Full Careers
Answering the "How will this summer research program help you with your career goals" Application Questions
I'm applying to a handful of microbiology Research Experience for Undergraduates programs & they all want me to answer the above question. Many of the programs prefer students from universities without research opportunities. I have done undergraduate research at my university & I enjoy it (Which means I can't use the 'learning what academic research entails' response) My career goals are that I plan to go to graduate school & get my Ph.D in microbiology, do postdoctoral research somewhere, and then get a research/teaching faculty position. Naturally, I'm not looking for someone to write my essay for me, but I need some inspiration. If you answer & have had experience applying to these programs or are a professor, can you mention it? Thanks!
Public Comments
- I did three REU programs when I was an undergraduate. It's a good sign you've done research before - be sure to mention that. You'll require less training time that way. These programs provide you with an opportunity to work as part of a collaboration, pick up useful computer and programming skills (at least mine did) that you don't learn in college, interact with graduate students and professions from different fields (since it's not at your university), prepare you for a full-time research career (your postdoc), and hopefully help you narrow-down your choices for exactly what you want to study in grad school. Plus many of these programs give you a chance to publish your work and go to conferences to present it. Good luck!
