Relevance vs. Prestige

Graduate School
1

<p>I’m torn between two opposing forces.</p>

<p>On one hand, I can study and do research every summer at NASA. NASA, of course, is basically astronomy and aeronautical engineering. A big name and a heavy letter of recommendation will surely ensue.</p>

<p>Or on the other, I can look for another research opportunity more relevant to my desired major, biomedical engineering, but not as prestigious as NASA.</p>

<p>I think I’d rather do NASA, since im a foot in to do research every summer. On the other hand, will grad school reviewers think I’m not dedicated to my major?</p>

<p>What do you think?</p>

2

<p>how badly “unprestigious” is the relevant research? most likely the people in your major would’ve heard of the company and/or researchers you work under if they do something similar (through conferences, etc.).</p>

3

<p>I strongly advise you to go with relevance over perceived prestige.</p>

<p>If an applicant to my graduate program had a marvelous internship with, say, the Smithsonian, wherein she worked on exhibits focusing on presidential history, but wished to focus her graduate work on the African Methodist Episcopal Church in 18th century Philadelphia, my committee would wonder what the heck happened. Did she hate her internship? Is she even prepared to do serious work in her new area of focus? How did she come to choose her new focus if her experience is in a different area? This applicant would have a LOT of 'splainin to do.</p>

<p>Get my point?</p>

4

<p>There’s a lot more research going on at NASA than just astronomy and aeronautical engineering, including biomedical and biotechnology research. I would suggest finding out exactly what you’d be doing at the internship as seeing if it’s relevant to what you want to do. Whatever it is, make sure that you’re doing research and not labeling drawers and organizing files. I don’t know how far along you are in college, but one thing you should definitely apply to next year are NSF REU or NIH REU programs. They’re probably the most prestigious programs you can get into (and they pay well).</p>