If someone has options to join to a structured high school research internship program like BU RISE or UC Davis YSP or UCSC SIP as well has options to perform similar research in a premium research lab like Stanford or UCSF or Berkeley Lab, how you will select your summer research internship?
Here are few parameters I can think about.
1 Finance - Whether you need to pay for internship like you need to pay for BU RISE, UCSC SIP or UCD YSP) but often many research labs offer free internships which may add up to 5000-8000 dollars including dorm.
2. Local vs out of town - If local, you can pursue other interests during weekend or after hour.
3. College/dorm experiences - It is a good idea to have some dorm experiences before joining college after High School
4. Availability of mentor(s) in a structured program and in an unstructured program
Has anyone gone through this dilemma while you or your child was in similar position while s/he was in a rising senior in high school?
go to the unstructured program at the research lab-my D had the same dilemma before, and those were some of the same considerations we brought up. From what your parameters seem to be, it definitely favors the unstructured program-it will cost you less, allow for activities outside, as well as have an individual mentor available. While dorm experience is great, our belief was the it was not as high on the list of priorities as allowing our D to have the flexibility and independence of an unstructured program. I know my D was part of clubs in school that needed to prepare during the summer for the upcoming school year, which also played a heavy influence on her decision to stay local to keep in touch and not fall behind of her team members.
All of the structured research internship programs listed are great opportunities, but i feel that paying so much money for just a dorm experience was not a good choice for our family-as you stated, other lab internships are free. We also wanted D to spend her last summer before college with her friends at home, as this would be the last chance before college.
Good luck!
Thanks @newlights for your insightful feedback. We are now more inclined to accept a local internship in a local premier research lab. This is due to few factors - cost is definitely one of them as this local research lab is free for her where other programs have tuition fees (plus dorm fees) but the deciding factor is my D can spend more time with her friends for few other activities she is interested, particularly planning next year’s club activities where she hold officer positions, particularly during weekends. Moreover, she can spend entire 10 weeks summer at the lab or even beyond if she likes it and can make time during her senior year than 6 weeks which many structured programs offer.
great choice! @BayAreaParent1 I am sure your D will have a great time. may i ask what his/her stats were (gpa, test scores)? my younger D is lookng to also get an internship locally this summer as a rising junior and we are having trouble finding a suitable choice.
Good luck to your D! Congrats to them for all their achievements.
Hi @newlights - I think my D’s last year summer research at one UC campus (not shared for privacy reason) helped her case. She sent a report from that research to few Stanford, UCSF Professors who offered her research internships at their respective labs. She used the same research info in a couple of structured internship programs (same research area) and which probably helped her too to get internships from these two structured programs.
As far as academic stats, she has 1500/1520 in her junior year PSAT, decent EC achievements in STEM with multiple awards in regional and state level championships. Good luck for your D.