Summer REU / SUREs / SURPs / whatever you call them

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Neuralicious

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Hello SDN!

I plan on applying to some funded summer research programs.
My research experiences at my current university & GPA should not be a problem.

But I heard some of these summer research programs are very competitive.

What are they really looking for?
Are they trying to recruit students to attend graduate school at their institution?
Are they trying to get students from non-research oriented universities/schools interested in research?
(Looking from some insight from some program directors / people that may be knowledge in the admission committees).
What makes an applicant REALLY stand out from the majority? What do the people here successful in getting into these programs think they did to be successful?

Thanks folks!

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What are they really looking for?Individuals who demonstrate high potential to become independent scientific investigators. This is evidenced by prior research exposure, strong academic performance, and a clear sense of purpose.

Are they trying to recruit students to attend graduate school at their institution?Definitely. This is 99.9% of the reason schools offer these programs. The other 0.1% is altruism and the fact that they have a grant to fund the program.

Are they trying to get students from non-research oriented universities/schools interested in research?To some degree; however, they often look for prior research experience or at least a strong indication that the individual is interested in research. This can be demonstrated by taking challenging science courses. Following a standard premed curriculum is often viewed as a negative; it may be assumed the indivudal wants the research experience merely to polish their MD application credentials.

What makes an applicant REALLY stand out from the majority? Prior research experience, strong grades in science courses and a seriousness of purpose. Switching majors, marginal academic performance, diffuse interests, etc., can be turn offs for REU committees.
 
How competitive are these programs? I'm applying to 7 REUs at top research institutions (Ivy leagues and Northwestern/UChicago) as well as a SURF at Mayo and an NIH internship. I will be applying for Materials Science and Engineering for the REUs.

Are these competitive enough that there is a chance I won't be selected with a 3.8+ and previous research experience? I'm getting a bit worried now because I switched from electrical engineering to materials science because MatSE was more relevant to my research goals (biomaterials).
 
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How competitive are these programs? I'm applying to 7 REUs at top research institutions (Ivy leagues and Northwestern/UChicago) as well as a SURF at Mayo and an NIH internship. I will be applying for Materials Science and Engineering for the REUs.

Are these competitive enough that there is a chance I won't be selected with a 3.8+ and previous research experience? I'm getting a bit worried now because I switched from electrical engineering to materials science because MatSE was more relevant to my research goals (biomaterials).

They are rather competitive, but with your research exp and academic standing is on average of the students they accept I believe. Btw, it helps to known people at these programs (ya know... connections). But it's no big deal if you don't. Some have essays and that is where the real selection begins. Make sure yours is good. I have done several SURE programs, so I hope this advice helps and good luck!
 
How competitive are these programs? I'm applying to 7 REUs at top research institutions (Ivy leagues and Northwestern/UChicago) as well as a SURF at Mayo and an NIH internship. I will be applying for Materials Science and Engineering for the REUs.

Are these competitive enough that there is a chance I won't be selected with a 3.8+ and previous research experience? I'm getting a bit worried now because I switched from electrical engineering to materials science because MatSE was more relevant to my research goals (biomaterials).

I also have to say apply to some safeties as it will be sad if you got rejected from all the "top" universities ... which it looks like you are applying exclusively.
 
It's ridiculously competitive. Here's a list gettheleadout collected in pre-allo.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=12565274&postcount=1264

Summer 2012 Data:

Johns Hopkins Nanobiotech REU
: 12 positions / 700 applicants = 1.7% acceptance rate
Columbia Amgen: 17 positions / 900+ applicants = ≤ 1.9% acceptance rate
Vienna Biocenter SS: 25 spots / 1200 applicants = ~ 2.1% acceptance rate
UCSD Regen./M.S. BioE. REU: 10 positions / 450+ applicants = ≤ 2.2% acceptance rate
NYU Sackler SURP: 30 positions + 20 alternates / ~1250 applicants = 2.4% acceptance rate (4% including alternates)
Cold Spring Harbor Lab. URP: 25 positions / 880 applicants = ~ 2.8% acceptance rate
Wadsworth REU: 10 positions / 340 applicants = ~ 2.9% acceptance rate
UMich Cardio: 10 positions / 300+ applicants = ≤ 3% acceptance rate
NYU CNS REU: 10 positions / ~300 applicants = ~ 3% acceptance rate
Penn State (Hershey) SURIP: 15 positions / 393 applicants = 3.8% acceptance rate
UVA SRIP: 30 positions / 670+ applicants = ≤ 4.5% acceptance rate
UW Amgen: ~26 positions / 560 applicants = 4.6% acceptance rate
Cincinnati Children's SURF: 50 positions / 1000+ applicants = ≤ 5% acceptance rate
UV SNURF: ~10 positions / 200 applicants = > 5% acceptance rate
UMinn LSSURP (all projects): 50 positions / ~850 applicants = ~ 5.9% acceptance rate
Mt. Sinai SURP: 13-25 positions / 400-453 applicants = 2.9-6.3% acceptance rate
Johns Hopkins SIP (all divisions): 85 positions / 1146 applicants = 7.4% acceptance rate
Yale BioSTEP: 24 positions / ~300 applicants = 8% acceptance rate
UTSW SURF: 85 positions + ~150 alternates / 1000+ applicants = ≤ 8.5% acceptance rate (≤ 23.5% including alternates)
Ridiculously competitive; even the "safeties" aren't really safeties in these programs.

Mayo SURF: 120 positions / 1135 applicants = 10.6% acceptance rate

International Programs 2012 Data:

Pasteur Foundation SIP (France): 4 positions / ~300 applicants = ~ 1.3% acceptance rate
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne SRP (France): 25 positions / 633 applicants = ~ 4% acceptance rate

Incomplete 2012 Data:

URochester SURF: 10-12 positions / ??? applicants = ??? acceptance rate
Baylor SMART: ~70 positions / ??? applicants = ??? acceptance rate
Case Pharmacology SURP: 6 positions / ??? applicants = ??? acceptance rate
MCW SPUR: ??? positions / 500+ applicants = ??? acceptance rate

Summer 2011 Data:

Vandy UCRIP: 14 positions / 700 applicants = 2% acceptance rate
UCSD NSF REU: 10 positions / 400+ applicants = ≤ 2.5% acceptance rate
Mt. Sinai SURP: 13 positions / 400+ applicants = ≤ 3.25% acceptance rate
BU SURF: 20 positions / 500+ applicants = ≤ 4% acceptance rate
UMD/FDA Mol./Cell Bioeng. REU: 10 positions / 250+ applicants = ≤ 4% acceptance rate
Jax SSP: 35 positions + 175 alternates / 550 applicants = ~ 6.4% acceptance rate (38.2% including alternates)
UVA SRIP: 30 positions / 400+ applicants = 7.5% acceptance rate

Incomplete 2011 Data:

Columbia NYSTEM: 70-79 positions / ??? applicants = ??? acceptance rate
St. Jude POE: ~12 positions / ??? applicants = ??? acceptance rate
 
It's ridiculously competitive. Here's a list gettheleadout collected in pre-allo.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=12565274&postcount=1264

Summer 2012 Data:

Johns Hopkins Nanobiotech REU
: 12 positions / 700 applicants = 1.7% acceptance rate
Columbia Amgen: 17 positions / 900+ applicants = ≤ 1.9% acceptance rate
Vienna Biocenter SS: 25 spots / 1200 applicants = ~ 2.1% acceptance rate
UCSD Regen./M.S. BioE. REU: 10 positions / 450+ applicants = ≤ 2.2% acceptance rate
NYU Sackler SURP: 30 positions + 20 alternates / ~1250 applicants = 2.4% acceptance rate (4% including alternates)
Cold Spring Harbor Lab. URP: 25 positions / 880 applicants = ~ 2.8% acceptance rate
Wadsworth REU: 10 positions / 340 applicants = ~ 2.9% acceptance rate
UMich Cardio: 10 positions / 300+ applicants = ≤ 3% acceptance rate
NYU CNS REU: 10 positions / ~300 applicants = ~ 3% acceptance rate
Penn State (Hershey) SURIP: 15 positions / 393 applicants = 3.8% acceptance rate
UVA SRIP: 30 positions / 670+ applicants = ≤ 4.5% acceptance rate
UW Amgen: ~26 positions / 560 applicants = 4.6% acceptance rate
Cincinnati Children's SURF: 50 positions / 1000+ applicants = ≤ 5% acceptance rate
UV SNURF: ~10 positions / 200 applicants = > 5% acceptance rate
UMinn LSSURP (all projects): 50 positions / ~850 applicants = ~ 5.9% acceptance rate
Mt. Sinai SURP: 13-25 positions / 400-453 applicants = 2.9-6.3% acceptance rate
Johns Hopkins SIP (all divisions): 85 positions / 1146 applicants = 7.4% acceptance rate
Yale BioSTEP: 24 positions / ~300 applicants = 8% acceptance rate
UTSW SURF: 85 positions + ~150 alternates / 1000+ applicants = ≤ 8.5% acceptance rate (≤ 23.5% including alternates)
Ridiculously competitive; even the "safeties" aren't really safeties in these programs.

Mayo SURF: 120 positions / 1135 applicants = 10.6% acceptance rate

International Programs 2012 Data:

Pasteur Foundation SIP (France): 4 positions / ~300 applicants = ~ 1.3% acceptance rate
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne SRP (France): 25 positions / 633 applicants = ~ 4% acceptance rate

Incomplete 2012 Data:

URochester SURF: 10-12 positions / ??? applicants = ??? acceptance rate
Baylor SMART: ~70 positions / ??? applicants = ??? acceptance rate
Case Pharmacology SURP: 6 positions / ??? applicants = ??? acceptance rate
MCW SPUR: ??? positions / 500+ applicants = ??? acceptance rate

Summer 2011 Data:

Vandy UCRIP: 14 positions / 700 applicants = 2% acceptance rate
UCSD NSF REU: 10 positions / 400+ applicants = ≤ 2.5% acceptance rate
Mt. Sinai SURP: 13 positions / 400+ applicants = ≤ 3.25% acceptance rate
BU SURF: 20 positions / 500+ applicants = ≤ 4% acceptance rate
UMD/FDA Mol./Cell Bioeng. REU: 10 positions / 250+ applicants = ≤ 4% acceptance rate
Jax SSP: 35 positions + 175 alternates / 550 applicants = ~ 6.4% acceptance rate (38.2% including alternates)
UVA SRIP: 30 positions / 400+ applicants = 7.5% acceptance rate

Incomplete 2011 Data:

Columbia NYSTEM: 70-79 positions / ??? applicants = ??? acceptance rate
St. Jude POE: ~12 positions / ??? applicants = ??? acceptance rate

Wow, that is truly crazy.

I guess I will just hope that materials programs aren't as competitive. I think they won't be as competitive because I don't know too many materials majors who are doing pre-med and I bet it is mostly pre-med types who are applying for the bio-related REU programs.

I plan to have the NIH internships as my safety... If I don't get any of these opportunities I will just take a class, do research, and study for the MCAT I suppose.
 
Wow, that is truly crazy.

I guess I will just hope that materials programs aren't as competitive. I think they won't be as competitive because I don't know too many materials majors who are doing pre-med and I bet it is mostly pre-med types who are applying for the bio-related REU programs.

I plan to have the NIH internships as my safety... If I don't get any of these opportunities I will just take a class, do research, and study for the MCAT I suppose.


In 2011, NIH accepted 1,100 students out of 7,000, or 15.7%.
 
I like those odds... :scared:

Might I recommend applying to your school's research programs (if it has any). Kiss up to the professor you want to work with. If they like you, you might have a chance. Btw, it looks like you are dead set on going to a "big name" place which is fine, but don't ignore the other options. Adcoms want to see the contributions in your lab, what research and the name of the institution are secondary.
 
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