RIDE REU

Summer 2024 Projects -- COMING SOON!

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Application Information

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Below are the required components of the application:

Essay

Tips

One of the most frequent pieces of advice for writing an essay is “show don’t tell”, but with personal statements you should show AND tell. The people reading your application will be busy, overwhelmed, and will have 100 other applications to read, so you want to make it easy for them to see what traits make you shine. This means explicitly use those trait words in your text, and back it up with proof. Example-“After a week of my experiment failing, I knew I needed to develop a creative solution. So I drew from my experience with materials research to employ an unusual polymer that fixed the errors I was getting.” or “I independently developed a protocol to collect the data.” The show part is important too. Don’t just say “I am creative and independent” without evidence.

More advice on what to do and what not to do

Many people write about childhood experiences as motivation. You can do this, but be brief when referencing them -- use them as a jumping off point to talk about who you are/what motivates you now.

This personal statement is the time for YOU to shine. This is not the time to write long acknowledgements of all the wonderful people who have helped you.

Don’t be modest. The people reading your application will not know how awesome your work is if you don’t show them. If you have trouble showing off your accomplishments, rope in a friend who will help edit your draft so that it sings your praises.

Don’t just rewrite your resume.

Don’t forget to edit for spelling, grammar, clarity, and flow.

It is always useful to have at least one other person (ideally a graduate student or professor) read your statement. It can be helpful to get feedback at multiple stages as you write more drafts. While friends and parents may not be as knowledgeable about the exact format for academic personal statements they can still offer great advice on grammar, persuasiveness, clarity, etc.

Resume

Tips

Align your experiences and skills to the project you are applying to.

For a work/experience item focus on accomplishments rather than job duties whenever possible.

Identify your strengths and emphasize them on your resume (e.g., by creating an additional section to highlight your strengths).

Focus on clarity – don’t try to take up space. A short resume is normal for undergraduates.

Ask others to proofread your CV/resume!

Recommendation Letter

The REU application process requires you to provide the name and contact information for your recommenders as part of the online application. We will request the recommendation letter.

Tips

What is a recommendation letter?

A recommendation letter is a letter written by someone who has taught or supervised you in an educational setting. It provides detailed information about your characteristics, accomplishments, experience, and preparedness for entering the RIDE REU program. This is done by describing what you have done in your educational career thus far, as well as describing your potential to succeed.

Who should you choose to write your letters?

We highly recommend choosing letter writers who know you well and are able to describe your strengths. Ideally, you want letter writers who are tenured or tenure-track professors who can speak to your academic and/or research abilities. If you conducted research that was mostly overseen by a graduate student or postdoc, you can ask them to provide text/details for a letter to the overseeing professor who will then write your letter of recommendation. Avoid letters from friends or family members.

What should be included in a recommendation letter?

The letter should begin by describing the relationship between you and the letter writer. For example, is this person your former professor or someone who supervised you in a research setting? It can be helpful to explain why the letter writer feels qualified to write a letter for the applicant. The middle paragraph(s) should describe examples of your experience, characteristics, and accomplishments that will make you successful in our RIDE REU program. The letter should explain why the applicant is qualified and what makes them likely to be successful. The letter should close with an offer for the writer to answer further questions or provide more information if needed and an affirmation of the writer’s recommendation for you to be in the RIDE REU program.

How do I ask for a recommendation letter?

Give your letter writers at least a month to write your letter. When asking for a letter of recommendation, make their lives easier by providing content and direction. What qualities are you trying to highlight in your application? Ask them to speak to those qualities. Also send the professor your resume. They may interact with a lot of students and may not remember exactly what you did or accomplished. Make it easier for them by highlighting any major accomplishments you want them to include. Remember, writing letters of recommendation is part of their job, so don’t feel bad asking for one.

Transcript

Unofficial transcripts are fine. We only want to see what classes you have taken. We ARE NOT focused on your GPA and there is no minimum GPA.