Undergraduate research

UpMagic
Sun, 31 Mar 2013 20:42:39 +0000

The URAP is always an option, but I myself got it through a professor that I never talked to before. I sent him an e-mail that I like what he is doing and I would like to be part of it, and that was it. Of course, I needed the necessary background and good grades on the courses that are relevant to the research topic and explain why I am interested in his research. If you want research in Berkeley, you can get research as long as you substantiate why.

Some professors want undergrads to assist their own research, while some professors will actually encourage to have your own “initiative”, meaning that you have your own research going and it is up to you to search which professor does the latter and researches similar to what you have in mind.

Finding a research is not too complicated. It might be hard in your first year or two since you simply don’t have enough background, but it is a very easy process afterwards. Once the research gets going, you have to work at least 10 hours a week for almost no compensation so the real work comes after you get the research.

The reality is that most undergrads are ‘slaves’ and it is easy to become one if you wish to.