Math REUs 2015: Updates on Program Acceptances

[ireallymetal]

I just heard back from Berkeley with an acceptance so they're coming out.

 

[IDERIVE]

UPDATE: Contacted Missouri, and they said they are currently waiting on confirmation of funding from the government. They are not reviewing applications until they have confirmation of funding.

 

[IDERIVE]

UPDATE: CSUCI has filled all but 2-3 spots and already has made offers for those spots and believes that it is likely that those candidates will take them. If you have not heard then you are most likely not going to make it in.
PURE has picked finalists (10) for the 6 spots in each male and female categories. they claimed I was "highly ranked" but not a finalist, so yeah I guess I've got that going for me.

 

[dbcodus]

I received an e-mail saying all spots for PURE are now filled.

Any thoughts on SUMSRI and/or Fairfield?

 

[Hrothgar]

Fairfield began offering spots March 13

 

[dbcodus]

^As in, can anyone who participated in Fairfield and/or SUMSRI share their experiences?

 

[Annie Ng]

Has anyone applied to the UMBC REU program? I have contacted them like two weeks ago about my application status but haven not heard back from them since.

 

[EternusVia]

Coming in late to this conversation, but I applied to four REUs. Spots have been filled for two of them. I have my fingers crossed for the last two, but I don't think the odds are good.

 

[IDERIVE]

@EternusVia, Similar to you, I only applied to 5 last year. I was told that it is best to apply to around 10 or more per year, so that's what I did this year. I'm guessing that you are either a freshman or sophomore, so you always have next year too! It is also not too late to apply to more this year as well. I know University of Washington's application isn't due until 4/1 (which I may be applying to and shouldn't be giving away all my secrets ;)), so there are more options to increase your chances.

 

[DMathmagician]

Coming in late to this conversation, but I applied to four REUs. Spots have been filled for two of them. I have my fingers crossed for the last two, but I don't think the odds are good.

I definitely agree with @IDERIVE. It's best to apply to as many REUs as you can that interest you (definitely 10+), both because they're free to apply to and because they are ridiculously competitive. Also, you sometimes don't apply to all of them, since you might get an offer from one you prefer before the applications for others you don't like as much are due (this definitely saved me 3-4 applications this year). As for competitiveness, even people I would consider to be at the very top of the applicant pool (lots of grad courses + published research papers in the area of the project) get turned down from a lot of places.

In any case, good luck with those 2 REUs!

 

[Annie Ng]

Has anyone applied to WPI and heard anything from them? If yes, please let me know. I am still waiting for their email.

 

[REUstressed]

I'm definitely worried I have to figure out new summer plans. I made it onto SMALL's shortlist and got an interview but was rejected in the end. I was rejected by MSRI and Cornell. Fairfield said "We have completed our application review and we have started making offers. *We have not yet filled all of our available positions.*" Missouri said they were still waiting on funding. I'm still waiting on CSUSB (apparently still waiting on funding?), Berkeley (which I don't have high hopes for), and Washington (which hasn't even passed the application deadline so I have no info). It's unfortunate how competitive these programs are. I feel as though I'm qualified (4 grad courses and done with my school's honors math major), and I know I had two very good letters from 2 professors, both knowing me well and having me in two classes each (A's). I suspect my statements of interest were subpar, but I'm not a good writer :/

 

[DMathmagician]

@REUstressed Ouch, sorry to hear that. The fact that you made SMALL's shortlist means you're a quite strong applicant; I know people who have done a lot of research (publishing in top journals) & taken grad classes in areas related to SMALL projects and not even made the shortlist. So, you should have at least a decent shot at the remaining REUs. Additionally, you'll be competing against a much narrower applicant pool, since a lot of really good people have already accepted offers. This is especially true for the REUs waiting for funding, since they can't make early offers.

As for your application, I have heard that the most important part is the letters of rec, though the personal statement is an important factor too. It might help (if you haven't already done so) to do some research at your home institution; I definitely know that letters from the professor I do research with have been crucial to my applications. For the personal statement, I would strongly suggest asking a prof you know is good at that sort of thing (e.g. someone who won Rhodes, Goldwater, etc.) look over them and give feedback.

Here's the attitude I take with REUs (just about the same goes for anything else that is super competitive): It's great if I get in, a fun opportunity to be around really smart people, do good work, and get paid. If not, I'll devote the time to thoroughly studying an area of interest and maybe doing some research with a professor at my college. That is certainly something I couldn't do while at an REU, and will prepare me very well for grad school; in many ways it is better than an REU.

Hope this helps, and good luck with the other REUs!

 

[IDERIVE]

UPDATE: LSU has filled all of it's spots but hasn't sent a rejection email
KANSAS (SUMaR) has not even started to review applications, but will begin late next week. People who get it will be notified within about 2-3 weeks after that. I was told a notice will go up on the website when all spots are filled. Also who else here even applied to Kansas? I think I have a good shot at this one.

 

[Math2017]

Sweet! Is anybody else here going to LSU?

 

[REUstressed]

UPDATE: Fairfield is done sending out decisions (I got rejected).

 

[DLManiac]

I applied to:
UCSB - No Response
CSUSB - No Response
Kent - Group Rejection
UC Merced - Accepted (Scattering of light)

I'm waiting on CSUSB to see if they send out offers by Monday (Or return my email answering if they know about funding yet), but if I don't hear back from them, then I'll be taking Merced. Has anyone here participated in the Merced ARCHIMEDES program before?

I also have a general question:
What is REU housing like? I hear they put you on campus, but is it like freshman dorms? How many people to a room? apartment style rooms with kitchens?

Thanks!

 

[IDERIVE]

Well I haven't gone to an REU before, but from what I've heard it is usually an apartment style room with a kitchen so you can make your own food. Otherwise it really depends on the REU and the on campus housing they have.

 

[DMathmagician]

Update: Boise State has finished (just got a rejection).

@DLManiac It varies from REU to REU. At Kent State last year, each of us shared a double with another person in the REU and had access to a kitchen. The doubles were nice and quite large. I have heard of other REUs that put you up in on-campus apartments. That definitely seems to be the norm, as @IDERIVE said. Also, the programs that give board (e.g. SuMaR at Kansas) probably won't give access to a kitchen, though I'm not sure.

 

[DLManiac]

Thanks for the replies!

I heard back from CSUSB, and they said that they still have not heard back on funding, didn't know when they would but were hoping next week. And then they still have to go through applications after that. So it looks like I'll be accepting Merced. (:

 

[REUstressed]

I suppose the benefit of not being accepted anywhere yet is I can give later programs like CSUSB and Washington full time to make their decisions. QUESTION: Does Washington care that I applied well ahead of the deadline? I assume it makes no difference.

 

[IDERIVE]

Sometimes REUs will begin sending out priority acceptances before their deadlines, but I don't think Washington will do this only because they have such a late deadline and they probably have that to get as many applicants as possible. I think it will neither hurt nor help your application in this case.
UPDATE: Berkeley has only sent out first offers and has yet to actually fill its spots (but who turns down Berkeley right?). They will be sending final offers "soon"

 

[REUstressed]

UPDATE: Berkeley has sent out rejections. They took longer because they didn't expect so many applications.

 

[IDERIVE]

Has anyone heard back from the Kansas REU or the Washington REU? These are my last 2/12 I have left with the slightest bit of hope for each one. Any information would be much appreciated.

 

[REUstressed]

UPDATE: Washington has already made all decisions. They don't send rejections, only acceptances. I emailed them and they said they had over 150 applicants for only 8 spots. If I had a dollar for every time I heard I was ranked very highly but not accepted, I could eat a very nice meal.

 

[IDERIVE]

UPDATE: Kansas has filled all of their spots as well (They have a banner on their website). If I had a dollar for every REU rejection I got, I could buy a chipotle burrito and one of the fancy drinks there. @REUstressed, we can dine together! People who didn't get REUs only!