UROP first semester freshman year

Mangaartist
Fri, 15 Apr 2011 16:50:37 +0000

I agree that for most people it’s probably not a good idea (and I also agree that IAP is a very good time to start), but there are exceptions. I came from a rigorous high school background, so adjusting to the workload wasn’t much of an issue, therefore I felt comfortable taking up a UROP. It was definitely the highlight of my first semester, and I’m glad I didn’t listen to the people (basically everyone I asked) who said I’d be crazy to get a UROP so early. Also, first semester freshman year is P/NR so it can’t hurt that much to experiment. If you find you have trouble keeping up with your classes, you can always drop your UROP. You can also wait until a few weeks into term, to gauge the workload first.

Whether or not professors would take you so early also depends on what area you want to UROP in and your experience. I recommend mass emailing anyone you think you’d like to work for, and you’re bound to get at least a few responses.