Summer 2013 Math and Science REU Thread

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Discussion Overview

The thread focuses on the application process for Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs) in mathematics, physics, and related fields for the summer of 2013. Participants share their application statuses, discuss various programs, and seek advice on the application process.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants are applying to astronomy programs with a focus on computational astrophysics, listing various institutions.
  • Others are focused on optics, photonics, and related fields, sharing their application choices and experiences from previous REUs.
  • A participant mentions the establishment of a new REU program at Rutgers, suggesting it may be a late opportunity for applicants.
  • Concerns are raised about the workload of REU programs and the feasibility of taking additional courses concurrently.
  • Some participants discuss the implications of being an older student applying for REUs, questioning if they represent an underrepresented group and sharing personal experiences.
  • Discussion includes logistical aspects of the application process, such as recommendation letters and the diversity of applicants.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of experiences and opinions regarding the application process, with no clear consensus on the status of older students as an underrepresented group or the best strategies for applying. Multiple competing views remain on various aspects of the REU application process.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note variations in application procedures and requirements across different REU programs, indicating potential challenges in managing applications and recommendations.

  • #121
arubirurei said:
Yeah; my professor at Colorado Mesa is actually a guest sponsor there. I don't think they've started offers just yet.

Thanks for the information! Do you also know anything about the program itself, whether people have had positive experiences there, etc?
 
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  • #122
anyone heard back from cornell yet?
 
  • #123
notphysicsguy said:
anyone heard back from cornell yet?

Applied to math REU at Cornell and haven't heard anything.
 
  • #124
verdricity said:
Thanks for the information! Do you also know anything about the program itself, whether people have had positive experiences there, etc?

Sorry; no clue
 
  • #125
Got an offer from LSU.

And only 3 days to decide. Yikes! If I don't get any others by then I'll certainly accept it (and maybe will anyway of course).
 
  • #126
I got an offer from Michigan State. If anyone here has gone to this reu before, I would appreciate hearing your thoughts on it.
 
  • #127
For those of you getting offers for physics REUs, are you getting an email or phone call? Quite a few of the ones I've applied to were due Feb 15th and a couple were Feb 1st, and I have yet to hear anything.
 
  • #128
What is a REU? Is there one for engineering?
 
  • #129
deekin said:
For those of you getting offers for physics REUs, are you getting an email or phone call? Quite a few of the ones I've applied to were due Feb 15th and a couple were Feb 1st, and I have yet to hear anything.

I got an e-mail and I think that's the typical offer. The Michigan State physics reu I got an offer from isn't due until March 15. I think for most programs 1st offers have already been made or will later this week.
 
  • #130
Anyone hear anything from William & Mary or Purdue (physics)?
Also, thoughts on when it would be appropriate to email the programs to ask when they'll be sending out notifications?
 
  • #131
Is there a place where people have described their experiences with certain REUs? Obviously the first determining factor should be interest in the project and "fit"-ness, but it would help to hear what people have to say as well.
 
  • #132
Mozartean said:
Is there a place where people have described their experiences with certain REUs? Obviously the first determining factor should be interest in the project and "fit"-ness, but it would help to hear what people have to say as well.

Harvard's math club has a page for REU's, but a lot of it is outdated. Still worth a look
 
  • #133
Has anyone heard from the following places, or know if they sent out offers?
DIMACS/DIMATIA (Rutgers)
Cal State San Bernardino
RIPS
James Madison
Texas A&M
Penn State
George Washington
Cornell
Worcester Polytech.
Boise State

Thanks!
 
  • #134
Has anyone heard from UC Davis or UIUC? Did anyone here apply to/hear from Santa Fe Institute for Complexity, purely out of curiosity?
 
  • #135
For the Math REU's, and for MASS, I know that Cornell and Penn State made their first round of offers over the weekend.
 
  • #136
usnavi13 said:
Has anyone heard from the following places, or know if they sent out offers?
DIMACS/DIMATIA (Rutgers)
Cal State San Bernardino
RIPS
James Madison
Texas A&M
Penn State
George Washington
Cornell
Worcester Polytech.
Boise State

Thanks!
I know RIPS has already sent out offers.
 
  • #137
cjohns said:
Anyone hear anything from William & Mary or Purdue (physics)?
Also, thoughts on when it would be appropriate to email the programs to ask when they'll be sending out notifications?

William and Mary has made first offers, no idea on Purdue. I think it's probably early to email unless you have offers already that you have to decide on soon.
 
  • #138
Has anyone heard back from Cornell's astronomy REU or SAO?
 
  • #139
Errerrachat said:
Has anyone heard back from Cornell's astronomy REU or SAO?

SAO made their first offers on Friday. I didn't get one but I know someone who did. Most astronomy REU programs make their initial offers on March 1st so I would assume Cornell did as well.
 
  • #140
Has anyone heard from any of the following?:

Center of Integrated Nanomechanical Systems (COINS) REU
Center for Energy Efficient Electronics Science (E3S) REU
CIAN Integrated Optics for Undergraduates REU
Colorado Renewable Energy Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (REMRSEC) REU
Princeton Center for Complex Materials REU
UCSB Materials Research Lab Research Internships in Science and Engineering
Summer Research Early Identification Program
 
  • #141
Math REU:
Does anyone know why UMBC extended their deadline to March 1? I would expect that this was due to a lack of applicants. If this is true, then I'm really surprised because my rejection e-mail for Fresno state stated that there were 340+ applicants for only 8 spots (wow!).
 
  • #142
I don't really understand how REUs set their application deadlines. For math most seem to be in early February but many are considerably later than that. The University of Washington's application deadline is April 1st which seems so late that all other offers would have had to be accepted before decisions come out.
 
  • #143
mathstudent99 said:
I don't really understand how REUs set their application deadlines. For math most seem to be in early February but many are considerably later than that. The University of Washington's application deadline is April 1st which seems so late that all other offers would have had to be accepted before decisions come out.


Some REU's have late deadlines, but send out acceptances much earlier. This is where it gets confusing so you should really try and have all of your applications completed at least by mid-February.
 
  • #144
usnavi13 said:
Has anyone heard from the following places, or know if they sent out offers?
DIMACS/DIMATIA (Rutgers)
Cal State San Bernardino
RIPS
James Madison
Texas A&M
Penn State
George Washington
Cornell
Worcester Polytech.
Boise State

Thanks!

George Washington has sent out first offers.
 
Last edited:
  • #145
Got an offer from the University of Florida for Materials Engineering Research, anyone else going there or know anything about the program?
 
  • #146
arubirurei said:
George Washington has sent out first offers.

I got an offer from George Washington. Since we have until Monday to accept, do you think other programs will have sent their offers by then?
 
  • #147
usnavi13 said:
I got an offer from George Washington. Since we have until Monday to accept, do you think other programs will have sent their offers by then?

Let other programs you are interested in know (by e-mail/phone). In my case, I got a few more offers and some "it's too early for us to be able to tell you, so take the one you've got" (and some non-responses, at least since yesterday)

And I know these questions tend not to get answered, but does anyone have any experience with the LSU or Central Michigan math REUs? I can't find any testimony anywhere and would really like to hear some first hand accounts if possible.
 
  • #148
MechE2015 said:
Got an offer from the University of Florida for Materials Engineering Research, anyone else going there or know anything about the program?

I'm an undergrad in the MSE Department at UF. Anything specific you wanted to know? I haven't heard much about the program, but I might be able to comment on your PI.
 
  • #149
usnavi13 said:
I got an offer from George Washington. Since we have until Monday to accept, do you think other programs will have sent their offers by then?

7/8 of the REUs I've applied to have sent out first offers. Unless you have quite a few applications with due dates March 1st or later, I'd say most everyone has started offers by now.
 
  • #150
verdricity said:
Has anyone here had experience/know anything about the Central Michigan REU for math?
Hi. I don't have direct experience but I know someone who was part of this program last summer. It appears to be a very solid program and the paper that my friend got out of it seems very nice too.
 

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