<p>Son applied to one REU last year and got it. He applied to two this year and got one. Both provide housing. REUs don’t pay as much as private internships but you get more exposure to the research environment. He was also offered a research job and funded Masters and Phd program (unsolicited) at his own school with work starting this summer but he had already accepted the summer internship.</p>
<p>Housing and transportation can be a headache but that’s where you have to be resourceful. There are lots of students that figure out their own housing (using Craigslist) where they share a place with other students in the area. There’s transportation, shopping for food, setting up internet and phone, mail service, etc. Sometimes a relative or friend can provide a room in a city.</p>