The Application Process

Applying for REUs can be a challenge.  REU deadlines run across the board, starting as early as February and going as late as August.  Of course, the more competitive ones will have earlier deadlines.  Applications will require you to get up to three letters of recommendation, write an essay on a specific topic, give all of your applicable credentials, mention jobs and research positions you have had, give your classes and grades, and personal information.  There is just so much to do, especially if your interests are broad. 

I started applying pretty late, and ended up having a lot of stress.  The NSF provides a website where you can search for REUs in your major.  Not being very confident in how well I would be received, I decided to apply to as many as were left.  By the time I started, about half of the deadlines had already passed, or were too close to get done.  Yet my list was still fairly long - about 13 applications in all.  The first thing I did as I went from one REU website to another, was create a spreadsheet online that included information I thought would be good to have:

• A link to the specific website
• The name and location of the university
• Its deadline
• Number or recommendation letters
• Where the letters should be sent
• Type of transcript required
• What the essay entailed
• Other documents asked for
• Things about the program that would help me create a ranking list for myself
• Projects in that program that interest me 
• University Ranking
• Weather
• If I had been accepted or not

It may look cumbersome, but it was amazing to have everything in one place.  Later, I even filled some squares at the bottom with information that was constantly asked for on every application, like classes I have taken along with their grades, or my extracurricular activity.  As I applied, I would alter the colors of the squares so that at one glance I would know what I have left to do.

I recruited my sister and boyfriend to help me fill in the forms, sharing with them them resume and general essay I had written.  This is where the spreadsheet really proved its worth.  Sitting around my apartment staring into our respective laptops filling forms until nearly 11:30 PM on a night that about half of them were due.

One thing I would really urge for people applying would be to approach professors early - as much as a month before the deadline - to get letters.  This is where most of my stress came from.  I didn't want to be pushy, but I really needed letters.  Luckily, I was able to pull together two professors to write a general letter and make several copies of it for me.  One of them just sent me the letter and told me to do all of the sending. 

The application process really shouldn't be too stressful.  But if I were to do it again, I would do the following: 

1. Start early - it gives time to write essays and ask for letters
2. Use that spreadsheet, especially if its hard to find your top choices
3. Use the writing center to make my statements look better
4. I would not apply to as many, but just to my favorites.

Some specific notes on me and how I look on applications.  I am a minority and a woman - a hard find in the computer science field in the US.  Also, I have a very solid GPA and almost all A's in my computer classes.  Having just won a competitive scholarship, I was able to alter my essay for most of my applications.  As for the results: I got into almost everyone I applied to.  I got into my second top choice first, and accepted that offer since it would not be known if I would get into my top choice for the summer.

And so, I accepted the offer from Montana State University in Bozeman, MT.  This place is in the mountains (I love the mountains) and has beautiful weather for the summer.  The project is specifically Green Networking.  It was the green part that attracted me.  I don't have much experience in networking, so it should be a great learning experience as well.