Geometry & Topology REU Programs - Williams, Cornell, Tennessee, Indiana?

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The discussion centers around the challenges and experiences of students applying for Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs) in mathematics, particularly those focused on geometry and topology. Participants express frustration over the limited availability of REUs in these areas and share insights about specific programs, such as those at Cornell and Tennessee, which are noted for their academic rigor. The importance of strong letters of recommendation is emphasized, with advice on how to secure them and what makes them effective. Participants discuss their application strategies, including the necessity of personal statements and the competitive nature of these programs, with some sharing their past experiences and acceptance rates. Concerns about the application process, including the pressure of deadlines and the perceived elitism of certain programs, are also highlighted. Overall, the conversation reflects a mix of anxiety, determination, and camaraderie among students navigating the REU application landscape.
  • #101
This is what I figured. Thanks!
 
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  • #102
Dear Physicists out there,

Please invent a time machine so I can fast forward a few weeks to find out which REU's accepted me. Thanks.

Regards,

Newtime
 
  • #103
blackfedora said:
The only international student I know at my college gave up on REUs for exactly this reason and is hoping to get something here at our school since the college has a fund for student researchers that is independent of the NSF, but I don't know if that's an option for you.

.
Can you send me the link to your math dept. web page?
 
  • #104
Newtime said:
Dear Physicists out there,

Please invent a time machine so I can fast forward a few weeks to find out which REU's accepted me. Thanks.

Regards,

Newtime

I concur.

sutupidmath said:
Can you send me the link to your math dept. web page?

I go to a small liberal arts college with no graduate program, so the school provides funding for the students to do research with faculty. While this isn't limited to US citizens, it is limited to students enrolled at my school AFAIK. I was suggesting that you should talk to your own department and see if they themselves or someone they know might be looking for a student assistant. I don't know if this is something unique to my school, or perhaps to smaller liberal arts schools, but the departments here tend to take applicants from the pool of international students and kids who couldn't get into an REU starting in late March.
 
  • #105
blackfedora said:
Apparently Small has contacted it's top choices, while I suppose there's always the possibility that you'll be called later when someone turns down the position, I think it's pretty safe to assume you didn't make the cut if you haven't been contacted. (you could always email them and ask though)

I have information that SMALL has not yet contacted all of its top choices! :) In other words, they haven't yet decided who their top candidates are, at least not for all positions. So, i guess there is still hope for some of us!
 
  • #106
It looks like the NSF shot down the Tennessee REU.
 
  • #107
sutupidmath said:
I have information that SMALL has not yet contacted all of its top choices! :) In other words, they haven't yet decided who their top candidates are, at least not for all positions. So, i guess there is still hope for some of us!

Sweet! Do you know which problems are still being looked at?
 
  • #108
blackfedora said:
Sweet! Do you know which problems are still being looked at?

No, i don't know that! I contacted them through email, and they only told me that they were still in the process of making final decisions. So, i am assuming i am still part of the game, otherwise they would have told me right away that i have been disqualified.
 
  • #109
being "in the process of making final decisions" might mean they're waiting to hear back from people who they have given offers to.
 
  • #110
Those people might wait as long as they can before reporting back if their favorite program has a later deadline.
 
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  • #111
jeffasinger said:
being "in the process of making final decisions" might mean they're waiting to hear back from people who they have given offers to.

Sadly, that might be the case, indeed! But, they could have told me that they are waiting to hear back from their top candidates, like they did last year when i had emailed them.
 
  • #112
I wonder if any of them are on this forum... watching us right now O.O
 
  • #113
blackfedora said:
I wonder if any of them are on this forum... watching us right now O.O

Watching how pathetic we look >< That, indeed, would be interesting! Sigh!
 
  • #114
Or maybe they are seeing how dedicated and enthusiastic we are! Or pathetic...
 
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  • #115
union68 said:
It looks like the NSF shot down the Tennessee REU.

I applied there. Bummer!
 
  • #116
belle said:
Those people might wait as long as they can before reporting back if their favorite program has a later deadline.

When I got my offer from SMALL they gave me about 3 days to respond. They did say that if it was impossible they could work something out. But still, you don't have as long as you want for this program. For another program they gave me three weeks.
 
  • #117
For those interested, SUNY Potsdam should be sending out offers (to their top choices) at the end of this coming week and UNC Greensboro should be doing the same toward the beginning of this coming week. I just thought that for those of you like me out there (impatient) it would be good to keep tabs on when you'll be hearing back. Good luck to those who applied!
 
  • #118
zpconn said:
I applied there. Bummer!

Yeah, they had a project in metric space theory that looked kinda cool. Pretty much all of the programs that had a project related to analysis or general topology I applied for.
 
  • #119
Uh-oh, stupid mistake on my part!

For UNC Greensboro I emailed my transcript instead of having it mailed. I noticed this today. The post office unfortunately is not open today, so I couldn't mail it with express or priority mail. I put the transcript in an envelope and put it in the outgoing mail box at my dorm. Hopefully it will get postmarked today. If so, I really hope this will be okay; the website does technically say that application materials have to be postmarked by the deadline.

Dang, this was even one of my top choices because of its blend of mathematics and computer science.

I guess this is what happens when I apply to 12 programs...
 
  • #120
zpconn said:
Uh-oh, stupid mistake on my part!

For UNC Greensboro I emailed my transcript instead of having it mailed. I noticed this today. The post office unfortunately is not open today, so I couldn't mail it with express or priority mail. I put the transcript in an envelope and put it in the outgoing mail box at my dorm. Hopefully it will get postmarked today. If so, I really hope this will be okay; the website does technically say that application materials have to be postmarked by the deadline.

Dang, this was even one of my top choices because of its blend of mathematics and computer science.

I guess this is what happens when I apply to 12 programs...

Geeeeeeezzzzzz. Twelve? I thought getting 6 applications together was work enough...
 
  • #121
Yeah... I underestimated the work by a huge margin when I put together the list!
 
  • #122
I applied to 8, I might've applied for more but I also have a bunch of study abroad apps to worry about for next semester. I'm really ready to stop applying to things and actually get some **** done for once...
 
  • #123
Hey owlpride (if you're still snooping around this thread), do you recall how long it took for Cornell to notify you of your acceptance after the deadline had passed?

The more I investigate the Texas A&M REU, I think the only one I'd pass it up for would be Cornell.
 
  • #124
blackfedora said:
I applied to 8, I might've applied for more but I also have a bunch of study abroad apps to worry about for next semester. I'm really ready to stop applying to things and actually get some **** done for once...

Cheers to that, I'm tired of applying to different things.
 
  • #125
union68 said:
Hey owlpride (if you're still snooping around this thread), do you recall how long it took for Cornell to notify you of your acceptance after the deadline had passed?

The more I investigate the Texas A&M REU, I think the only one I'd pass it up for would be Cornell.

Which project did you apply for Cornell?
 
  • #126
I selected "Analysis on Fractals" as my first choice, but I made sure to tell them that I'd be cool with "Geometric Differential Equations" also. I am interested in both.
 
  • #127
Uh-oh, stupid mistake on my part!

For UNC Greensboro I emailed my transcript instead of having it mailed. I noticed this today. The post office unfortunately is not open today, so I couldn't mail it with express or priority mail. I put the transcript in an envelope and put it in the outgoing mail box at my dorm. Hopefully it will get postmarked today. If so, I really hope this will be okay; the website does technically say that application materials have to be postmarked by the deadline.

Dang, this was even one of my top choices because of its blend of mathematics and computer science.

I guess this is what happens when I apply to 12 programs...

I asked and they let me send my transcript in by email. It probably won't be an issue.
 
  • #128
Speaking of which, does anyone know anything about the greensboro program? Any one who has gone there or heard anything about it? Not that this is my most important criteria by a long shot, but does anyone know anything about its prestige or anything?
 
  • #129
I went to Greensboro. I don't know how it stands on prestige (hopefully high =) ), but I thought it was fun. Very work intensive, but worth it. That, and the program is fairly successful in terms of getting its results into publication/conferences...
 
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  • #130
I suppose I should have asked this sooner but what do you typically do on the weekends, or in the evenings during the week at REU's? I've heard you often live with people in your group on campus so I would assume it's mostly just laying low and discussing of the problems. Sounds great to me, but I was just curious what different people's experiences were.
 
  • #131
In my personal experience (this might vary from REU to REU), it is mostly just lying low, yes, though relatively little time is spent discussing the problems... Usually, no matter how much you like it, having a break from your research at the end of the day is nice =)
 
  • #132
Hey, does anyone know if they have sent out the offers to the top UNC-Greensboro applicants yet? I got an email and a call from the lady saying i was one of her top choices but I don't know if that guarantees me an offer. Just anxious to know whether others have gotten them yet.
 
  • #133
messidona said:
Hey, does anyone know if they have sent out the offers to the top UNC-Greensboro applicants yet? I got an email and a call from the lady saying i was one of her top choices but I don't know if that guarantees me an offer. Just anxious to know whether others have gotten them yet.

I also spoke with her on the phone. She said they will let top choices know this week. I emailed her earlier today wondering if she had a better idea now versus when I spoke to her (Friday) but haven't gotten a reply yet. When I know, ill post what she says. Hopefully today or tomorrow. Good luck to you.

Edit: she said it's taking a bit longer than expected but she hopes by the end of the week, the initial offers will be made.
 
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  • #134
Has anyone heard anything from Duluth recently? I sort of expected to hear back from Duluth by now since I think at least one person in this thread got a response immediately after the deadline.
 
  • #135
zpconn, I'm in your position, too: haven't heard back from Duluth or SMALL, deciding on probable A&M offer. I want to know soon, either way! :-p
 
  • #136
What's the story with A & M. Have they already sent out their first round offers?
 
  • #137
woot. just got an offer from UNC Greensboro and accepted right away. should be a great summer. those who also get offers/accept them: let me know - it looks like we'll be working together.

oh and to messidona, I'm not sure how closely you've been following this thread but i think a few pages ago some of the people said they received offers from A&M.
 
  • #138
Anyone know anything about the REU at canisius?
 
  • #139
Newtime said:
woot. just got an offer from UNC Greensboro and accepted right away. should be a great summer. those who also get offers/accept them: let me know - it looks like we'll be working together..

I got an offer from greensboro and canisius and am deciding now.
 
  • #140
Got an offer from Nebraska today.

Cornell, where are you!?
 
  • #141
Which Cornell program do you mean? The deadline for the REU hasn't even passed yet!
 
  • #142
I asked them if they had any early information. Haven't heard back yet. The deadline for Cornell is going to conflict with the deadlines the other schools gave me for notifying them of my final decision. I'm going to be cutting it really close.
 
  • #143
Snitse said:
I got an offer from greensboro and canisius and am deciding now.

What do you think you'll end up doing?
 
  • #144
Newtime said:
What do you think you'll end up doing?

Well my top choice is Asheville which hasn't gotten back to me yet, so I'm still waiting it out.
 
  • #145
Hey, does anyone know the offer status of other reu's.

i.e.

UNC - Asheville
Claremont
Michigan
Penn State
SUNY - Potsdam
Indiana

I am just wondering because I didn't realize how competitive this was and was wondering if I should apply to a few more easy ones just in case so that I at least get something for the summer?
p.s. which ones are the easier ones, it's hard to tell.
 
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  • #146
BolzanoWeir said:
Hey, does anyone know the offer status of other reu's.

i.e.

UNC - Asheville
Claremont
Michigan
Penn State
SUNY - Potsdam
Indiana

I am just wondering because I didn't realize how competitive this was and was wondering if I should apply to a few more easy ones just in case so that I at least get something for the summer?



p.s. which ones are the easier ones, it's hard to tell.

Dr. Foisy from SUNY Potsdam told me he expects to be sending out the initial offers by Friday or Monday at the latest.
 
  • #147
Snitse said:
Well my top choice is Asheville which hasn't gotten back to me yet, so I'm still waiting it out.

Why is that in these sort of things the "first choices" always take the longest?!


Newtime said:
woot. just got an offer from UNC Greensboro and accepted right away.

Good job!
 
  • #148
How do you know about SUNY? Did Dr. Foisy already contact his top applicants?
 
  • #149
Just got the offer from UNC-Greensboro!

We have to decide really soon tho, probably going to take it but I'm going to enquire about the status of my application at the other places.
 
  • #150
BolzanoWeir said:
How do you know about SUNY? Did Dr. Foisy already contact his top applicants?

Not that I know of. I emailed him a day or two ago asking about the status of my application and the applications in general. He said he hopes to have the first round of offers out by Friday or Monday at the latest.
 

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