Summer 2013 Math and Science REU Thread

[Hercuflea]

How did you find out? I likewise applied to the UMich CERN REU, but have not yet heard back.

I did not request information, they just sent me a "regrets" email that said "not all qualified applicants could be admitted."

 

[usnavi13]

Did anyone apply to Rutgers DIMACS/DIMATIA? Apps were due Jan. 31, and I'm wondering when we might hear something.

 

[dkotschessaa]

Ok, finally had time to work on this more today (it's time consuming, isn't it?) and submitted my application, CV, essay, etc. for Bard (http://math.bard.edu/reu/) I think the rest should be easier now that I've got all that together.

-Dave K

 

[hsetennis]

As an incoming freshman, I have almost no chance at most (Edit: Math) REU's, so I'm applying to the whopping 21 sites where I'm eligible to apply

IU
San Diego State
CSUSB
CSU Fresno
RHIT
Boise State
Kansas State
Worchester PolytechnicInstitute
U Maryland
Central Mich
Grand ValleyState
Hope
MSU
N. CarolinaState U.
RIT
SUNY-PostdamClarkson
UW Stout
James Madison
TSU San Marcos
Texas AM
East Tennessee State

Pros of my application: Calc I-IV, Linear, Abstract, Real, Complex, ODE, and research experience, 1 rec from a research advisor
Cons: No significant competitions, "no college experience!", 1 rec from a high school math teacher

 

[Stengah]

As an incoming freshman, I have almost no chance at most (Edit: Math) REU's, so I'm applying to the whopping 21 sites where I'm eligible to apply

IU
San Diego State
CSUSB
CSU Fresno
RHIT
Boise State
Kansas State
Worchester PolytechnicInstitute
U Maryland
Central Mich
Grand ValleyState
Hope
MSU
N. CarolinaState U.
RIT
SUNY-PostdamClarkson
UW Stout
James Madison
TSU San Marcos
Texas AM
East Tennessee State

Pros of my application: Calc I-IV, Linear, Abstract, Real, Complex, ODE, and research experience, 1 rec from a research advisor
Cons: No significant competitions, "no college experience!", 1 rec from a high school math teacher

Well you are certainly qualified, let's hope they don't overlook the fact that you are young. What matters a lot in these is also your minority status and what type of school you go to, i.e. small liberal arts vs. big research university.

 

[dkotschessaa]

As an incoming freshman, I have almost no chance at most (Edit: Math) REU's, so I'm applying to the whopping 21 sites where I'm eligible to apply

IU
San Diego State
CSUSB
CSU Fresno
RHIT
Boise State
Kansas State
Worchester PolytechnicInstitute
U Maryland
Central Mich
Grand ValleyState
Hope
MSU
N. CarolinaState U.
RIT
SUNY-PostdamClarkson
UW Stout
James Madison
TSU San Marcos
Texas AM
East Tennessee State

Pros of my application: Calc I-IV, Linear, Abstract, Real, Complex, ODE, and research experience, 1 rec from a research advisor
Cons: No significant competitions, "no college experience!", 1 rec from a high school math teacher

I'd say you have a pretty good chance. No idea how you qualify as a Freshman with those courses! That's as many as me and I'm considered a junior.

 

[modnarandom]

I think hsetennis is a high school senior. :O Also, that is a huge number of REUs. :O

 

[hsetennis]

Well you are certainly qualified, let's hope they don't overlook the fact that you are young. What matters a lot in these is also your minority status and what type of school you go to, i.e. small liberal arts vs. big research university.

There is no way I would be considered a minority :(

I think hsetennis is a high school senior. :O Also, that is a huge number of REUs. :O

Right, I'll be an "incoming" freshman during the REU session. If I have a low chance as is, increasing the sample size would increase my odds of getting into at least one REU, which is really all that I'm praying for.

 

[modnarandom]

Wow. I understand, but thought it would have been really stressful. I also think that this doesn't leave too much time for each application. Another thing is that this contributes to the ridiculously large number of applications for a tiny number of spots. It is really nice to be able to do this before college, but I just thought that this is too stressful. I thought I wouldn't get in anywhere (planned to apply to 8) and then just decided to attend one that I was accepted to (was my top choice) as soon as I got an offer. So, it's pretty random and you shouldn't stress too much about it. You still have a lot of time since you're still in high school.

 

[dh363]

I got emailed back by one of the SMALL faculty members yesterday asking me to email him some idea on one of the projects, and to call him to talk about it. Is this normal/any advice? Pretty nervous about this. Pouring through references they provided all night. Sleep time.

 

[Hercuflea]

I got emailed back by one of the SMALL faculty members yesterday asking me to email him some idea on one of the projects, and to call him to talk about it. Is this normal/any advice? Pretty nervous about this. Pouring through references they provided all night. Sleep time.

Yes this is fine. This is my first REU this summer and I have contacted my prof about the project. Actually, I think it is encouraged. I don't think they expect you to be a master of the project before you even get started, so relax.

 

[usnavi13]

I got emailed back by one of the SMALL faculty members yesterday asking me to email him some idea on one of the projects, and to call him to talk about it. Is this normal/any advice? Pretty nervous about this. Pouring through references they provided all night. Sleep time.

I also got an e-mail about being on the "short list" for one of the SMALL projects. But I'm kind of confused. The professor sent about 10 technical papers for us to read, as well as a list of questions for each paper... but he says it's "optional." Is anyone else in this boat? How are you approaching it? This is something I would normally want to devote a lot of time to, but he said he wants our responses by Sunday evening. Is this normal?

 

[dh363]

Mine was a lot more vague. Just asked to talk to him about my "ideas.". Makes it tough to prepare for. A pretty good way to get a sense of what mathematical level I naturally think at I guess. I'm looking through references provided on the page.

 

[usnavi13]

Mine was a lot more vague. Just asked to talk to him about my "ideas.". Makes it tough to prepare for. A pretty good way to get a sense of what mathematical level I naturally think at I guess. I'm looking through references provided on the page.

Are you up for the Probability and Number Theory project, or a different one?

 

[dustbin]

Declined by Duluth...

 

[MechE2015]

Do you guys think I would have a decent chance at an engineering REU with relatively little physics course completion (physics I and II, thermodynamics)? I have mathematics completed up to and including differential equations, chemistry I and II, little research at a small university, and a 3.9 GPA. Any comments would be appreciated!

 

[Hercuflea]

Do you guys think I would have a decent chance at an engineering REU with relatively little physics course completion (physics I and II, thermodynamics)? I have mathematics completed up to and including differential equations, chemistry I and II, little research at a small university, and a 3.9 GPA. Any comments would be appreciated!

I am doing an engineering REU this summer and I have almost your background exactly (math major). I will have phys 1, 2, thermo, and radiation phys completed before the REU. Although I do feel a little bit unprepared.

 

[MechE2015]

I'm really hoping for one this summer, I applied for a handful so I'm crossing my fingers. However, like you said, I would be nervous/feel unprepared, but I also think a lot of it is learn-as-you-go as well.

 

[ktb]

Do you guys think I would have a decent chance at an engineering REU with relatively little physics course completion (physics I and II, thermodynamics)? I have mathematics completed up to and including differential equations, chemistry I and II, little research at a small university, and a 3.9 GPA. Any comments would be appreciated!

Assuming you are either a freshman or sophomore I would say it is pretty unlikely to get accepted. Your resume is great, but with the incredible amount of people applying to so few spots it is rare for non-juniors to get accepted.

Other factors that could help or hurt you.
1. If you are either a minority or a women you have a much greater chance of getting accepted.
2. Being from a small university helps your case. Most programs like to accept students from small schools that offer very little research opportunities.

Last year, as a sophomore, I had a very similar resume to yours now except I had research experience and attended a large state school with plenty of opportunities. I applied to 13 and didn't get accepted anywhere. It's sort of a crap shoot and maybe you'll have better chances than I did since you are coming from a small school. However, don't be too disappointed if you are denied everywhere. You always have next year and just remember that getting accepted to REU programs is significantly harder than getting accepted to grad programs.

 

[ktb]

Assuming you are either a freshman or sophomore I would say it is pretty unlikely to get accepted. Your resume is great, but with the incredible amount of people applying to so few spots it is rare for non-juniors to get accepted.

Other factors that could help or hurt you.
1. If you are either a minority or a women you have a much greater chance of getting accepted.
2. Being from a small university helps your case. Most programs like to accept students from small schools that offer very little research opportunities.

Last year, as a sophomore, I had a very similar resume to yours now except I had research experience and attended a large state school with plenty of opportunities. I applied to 13 and didn't get accepted anywhere. It's sort of a crap shoot and maybe you'll have better chances than I did since you are coming from a small school. However, don't be too disappointed if you are denied everywhere. You always have next year and just remember that getting accepted to REU programs is significantly harder than getting accepted to grad programs.

Ooops I read and responded to your post assuming you were applying to physics REUs. I can't speak for engineering REUs, but I'm sure they're very competitive as well...

 

[Hercuflea]

just remember that getting accepted to REU programs is significantly harder than getting accepted to grad programs.

Really? Is that your intuition or do you know of some statistics that indicate this? I would be really interested in finding out more info.

 

[Stengah]

Really? Is that your intuition or do you know of some statistics that indicate this? I would be really interested in finding out more info.

There are statistics. Last year UC Davis reported getting over 500 applications for about 10 spots. Even unknown schools get about 100 applications for 10 spots or less.

 

[Takuza]

Ooops I read and responded to your post assuming you were applying to physics REUs. I can't speak for engineering REUs, but I'm sure they're very competitive as well...

While competitive, I don't think engineering REU's are as competitive as those for physics (or even biology for that matter). Nearly every physics major plans on going to grad school, where as most engineering majors will be seeking internships over the summer. Pre-med and physics research programs are probably notably more competitive than all others.

 

[James LeBron]

Got an offer from UNC Greensboro a few days ago for algorithmic combinatorics on words. I will likely accept, so let me know if you're going. I applied to 12 places, but it looks like I'll be withdrawing my application for 11 of them soon.

 

[dh363]

Are you up for the Probability and Number Theory project, or a different one?

Nah, Geometry. Does anyone have any idea how many people make this short-list type thing?

 

[usnavi13]

Nah, Geometry. Does anyone have any idea how many people make this short-list type thing?

I know there are 30 on the short list for Probability and Number Theory. It's probably the same for the other projects. And the prof for the project said he can take 9 of us.

 

[dkotschessaa]

There are statistics. Last year UC Davis reported getting over 500 applications for about 10 spots. Even unknown schools get about 100 applications for 10 spots or less.

I've kind of heard the opposite - that often not many people apply at all, due to the restrictions/deadlines/time constraints, etc. This is not easy to do while you are taking classes and studying and such. At least that's my experience.

I'm trying to motivate people in my math club to all sign up for REUs so that at least one of us gets into something, and I'm having a hard time.

I guess we would need more global statistics to know for sure.

-Dave K

 

[James LeBron]

I've kind of heard the opposite - that often not many people apply at all, due to the restrictions/deadlines/time constraints, etc. This is not easy to do while you are taking classes and studying and such. At least that's my experience.

I'm trying to motivate people in my math club to all sign up for REUs so that at least one of us gets into something, and I'm having a hard time.

I guess we would need more global statistics to know for sure.

-Dave K

Here are some of the ones I've heard of. All are last years. The program directors told me directly for the first two.

1. RIT Imaging REU had 240 applicants for 6 spots (I think these 6 were the first round of offers, though, there might have been more)
2. UMass Amherst Computer Science had 140 applicants for 9 spots, but they were able to fund an additional 8 or 9 through outside support, so there were actually a lot of opportunities there.

And in addition,

3. Bard College math now has a twitter account where they're letting us know how many applicants there are. They have 190 a week before the deadline, for 10 spots.
4. UPenn GRASP last year had over 80 for 10 spots, but that was their first year, so the number of applicants will likely increase.

 

[myranaira]

Here are some of the ones I've heard of. All are last years. The program directors told me directly for the first two.

1. RIT Imaging REU had 240 applicants for 6 spots (I think these 6 were the first round of offers, though, there might have been more)
2. UMass Amherst Computer Science had 140 applicants for 9 spots, but they were able to fund an additional 8 or 9 through outside support, so there were actually a lot of opportunities there.

And in addition,

3. Bard College math now has a twitter account where they're letting us know how many applicants there are. They have 190 a week before the deadline, for 10 spots.
4. UPenn GRASP last year had over 80 for 10 spots, but that was their first year, so the number of applicants will likely increase.

For the RIT imaging REU did you also get an email saying you were "ranked highly" amongst the 240 applicants if you didn't get in? I got one such email (never got in that year), but now I'm not sure whether they just sent that to everyone to be nice.

 

[James LeBron]

I was among those who were accepted into RIT imaging, so i can't really answer your question.