<p>Research most definitely counts as a hobby (I’m talking more about research done during the year than SURF). If you’re choosing to spend your time outside of class doing research, and it’s not solely because you need the money or you’re trying to get to grad school (which doesn’t make sense, why force yourself to do something you don’t like to get to a place where you’re just going to do more of it?), then it is a hobby.</p>
<p>I don’t need the money from research, I could work other jobs and it doesn’t pay that well anyway (except during the summer, which is again not my focus). I do it because I love it. And so do a lot of other people I know. Therefore, at the very least it’s a hobby for me and many other people I know.</p>