REU application time
It's REU application time again! If you don't know what an REU is, please see this page on my website.
In a nutshell, an REU is a math camp where undergrads spend their summers doing research with a professor. I got into one last year, and '06 was the most fun summer I've ever had. Actually, that really isn't saying much- '06 was the only summer I've every had. But still, I had a blast, and I'd recommend the program to anybody studying science in the States.
REUs are pretty competitive, and I think most of them have something like a 10-20% acceptance rate. So I've had to spend a lot of time polishing my CV, bugging professors for applications and such. And it's been pretty stressful, since coursework is starting to pile up too.
Lately I've been thinking though, what right have I to be stressed? Some of my friends are working 25 hours a week along with their classes. Me? I got a $100000 scholarship, so i don't have to worry about that. My mom and dad love me, and my only complaint is that they dote on me too much (I'm pretty sure my sis loves me too, though she normally just acts annoyed when I'm around). Sure, my REU applications are a bummer, but I already got into one last year, and getting into a program in freshman year is supposed to be impossible! And the worse case scenario is that I get to go home and spend my summer with mom, dad, Michelle and Patches instead.
You know, I always like to think that I'm very driven, and I guess I should be doing my best to get into a good graduate school. But I think I need to step back once in a a while, and be thankful. God has been good to me, and I have done nothing to deserve it.
In a nutshell, an REU is a math camp where undergrads spend their summers doing research with a professor. I got into one last year, and '06 was the most fun summer I've ever had. Actually, that really isn't saying much- '06 was the only summer I've every had. But still, I had a blast, and I'd recommend the program to anybody studying science in the States.
REUs are pretty competitive, and I think most of them have something like a 10-20% acceptance rate. So I've had to spend a lot of time polishing my CV, bugging professors for applications and such. And it's been pretty stressful, since coursework is starting to pile up too.
Lately I've been thinking though, what right have I to be stressed? Some of my friends are working 25 hours a week along with their classes. Me? I got a $100000 scholarship, so i don't have to worry about that. My mom and dad love me, and my only complaint is that they dote on me too much (I'm pretty sure my sis loves me too, though she normally just acts annoyed when I'm around). Sure, my REU applications are a bummer, but I already got into one last year, and getting into a program in freshman year is supposed to be impossible! And the worse case scenario is that I get to go home and spend my summer with mom, dad, Michelle and Patches instead.
You know, I always like to think that I'm very driven, and I guess I should be doing my best to get into a good graduate school. But I think I need to step back once in a a while, and be thankful. God has been good to me, and I have done nothing to deserve it.
posted by Pencerita at 8:30 PM
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