SIMR 2013 Stanford Inst. of Med. Summer Research Program - Page 2

Holocene · 11-15-2012, 02:56 AM

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I feel like I have not had enough Science/Research experience.

I am a member of my school's science club, take IB HL Biology, and did a paid internship at a Harvard Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology lab last summer.

Do you guys think that this will be enough if I work my absolute hardest on the essays (which I plan on doing)? If not, what else would you suggest?

Can't tell if srs.

Holocene · 11-15-2012, 11:59 AM

To both of you, you've missed what I and the OP have been saying: there is a certain element of randomness, as there is with all highly selective programs.

Most (90%) of the students in the program had one summer or less of research and some had none at all. As you can see, I had just one summer of research experience. No one expects you to have published or to have been in a lab since middle school. Very, very few had significant science fair awards, though perhaps 10% (about 5-6) did. At this point, you are both qualified, assuming the rest of your application is good. Whether being qualified means you will get in or not, no one can say but the adcoms.

Like I said earlier, if you really want to do a summer research program, apply broadly.

pleiotropy · 11-15-2012, 04:05 PM

@Holocene: On the website they say that "We will accept applications from out-of-state students, but for those who are not from the local area and will not be living at home, you must specifically state on the online application what housing arrangements you will make for your stay during the program."
And I'm not sure what kind of housing arrangements I can make prior to acceptance.

collegeluva101 · 11-15-2012, 05:05 PM

@Holocene, thanks. I guess I'll just try my best on the essays and what happens, happens

quidditchcat · 11-15-2012, 11:27 PM

hey if anyone wants, I can tell you about the area... Since I live very close to Stanford.

Holocene · 11-16-2012, 01:55 AM

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@Holocene: On the website they say that "We will accept applications from out-of-state students, but for those who are not from the local area and will not be living at home, you must specifically state on the online application what housing arrangements you will make for your stay during the program."
And I'm not sure what kind of housing arrangements I can make prior to acceptance.

It just asks you a general question like are you staying with family, friends, will you arrange room/board, etc. It doesn't ask for proof of anything. You can worry about housing after acceptance. In fact, if you are accepted PM me and I will give you the contact info of a few places that do short term rentals within walking/biking distance of the labs we worked in.

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I'm actually really happy simr resticted applications by requiring proof of housing in a week after acceptance.

They didn't do this last year. If they do implement it this year, it won't help anyone as SIMR doesn't have a waitlist. I believe 75ish were accepted last year and about 65 chose to attend. So, students unable to provide proof of housing within a week won't be any sort of benefit to you. And regardless, it is possible to arrange housing within a week if you are really on top of everything.

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Lol just wanna get in. Dont care if there are hobos everywhere bahaha

lulz definitely not hobos everywhere. Palo Alto is a very wealthy area.

Holocene · 11-16-2012, 11:33 PM

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We will accept applications from out-of-state students, but for those who are not from the local area and will not be living at home, you must specifically state on the online application what housing arrangements you will make for your stay during the program. Once selected for the program, you will need to provide proof of housing and will also need to let us know with whom you will be staying (via an email or letter) within a week of your selection notification. We encourage students to stay with relatives or close family friends in the Bay Area as finding sublets or other housing arrangements is extremely difficult to make, especially if you are under the age of 18. You must stay with a responsible adult who will be in charge of your housing/transportation/evening supervision and care during the program as the program cannot be responsible for these areas.

This doesn't seem prohibitive to me. It does say you have to stay with a responsible adult, but to be honest I doubt PJ would restrict you from attending just because you subletted instead of staying with a family friend. Additionally, I do know at least two girls who rented a room from another SIMR student's family, so perhaps that would be an option to explore. That would definitely qualify as having a "responsible adult."

prototyped · 11-21-2012, 03:37 AM

Does anyone know if renting an apartment is convenient or arrange housing with a SIMR 2013 accepted applicant or staying at a SIMR 2013 applicant's house (uhm just a little weird if this happened).
But yea...

Holocene · 11-21-2012, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Does anyone know if renting an apartment is convenient or arrange housing with a SIMR 2013 accepted applicant or staying at a SIMR 2013 applicant's house (uhm just a little weird if this happened).
But yea...

There are apartments that do short-term rentals literally a 5-10 minute walk from the labs, but they are expensive (like 5k/month though you could split that).

It's not really weird that SIMR people were willing to accomodate people who needed a place to stay..why would that be weird?

Anyway, all this stuff will be arranged through the facebook group so don't worry about it right now. If you want to do SIMR, at least apply. The worst that can happen is getting rejected or getting accepted and not being able to go. Neither are worse circumstances than if you never applied in the first place.

blimey911 · 12-16-2012, 04:05 PM

Do you guys think that SIMR will even look at a sophomore's application?

I've only heard about juniors or seniors getting accepted into this program

RedSn0w · 12-16-2012, 10:14 PM

@Holocene
I am also applying from out of the area (Southern California), you do mind if I PM you as well if I get in?

4beardolls · 12-16-2012, 11:30 PM

Does any know if SIMR favors local or CA students? We live in the midwest and not sure if that is a disadvantage with SIMR admission.

Holocene · 12-20-2012, 02:08 AM

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Do you guys think that SIMR will even look at a sophomore's application?
I've only heard about juniors or seniors getting accepted into this program

No. You must be a junior or senior to apply. This is stated on the website.

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@Holocene
I am also applying from out of the area (Southern California), you do mind if I PM you as well if I get in?

Go for it.

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Does any know if SIMR favors local or CA students? We live in the midwest and not sure if that is a disadvantage with SIMR admission.

No idea. There were mostly bay area students, but I don't know if that mirrored the proportions of applicants or not. We had a few midwest students, it can't hurt to apply.

quidditchcat · 12-20-2012, 05:41 PM

Stanford/Rest of Bay Area is quite expensive. I guess it would be a bit strange to have someone living with you who you've never met. Did that make any sense?

Anyways, I am local to SIMR and if I got in (which I seriously doubt) I think my family would be OK with housing someone (my sister will be gone to her study abroad between June and September. Well, not that she's home much when college lets out). I don't know about food, but perhaps it would be possible to provide that too. Also, I would probably bike there so I don't know about transportation. I am pretty sure my family doesn't want to be held accountable if you don't know how to ride a bicycle or have bones that break when you just fall off your bike. Also, you'd have to deal with my little brother. And messiness.

But if I don't get in, I won't be able to arrange housing with my family. That would just be totally awk. So yeah, don't get your hopes up too much.

prototyped · 12-21-2012, 03:29 PM

Like if I don't get into RSI,MITES or SSP. I'm hoping this will accept me. But I will need housing... Since I'm 20hours away from California