summer research program essay

[j-med]

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Hi, I'm just wondering for these programs, when they suggest you to write about, "if you wish, name one or two faculty that you would like to work with. (although we cannot guarantee that you will be assigned to work with them)."

What does that mean??! What do they do with that info-- do they have the faculty read my essay and let them decide???

More importantly----
1) Do I really pick one faculty to write about or will that minimize my chance if they don't want to work with me?

2) Should I pick one or two faculty? If two, should they be of the same department or different? (wondering if i choose two and they let both of them read it, i may risk being unfocused)

3) Finally, should I pick the department head or just assistant professor?

**confused**...

Thanks for your input!

 

[75969]

Hi, I'm just wondering for these programs, when they suggest you to write about, "if you wish, name one or two faculty that you would like to work with. (although we cannot guarantee that you will be assigned to work with them)."

What does that mean??! What do they do with that info-- do they have the faculty read my essay and let them decide???

More importantly----
1) Do I really pick one faculty to write about or will that minimize my chance if they don't want to work with me?

2) Should I pick one or two faculty? If two, should they be of the same department or different? (wondering if i choose two and they let both of them read it, i may risk being unfocused)

3) Finally, should I pick the department head or just assistant professor?

**confused**...

Thanks for your input!

I am applying for a summer program as well---

I was not asked to give a faculty name, but...
I am explaining my general research interests (molecular oncology, genetic engineering, immunology etc...) and then choosing a faculty member or two who has research that I find particularly interesting. I dont think that they will find you unfocused if you choose more than one person...they are just trying to narrow your interests and to find a project that you will be happy in.

 

[j-med]

deleted-- (double posted)

 

[j-med]

so you mean you're indeed going to name a few professors even it's not required for you?

 

[DrBowtie]

Browse their websites and look for research that interests you. Then put down those profs with a little explaination of why their topic interests you. It isn't that difficult and they know you haven't had a dying thirst to study the lac operon in fungi since you were 12.

 

[j-med]

Browse their websites and look for research that interests you. Then put down those profs with a little explaination of why their topic interests you. It isn't that difficult and they know you haven't had a dying thirst to study the lac operon in fungi since you were 12.

a more straight forward and descriptive/narrative essay as compared to the amcas personal essay should be okay right?

 

[DrBowtie]

Definitely. I'm assuming this is for your first research experience so they shouldn't expect too much out of you coming in.

 

[j-med]

Definitely. I'm assuming this is for your first research experience so they shouldn't expect too much out of you coming in.

heee yea 😳 hopefully

 

[j-med]

If it does not indicate----in general do we double spaced, 1.5 spaced, or single space an essay?

(no page limit too for this one.. i have 2 pages when singled)

 

[j-med]

and do we include the prompt in italics before-hand for general "statement of purpose", or should I title it "statement of purpose", Or, should I make up a title?

thanks again!

 

[j-med]

is it okay to add a footnote on these essays for a side-note or a more detailed but not directly related thought about their lab?

 

[shantster]

and do we include the prompt in italics before-hand for general "statement of purpose", or should I title it "statement of purpose", Or, should I make up a title?

thanks again!

I wouldn't include any heading for it unless you have to write multiple different essays for them. I just single-spaced all my essays since I think it looks more professional.

Basically what they are looking for is a reason that you want to do research during the summer with that program. Compare that program to other ones and see if they have any defining feature that would make them stand out for you more than any of the other ones and then explain that it's what you want to go there.

When they ask for specific mentors, look through their website and see what kind of research they are doing. Say why you want to work with a particular person. I don't think it hinders your application if you specify a few people as people you want to work with even if it doesn't specifically ask. That shows that you've put some thought into the program and what it would entail. If you are a good applicant to the program, and the people you chose won't take you, they you could still end up in a different lab. I actually was doing research this summer in a completely different lab that I said that I was interested in last summer.

Hope this helps.

 

[shantster]

is it okay to add a footnote on these essays for a side-note or a more detailed but not directly related thought about their lab?

Why are you doing footnotes? Just keep everthing in the essay.

 

[j-med]

I wouldn't include any heading for it unless you have to write multiple different essays for t.......
...........in last summer.
Hope this helps.

Thanks! It definitely helped =]

 

[75969]

so you mean you're indeed going to name a few professors even it's not required for you?

yes, just because I feel that a few of the researchers projects are more geared toward what I would like to do for the summer- I am still going to make it obvious that I am interested in other disciplines, but that 'such and such' seems to be more along the lines of what I would like to do....type of thing.

They are not going to look at the 2 names you listed, let the 2 people read your statement and decide if they want you to work under them...it is just to know which topics you are more interested in, and if you are chosen to do research and that person's lab needs someone, you will be more likely to be placed there instead of in a lab you could care less about....