Do I Need to Have Research Experience to Apply to These Programs?

intparent
Tue, 10 Jul 2012 18:54:27 +0000

You should apply (by the way, do NOT put the comment about the #1 student’s AP class in your application anyplace, no matter how true it is… just sounds like “sour grapes” as part of an application). However, you should treat it just like applying to the most selective colleges, and have a couple of “safety” programs that you would also like to attend. Competition was fierce for research slots this summer in the more prestigious programs; my D had a list of 6 programs, and only got into two of them. However, the application process was a very good experience for her. In fact, she will probably recycle parts of a couple of essays she wrote for her college apps next fall.

She ended up picking an engineering program over the one research program she got into. She is there right now, and is loving every minute of it. So make a list that goes beyond the most prestigious programs, too.