<p>Oh Few Things: Physics UROPs are not hard to find, nevermind “notoriously difficult”. I don’t understand where that perception comes from at all. Some professors are friendlier than others but there will always be someone willing to take you under their wing (if you are a decent student). MIT physics undergrads are encouraged to go elsewhere. If you’re an MIT undergrad applying to MIT grad, here is where it’s “notoriously difficult”. To get in. You know you will have at least ONE faculty member on the admissions board voting against you (so I hear, lol. from this faculty member). But, why would you want to? Get out of here! See the world!</p>