #52
PhDorBust said:
Bad.

I received acceptance from UCLA RIPS program today. They don't let you pick your project though, and some of the projects sound incredibly boring. =/ On plus side, you get your own office.

I emailed UCLA RIPS a few weeks ago and they said they would not giving acceptances until March. That's weird. Did they accept you for Hong Kong? I think that would be so cool!
 
  • #53
eNew said:
I emailed UCLA RIPS a few weeks ago and they said they would not giving acceptances until March. That's weird. Did they accept you for Hong Kong? I think that would be so cool!

It's UCLA, they've accepted ~10 people so far, out of 32 I believe. Also said acceptance rate was 13% so far, which is actually pretty high for these programs.
 
  • #54
Hello! I have applied to ~10 REUs as well.

From whom I have heard so far:
1) Rejected at Emory
2) Rejected at Duluth

I haven't heard from the SMALL Program yet either, but I applied for the Number Theory/Probability project.
 
  • #55
Got an offer from Cornell - Generating sets of finite groups project! :smile:
 
  • #56
Congrats lilli! I guess I'll see you this summer!
 
  • #57
Anyone know when LSU is going to be sending out notifications? It said late May when I submitted, but that doesn't seem quite right...
 
  • #58
Awesome, I got into Cornell for the combinatorics of triangulations project. I'd like to hear back from Williams before responding (I applied to the algebra project), but since other people on this thread have already heard from them, my chances are probably slim.
 
  • #59
Hmm it worries that I haven't heard from Cornell, though I applied close to the deadline. T.T has anybody been rejected?
 
  • #60
Just curious if anyone had heard back from Claremont or Clemson yet?
 

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