how to get research experience after college

How to Get Research Experience

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Working in a research setting can help make you a competitive medical school applicant and help you to determine if a career in medicine or medical research is right for you

How do I find a research position?

If you’re currently in college, check with your institution’s science or undergraduate research websites for opportunities to assist with faculty research projects. You can also review faculty bio pages and lab websites for more information. Next, reach out to your immediate network: express your interest in assisting with a research project to your science professors, academic advisor, and your pre-health advisor.

Try exchanging ideas with your peers and upper-classmen for advice on research opportunities at your institution. You can also ask peer advisors, resident advisors, or any fellow premedical students for introductions to principal investigators (PIs). You might even try the “Undergrad-Grad-PI” method. This is where you first reach out to undergraduate students in research labs to learn about their responsibilities; they oftentimes are more responsive. Then, reach out to the graduate or post-doc students to learn about the research question being investigated. After this, read the most recent paper or abstract the lab published. Once you complete these steps, you can approach the PI more confidently and more effectively demonstrate your commitment to and understanding of their project.

Your school’s career center or student employment office may know about research job openings, and they can also offer resume help and go over interview tips and techniques. Remember, opportunities may be on or off campus, full- or part-time, paid or unpaid, or part of a summer program. Once you find a position, you can connect with your school’s fellowships or awards office to inquire about research funding opportunities.

If you’ve already graduated, consider looking into open positions. Research hospitals, universities, and biotech companies are always looking for lab technicians or clinical research coordinators (CRC). Job opportunities are typically posted on the career pages of their websites.

When should I begin gaining research experience in college?

Some premedical students begin their research experiences during their first year of college, and others begin research positions after they have already graduated. On average, most students secure a research position junior or senior year. There are three big factors that will impact this:

• Your level of interest in pursuing research. If you are really excited to investigate a question under a mentor, you might find yourself reaching out to professors early and often. Other students may focus on gaining clinical experience, and therefore wait later in their academic career to start research.
• Readiness for the research project. Different PIs will have different expectations for preparation. A research project might require you to first take coursework in basic lab sciences, statistics, or another advanced topic specific to the project. Other PIs may prefer to train you “on-the-job” through their graduate or post-doc students. This will impact when you are ready to join a project.
• Finding the right research project. There is a process of reviewing different PIs and research projects to find the right fit for you. What subject do you want to investigate? Do you want your research project to take place in a lab or non-lab setting? Is there an independent question you want to investigate with the help of a mentor?

When is the best time to look for a position?

According to Kate Stutz, Ph.D., Director of Pre-Health Advising at Brandeis University, if you’re interested a research position during the academic year, the best time to look for positions is at the very beginning of the semester. There also tend to be a lot of research opportunities in the summer, both paid and volunteer, through set programs like the National Science Foundation’s Research Experience for Undergraduates (REUs). It’s best to start applying for summer research positions in December-February for the upcoming summer. Remember, typically there are more applicants than available spots so get your applications in early. Each undergraduate institution will be different, therefore make sure to connect with your advisors and peers for feedback on when to start looking.

What’s the best way to apply?

The outreach email message that you send to potential research faculty is very important. This message should include a formal introduction of yourself, evidence that you are familiar with their research project(s), and a clear, specific ask. Identify what you hope to contribute to the project. Do you want to clean the glassware or analyze lab findings? Consider attaching your resume as well. Dr. Stutz stresses that networking and persistence are crucial to finding a position. Make sure you’re using all of your network, including your peers and professors, to find open positions. Don’t be afraid to send follow up emails; faculty are very busy and often overlook emails. Sometimes, it can be even more effective to stop by a professor’s office hours to hand deliver your materials and indicate your interest in person.

How should I prepare for an interview?

With any interview, it’s important to make a good impression. Be sure to dress appropriately. Come prepared with a resume. Use your campus career center for advice on proper attire and resume best practices.

Often during interviews, you’ll be asked about your career goals. It’s helpful to be able to speak about the steps you plan to take to meet those goals. Talk about classes you’ve taken, especially upper-level science courses. Speak about your skills, your knowledge of techniques, and the equipment you’ve used throughout your coursework. Be prepared to discuss the lab experiments you’ve completed. If you’ve done any sort of research—even in your coursework—keep track of it. This shows you have experience. Lastly, interviewers often ask candidates if they have any questions. Dr. Stutz suggests asking something that indicates you’ve done your own research into their project. You could ask where they see their research going in the next three years or what challenges they anticipate. You could also ask about expectations for undergraduate researchers; do they expect you to work 20+ hours a week? Full time over the summer? Do they require you to have work study or to sign up for research credits? Asking these questions ahead of time can help you plan ahead and determine if this position is the best fit for you. Check out these  interview resources  for more tips.

Does research experience have to be in a wet lab?

No! Research can be performed in any field or subject. We’ve had successful applicants with research in classics, sociology, history, and policy, as well as applicants with research in biology, biochemistry, and neuroscience. Medical schools value all types of research. Research can take place in a scientific lab that requires advanced devices and procedures to obtain data for analysis. Research can also take place in the humanities or social sciences where participant interviews or surveys are needed to obtain an individual's life perspective. The clinical research field is constantly investigating patient outcomes and how to improve care through clinical trials or analysis of patient data. As a premedical student, consider what question you want to investigate further. Do you want to learn more about how health inequities impact disadvantaged communities in your area, or perhaps you want to know more about the protein channels involved in memory cognition? Once you choose a direction, you can then partner with a research PI for guidance on how to navigate your question. Sierra Perez, Pre-Health Advisor at Brandeis University, shares not to be afraid to get creative with your research question. She has been impressed by the medical school applicants who have created independent questions that address the community needs. “Applicants are recognizing the critical needs of specific populations, such as homelessness, LGBTQ+, veterans, youth with disabilities, etc.,” she stated. “There is also a demand for translational researchers, or individuals who can take complicated bench topics and apply it to the clinical world.”

Is research experience required to be accepted to medical school? 

It depends. Some medical schools are very research focused; they may require a research thesis or have research time built into the curriculum. Other schools are more community or clinically focused; they would rather have an applicant work in a healthcare setting or volunteer at their local soup kitchen than be at the bench moving clear liquids from one test tube to another. Research experience (in whatever discipline) is helpful for developing some of the Premed Competencies , such as critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, scientific reasoning, as well as teamwork and oral communication skills. How much you should engage in research depends on how much you enjoy it once you try it!

The majority of accepted medical school applicants have some form of academic or clinical research at the time they apply. Competence in research has become increasingly important in the medical field to improve patient care outcomes.

You can also review medical school mission statements to see if research is a focus at a particular school. You can read each school’s mission, and the number of accepted students in their most recent class who had research experience, in the  Medical School Admission Requirements . Remember, it’s best to pursue experiences that you’re genuinely interested in, rather than just to check a box, but you may not know if research is for you until you give it a try.  

Undergraduate research

From producing plays to publishing scientific findings or putting their name on a us patent, our students have unrivaled opportunities to learn by doing., thinking beyond the classroom.

Our students collaborate with the world’s leading experts and even lead their own projects to experience the thrill (and sweat) of discovery first-hand.

“The health care system is not made for people who may not speak English. I had the interest (in setting up a clinic), but no opportunities to give it a shot. But then I arrived at a school with such opportunity.”

Nilufar Kayhani UC Berkeley

How her research launched a clinic

“We set out to see how the Woolsey fire affected stream biodiversity. I designed the entire project. In labs, you’re given a manual. Here you make it up as you go.”

Bianca Ryans UCLA 2021 Field Fellowship UC’s Natural Reserve system

Hear from Bianca and other fellows

Hands-on learning

Follow where your interests lead

Participating in undergraduate research is a great way to get a jump on your career after college – and to be a better, more prepared scholar. 

Find topics that interest you, connect with faculty, explore the opportunities and apply early! A world of opportunity awaits.

Get tips on how to take part

The journey of discovery starts here

Explore undergraduate research opportunities by campus:

Santa Barbara

Princeton Correspondents on Undergraduate Research

Tips for Writing about Your Research Experience (Even if You Don’t Think You Have Any)

If you’re someone who hasn’t yet done formal research in a university setting, one of the most intimidating parts of the process can be simply getting your foot in the door. Just like the way your options can seem very limited when applying for your first job, asking for a research position when you have no “experience” can seem discouraging — maybe even to the point of causing you to question whether you should apply in the first place. With that being said, there are some simple tips you can employ when applying for research positions to highlight the link between your existing interests and the work of the position for which you are applying.

First things first: tailor not just your cover letter (for applications that ask for it) but your resume to the position for which you are applying. Even if you’re just sending a casual email to a professor to ask about the research that they’re doing, as a rule, it never hurts to attach your resume. I also like to think that submitting a resume even without being asked to shows that you’re serious about doing research, and have taken the time to put together a thoughtful inquiry into a position. If you’ve never written a cover letter or resume before, don’t fret. The Center for Career Development has some great online resources to help you create one from scratch. If you are looking for more individualized help, you can also schedule an appointment to get one-on-one feedback on your application at any stage in the writing process.

One of the things that I’ve found, however, is that the single-page format of a resume often isn’t enough space to include all of the information about every single thing you’ve ever done. Rather than trying to jam as many impressive accomplishments as you can onto a page, your goal should be to create a resume that gives a cumulative sense of your interests and experiences as they relate to the position for which you are applying. One of my favorite ways to do this is to create a “Research” section. “But Kate, what if I don’t have any research experience?,” you ask. Remember that paper you wrote about a painting by Monet in your favorite class last semester? Write the title down, or even a sentence or two that summarizes your main argument. The art museum you’re hoping to do research at will love knowing that your interest in their current exhibition on Impressionism is rooted in classes you’ve taken and the projects you’ve done in them, no matter how new you may be to a topic. Your interest in a specific research position has to come from somewhere, and your resume is an important part of demonstrating this to others.

What I would like to reassure you of is that it’s normal to be an undergraduate with very little research experience. The people reading your application —whether it be for an official program or even if it’s just a friendly email with a few questions— know that you are a student and will probably be excited to offer you guidance on how to get involved with more specific research projects even if all you have to offer at this point is enthusiasm for the topic. Working in a lab or with a professor on a research project is an opportunity designed to help you learn above all else, so it’s ok if you don’t know what you’re doing! It goes without saying that having little experience will make the final result of your research experience all the more worthwhile because of the potential to gain knowledge in ways you haven’t even imagined.

— Kate Weseley-Jones, Humanities Correspondent

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Getting research experience after graduating from college

By exe163 February 18, 2014 in Computer Science

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Hello everyone,

I am a senior ECE major from a reputable college hoping to do graduate school. Like most people on this forum, I applied to quite a few PhD programs this cycle in machine learning and robotics. And from the results so far, it's unlikely that I will get into any of them (I am only interested in the top 20). I didn't decide to do graduate school until the beginning of my senior year. This leaves me with only a year of research experience and no publication by the time I graduate. With my average GPA and GRE and only one strong LOR, I don't think I am very competitive for top programs.

So I am a bit stuck. I am currently applying for regular software jobs as backups. But after a bit of thinking, once I go this route, there's no easy way back to the research arena. So I am wondering if there's any research related jobs out there that I could take full time to gain more research experience (especially in machine learning) before I apply again for graduate programs in the future? I have also considered applying for professional masters. But this would mean going into debt which I try hard to avoid since my ultimate goal is still a PhD (aka will be poor but okay if I am not in debt).

Any suggestions is welcome.

P. S. I know going for less competitive programs is also an option, but I rather not do that for a variety of reasons.

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DeleteMePlease

Just curious and really don't want to be mean or anything. But I wonder how people without research experience just decide to go to graduate school... It took me a long time in college to realise that I love research. I spend weeks working on projects and endless seession discussing topics with my adviser until I realized I want to do this for the rest of my life. 

I can only advise to work at least on one project before making such a decision. 

On your topic: Would it be an option to work part-time and be a research intern at the same time? Without research experience you will have as small chances getting into a research related job as into a Ph.D. program.

Alternatively, if you can afford the debt. Maybe really consider pursuing a research focused Masters degree. Maybe even at one of the institutions you want to go to? If you have personal contact with a POI and already collaborated with her/him in a project, it would be a huge plus on your application.

I was in a similar boat. Few options.

1) enroll in a master's program, preferably with a thesis component. Yes it will cost you an extra 30~40K, but this is the price you might have to pay for not pursuing research.

2) if you have a strong interest in an area, try doing some rudimentary research on your own. obviously you won't be publishing groundbreaking results, but if you get a publication out of personal research it will help somewhat. I was able to publish at a decent workshop through this method.

3) research position at a company that allows publishing. Google, Microsoft, Facebook etc. Obviously they are very competitive, but if you can get a software engineer position and worm your way into a research group, you will be set.

Just curious and really don't want to be mean or anything. But I wonder how people without research experience just decide to go to graduate school... It took me a long time in college to realise that I love research. I spend weeks working on projects and endless seession discussing topics with my adviser until I realized I want to do this for the rest of my life.  I can only advise to work at least on one project before making such a decision.    On your topic: Would it be an option to work part-time and be a research intern at the same time? Without research experience you will have as small chances getting into a research related job as into a Ph.D. program.   Alternatively, if you can afford the debt. Maybe really consider pursuing a research focused Masters degree. Maybe even at one of the institutions you want to go to? If you have personal contact with a POI and already collaborated with her/him in a project, it would be a huge plus on your application.

I do completely agree with you here. I am not trying to insult anyone who has chosen to get a phd for a different reason but id be interested in hearing how you know you want a phd. I joined a research group freshman year of college and fell in love. I felt butterflys in my stomach on the way to my lab and meetings every week. I have changed and focused in my research efforts since then to an even better fit but reserch has long been my passion. This is how I know I want to get a phd. I dont understand how people who havent done research know that they want to do it forever.

I also dont get the whole "only top X schools are good enough for me" mindset. If you love research then that really shouldnt matter. Also, I doubt that all of the top professors in your subfield are working at top 20 schools. Many of the top ones in my field are at schools ranked around 30-50. They are who I dream of working with.

I'm getting a PhD and I'm not that interested in research. Why? Because in CS, the Bachelor degree is becoming the new high school diploma - everyone has it. I also want to work on machine learning problems in industry which a BS is generally not good enough. Many people (including myself) apply only to top 10/20 schools because of the prestige and "stamp of approval" they provide for whatever route you choose whether it be industry or academia.

I do completely agree with you here. I am not trying to insult anyone who has chosen to get a phd for a different reason but id be interested in hearing how you know you want a phd. I joined a research group freshman year of college and fell in love. I felt butterflys in my stomach on the way to my lab and meetings every week. I have changed and focused in my research efforts since then to an even better fit but reserch has long been my passion. This is how I know I want to get a phd. I dont understand how people who havent done research know that they want to do it forever.   I also dont get the whole "only top X schools are good enough for me" mindset. If you love research then that really shouldnt matter. Also, I doubt that all of the top professors in your subfield are working at top 20 schools. Many of the top ones in my field are at schools ranked around 30-50. They are who I dream of working with.

I am not sure how we got off on this tangent  because everyone here has at least some experience in research, some more than others. My worked in a robotics lab over the summer and now continue doing it. Unfortunately, I didn't anticipate applying for graduate school when I first started college like most competitive applicants did. I want to make up for my lack of research experience by doing some post-undergrad research. Regardless of reasons I don't think it's that bad to look for ways to get research opportunities after college. So I am a bit confused why there's a sudden stream of disapproval and discouragement against getting a PhD or applying for top programs.

Back to the topic at hand, I like the idea of working for a company that focuses on research. Correct me if I am wrong, but I feel like they are more incline to hire proven researchers since they are, after all, for profit companies. Which makes it even more challenging to get into that graduate schools. What are some other private entities that hire post-undergrads?

tchaikovsky

If this helps, I know LANL offers 'past-bacc' research positions:  http://www.lanl.gov/careers/career-options/student-internships/undergraduate/index.php

Just wanted to mention that it is possible (though perhaps unlikely) to get accepted to CS PhD programs to top 20 schools without research experience. I've received one such acceptance (funded) so far. I did no research while in undergrad and only knew that I wanted to get involved in research once I entered industry and found that the problems I was working on were not as cutting-edge as I had hoped. In addition, my GPA was moderately good but nothing to really brag about (~3.6) and I was below 90th percentile on my quantitative GRE score. 

The acceptance I had gotten so far was probably due to a particular connection between my interests and the interests of my POI, combined with his desire to do specific project-based research very soon. From this, I think that industry experience and demonstrating that you can get things done is very helpful.

Probably the most helpful thing for me (and so maybe helpful for you) is that I worked on an independent computer science project outside of work. This project is coordinated with some current students and alumni of my undergrad school, where we're participating in a competition for building engineering solutions to medical problems. By developing a system that's directly related to my research interests (computer graphics), part of which is already released and open-source on GitHub, I'd like to think that helped me demonstrate my passion for the field.

I also took like a dozen MOOCs from Coursera and other sites while I was out of school, some of which were directly connected with my field. I don't know if that helped at all, but I mentioned them in my SOP and included a link to my website where I display the certificates I got from those MOOCs. Maybe not so useful, but maybe it could be.

Since you want to go the industry route, another option would be to go with a masters program since you can probably get a great industry job with the masters degree. You can get involved with research there, see how much you like it see whether you'd be interested in doing it full time for a few years. If you decide you enjoy it and want to do a phd then you'd have lots of research experience to apply with.

For the record, I started compsci 2 years ago and decided I want a PhD before getting research experience. I wanted the experience so I could get a PhD, not the other way around! And my "research" was just a job, really... I did some process modeling in a visual language. Big whoop. I know for sure I don't want to do anything like that for grad school! Clearly this was not the selling point for me.

Other life experiences helped me reach the conclusion that a PhD is right for me. Who knows, it might not work out... But with a 50% attrition rate (or so I read on this forum), I'd imagine it's sometimes hard to tell before attending whether or not graduate school is right for you!

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How to Get Research Experience as an Undergraduate

When Tim Harper began his bachelor’s in computer science  and mathematics, it had been 10 years since he had done academic research. Under the guidance of a faculty member, he discovered a research club that introduced him to the process and immersed him in opportunities that would shape his undergraduate career. 

Now, his resume boasts both local and national conferences, and he has gained skills he can use every day. 

What is Undergraduate Research?

Undergraduate research is similar. Following a research process, you can dive deep into an academic or career-related topic that interests you. Once you have a question in mind, you can begin your own research and make contributions to that particular field as an undergraduate.

Colleen Tapley , director of Undergraduate Research at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), strives to show all students they can engage in research, and that it doesn’t have to be “big and scary.” “Everyone can do research,” she said. “... I don’t feel that research is limited to one major or one type of student.” 

How to Get Research Experience

Since you complete undergraduate research during your bachelor’s degree program, it’s typically structured and academic. To get started on a research project, follow these steps: 

Step 1: Ask a Question

Start with a question or a problem that insights your curiosity. If you pick a topic you’re interested in, you’ll feel more invested in the project. 

As a military veteran, Harper understood the barriers that separated him from many of his colleagues. He became curious about how student veterans, like himself, influenced the campus classrooms, thus inspiring a question that became his first undergraduate research project, and one he later presented at the National Conferences on Undergraduate Research (NCUR).

Step 2: Do Some Preliminary Research

Once you’ve landed on a topic, you can utilize scholarly databases such as Google Scholar and Academic Search to see what other researchers have learned about your topic. Universities often offer access to a host of online databases. 

After Dr. Peter Frost , a professor of psychology at SNHU, explored existing research surrounding his interest in smartphones and cognition, he discovered a glaring gap in information. This observation helped him find a focus for his student research group. 

Step 3: Construct a Thesis

Once you’ve reviewed the research that already exists, you can identify a unique approach or perspective to take in your research. 

Pat Donahue ’17 , one of Frost’s research assistants, recommends looking for the point at which other researchers left off. “From there, it’s a blank canvas,” he said. Take your idea and construct a thesis statement. These one or two sentences will guide your project.  

Step 4: Seek Out a Mentor

Tap into a wealth of experience and knowledge by finding a faculty mentor who can support you throughout your project. Mentors can help you bring your idea to fruition and get it to a point in which you can present it, according to Tapley. She recommends working with someone you feel comfortable with and can trust.

If you’re having trouble coming up with a research question, you can also approach a faculty mentor for ideas. 

Research Opportunities in College

You don’t have to look too far for research opportunities if you’re going to college. Many exist within the comfort of your university. 

Take Advantage of Class Assignments

Many classes and programs have research components built into their curriculum, allowing you to be an active learner, according to Dr. Chris Matthews , the director of SNHU’s University Honors Program . 

“Research provides the opportunity for students to process and apply the content of the course by actively questioning and seeking answers that are not instantly available,” he said. 

Before graduating, honors students complete an independent thesis to hone their critical thinking skills and prepare them to take ownership of their learning.

“Students are required to do research not just to complete the assignment but to change the world,” Matthews said. “We expect students to conduct research that they are passionate about, and that connects to their academic goals.”

Work with an Instructor

Some of your instructors may already be working on research of their own and could be looking for help. By becoming a research assistant, you’re not only helping your instructor with their goals, but you’re gaining real-world experience under the guidance of a professional in the field. 

Since he often works with his research assistants for multiple years at a time, Frost forms professional relationships with them that last long after their graduation. “I get to see how this (research experience) plays out not only during their college career, but we keep in contact after,” he said. 

The skills students learn while working with data can open doors to many career paths, according to Frost. “They could work in data analytics for companies, they can literally do research at hospitals and then, of course, many of them do it because they want to go into graduate school,” he said. 

When you're ready to embark on your next journey, the instructor you worked with may be able to speak of your accomplishments in a letter of recommendation, too.

Present Your Findings

Since research is an ongoing, collaborative experience, your project doesn’t end once you’ve finished your research. You’ll want to share what you’ve learned with others interested in developing the field. 

There may be opportunities to do so within your own college community. For instance, SNHU hosts an Undergraduate Research Day each spring, offering students the chance to present their research to colleagues, instructors and others for the chance to have their work published. 

“We look for students across the entire campus to come and show what they do all year round,” Tapley said. If their abstract – a 150-250-word summary – is accepted, students will be able to give an oral or poster presentation or work to find a solution to a real-world problem a local organization is facing.

Students interested in sharing their research beyond their campus can also submit their abstracts to other conferences and publications. 

Frost’s strategy is to start with the higher reaches first and work your way down the ladder. He and five research students recently had their study published by Wiley when they discovered that smartphones temporarily alter cognition. 

Benefits of Undergraduate Research

Donahue realized the impact his group was making in the psychology field when he saw how engaged research professionals were in the group's presentations at conferences. “It was cool to see people’s reactions (and) responses,” he said. “To see how people really had a vested interest in what we’re talking about, us being little college kids, undergraduates at the time.”

In addition to learning how to pull information from data, Donahue ran research sessions which taught him time management skills and how to organize people. These soft skills , in addition to critical thinking, public speaking and grit can spill into other areas of your life, too, and becoming an expert in a topic can certainly have an effect on your confidence. 

When Harper finishes his degree next year, he knows his experience will make him more marketable to employers. “(Employers) know that you’re not going to be a detriment if they give you an assignment where you might have to do a little research,” he said. It’ll also show employers that he’s capable of identifying credible sources and networking at conferences. 

When Harper returned to school, he never expected to become so involved in undergraduate research. “Opportunities fell into my lap, presented themselves,” he said. “Here I am, presenting at conferences across the country, and that’s wild to me.”

Rebecca LeBoeuf ’18 is a staff writer at Southern New Hampshire University. Connect with her on LinkedIn .

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What is a BA Degree and What Can You Do With It?

About southern new hampshire university.

SNHU is a nonprofit, accredited university with a mission to make high-quality education more accessible and affordable for everyone.

Founded in 1932, and online since 1995, we’ve helped countless students reach their goals with flexible, career-focused programs . Our 300-acre campus in Manchester, NH is home to over 3,000 students, and we serve over 135,000 students online. Visit our about SNHU  page to learn more about our mission, accreditations, leadership team, national recognitions and awards.

Undergraduate Research Opportunities & Internships

• Boston University Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURFs)
• Carnegie Mellon University Summer Program for Undergraduate Researchers (SPUR)
• Duke University, The Department of Psychology and Neuroscience NSF Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)
• Harvard Business School PRIMO
• Harvard University Moral Psychology Research Lab
• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NIH) Summer Program in the Neurological Sciences and Other Neuroscience Research Training and Funding Opportunities
• National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program
• Rutgers RISE Program
• Stanford University Center for the Study of Language and Information (CSLI)
• University of California, Berkeley Berkeley Early Learning Lab Summer Internship Program
• University of California, Berkeley the Gopnik Cognitive Development and Learning Lab
• UCLA Summer Programs for Undergraduate Research (SPUR)
• Undergraduate Psychology Summer Internship Program — Pace University, Counseling Center, New York City Campus
• University of Pennsylvania Undergraduate Summer Fellowship Program in Interdisciplinary Mind and Brain Studies
• University of California — Irvine Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) — includes helpful tips for finding undergraduate research opportunities
• University of California — Irvine: The Irvine Interdisciplinary Internship in Neuroscience Program
• University of Cincinnati Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship
• University of Maryland Summer Undergraduate Research Program
• University of Nebraska-Lincoln Summer Research Program
• University of Nebraska-Lincoln Summer Research Program on Minority Health Disparities
• University of North Carolina, Karen M. Gil Internship Program in Psychology
• University of Toronto Canada Summer Research Opportunities Programme (SROP)
• University of Wisconsin-Madison Interdisciplinary Research in Education Sciences (IRES) Summer Internship Program for Undergraduates
• University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Psychology Psychology Research Experience Program (PREP)
• Yale University: Organizational Behavior Summer Internship

Do you know of any other programs that offer interesting research opportunities to undergraduates? If so, please contact us at (202) 336-6140.

APA Resources

Conducting research

Research ethics

Council on Undergraduate Research

Scholarships, Grants & Awards

How to get research experience after graduation? Is it even possible?

I’m an International Student in Canada and in my year right now.

I pay three times more than Canadians so I just can’t afford UBC or Univeristy of Toronto. I’m at a a small University because that’s all I can afford thanks to International Student tuition. I want to get a PhD degree later or even got I medical school. I try very hard and my grades are good but I need research experience to get accepted for a PhD or to go to medical school.

What can I do if my small University just doesn’t have that? Can I still be a research assistant after graduation for a professor at a Univeristy I never attended as a student? Is it possible to gain research experience for example at the University of British Columbia, although I wasn’t as student there? (Sorry if the questions are dumb but I really have no idea and I also think it’s kind of different in Europe?)

Btw, I’m in my first year right now if that’s important (and have zero research experience)

What are you majoring in / planning on majoring in?

There are quite a few summer programs geared towards undergraduates with little to no research experience which could help you get your feet wet. Without knowing your interests it’s hard to recommend anything specifically, but you should check out the REU (research experience for undergraduates) programs. REUs are held over the summer at various universities and each university’s program is different - the subjects vary from astrophysics to nanotechnology. These programs are also only at US universities so keep that in mind if you’re an international student. You can also do a Google search for “summer research programs 2016”. You’ll find a lot of different stuff.

You can also look into different schools and email professors whose research you find interesting. Be prepared for lots of unanswered emails (professors are busy people), but it’s always worth a shot.

Yes, after graduation you could work as a research assistant in a school other than the one you attended for undergrad. At by university these non-student research assistants are called " research technicians".

I’ve also seen the position referred to as “Lab Technician,” “Research Assistant,” or “Research Associate.”

Ok thank you for the answers. Is research assistant actually a job or just volunteering? (after graduation I need a job for one year to get permanent residence and it would be great if that would count as it)?

It can be either. Depends on the lab.

Research/Lab technologists, technicians, associates, assistants, etc are typically paid positions. The income isn’t very good, but it is a great way to get research experience. Personally, I think working as a tech is a great way to determine if you truly want to pursue a PhD in a given subject. I worked as a tech for 3 years and am now in a top PhD program. Working as a tech not only gives you research experience, but you also get a better appreciation for how labs run and operate, as well as what it takes to get funding for a lab in today’s climate.

^That depends on the field. In the life sciences they are usually paid. In the social sciences, some lab manager or research coordinator positions are paid, but research assistant positions in university laboratories are usually unpaid. If they are, they are part-time and the pay is low.

However, if you are in the social sciences there are other outlets through which to get post-graduation research experience - like think tanks and nonprofits that conduct research.

There are also some post-baccalaureate bridge programs for 1-2 years. Look up Pittsburgh’s Hot Metal Bridge program. Columbia has a similar one although I can’t remember if it’s only for Columbia alumni. Also, if your work is at all related to health - even tangentially - look up the NIH’s IRTA.

Also, if you’re in your first year, is it possible you just haen’t heard of how to get involved in your professors’ research yet? On some level (unless academia in Canada is vastly different)?

Undergraduate (eg student) research assistants can be volunteers, paid, or doing research for credit. It depends a lot on the lab, PI, and school. Non-student research assistants are generally paid (in the sciences at least), though the salary isn’t exactly glamorous.

Summer research programs don’t necessarily pay, but many do at least offer stipends.

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Office of Undergraduate Research

4 ways to get into undergrad research, by shahan kamal, our peer research ambassador.

1. Email! Email! Email! The most straightforward way to get an undergraduate research position is to send emails to professors. A simple look at a professor’s profile on their department website will tell you if you’re interested in the research their lab does. Even the slightest bit of interest is reason enough to email the professor and try to set up a meeting. The meeting is your foot in the door–you can talk to them about your career goals, major, research interests, or just let them further explain their work to you. Meetings put you on track to find the research spot that works well for you and get yourself started. The trick is to be resilient–professors are busy and won’t always be able to respond to emails from students they don’t know, so don’t let a few ghosted replies hinder you.

2. Talk to your professors after class Professors like to talk to students and take an interest in them. It’s important if you want to establish a relationship with a professor that you talk to them and get to know each other. This can be after class or in office hours, but you should try to be more than just a nameless face in a crowd to them. Relationships like these open doors for students, and the mentorship a professor can provide you with is invaluable. You might find yourself fascinated by their research and have the opportunity to be an asset to their lab. On the other hand, maybe their research isn’t for you–but just a discussion with them about your preferences can help them guide you in the right direction.

3. Keep an eye on research programs The Office of Undergraduate Research administers funding programs that connect students to research positions. The Health Research Program facilitates connections with researchers at the UConn Health Center, giving students an opportunity to get involved in the cutting-edge research happening at the Farmington campus. The Work-Study Research Assistant Program coordinates opportunities for students to use their work-study award to assist with faculty research. In addition to these programs, you can also apply for funding through the SURF Award Program or the UConn IDEA Grant Program to support ongoing projects or a new project you are taking the lead on designing. Check out all the OUR programs to see what fits.

4. Look for off-campus opportunities Lastly, and arguably the most ignored, is to broaden your search. The Office of Undergraduate Research has an entire page on their website dedicated to showcasing opportunities outside of UConn where students can gain more research experience. Students often think that they’re bound to the campuses in Storrs or Farmington, but there are plenty of other universities and facilities that conduct research who are looking for motivated students to join their projects. On top of the opportunity to do fascinating work, these opportunities will introduce you to some of the brightest minds in the country, opening avenues to further opportunities and expanding your network.

At the end of the day, finding the perfect fit in a research lab is the result of a lot of trial and error, so you can’t be afraid to try. Even when things don’t work out, you’ll have gained experience for it, and experience will always be valuable–and when things do work out, you get to have the best of experiences.

Shahan is a senior majoring in Molecular & Cell Biology. Click here to learn more about Shahan.

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You are here, gaining undergrad research experience overseas.

Alexandra Wnuk ’25 is eyeing a career in the fashion industry after graduation, but her chosen path to get there might not be the first to come to mind. 

“I plan to do research on bio-based and sustainable materials and learn how to create clothing that is more sustainable for the environment,” she says, “whether that means pieces that are biodegradable or made out of more sustainable materials.” 

This summer, the materials science and engineering major will get a taste of research involving bio-based materials through the DAAD RISE (Research Internships in Science and Engineering) Fellowship. 

The program, offered by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), provides undergraduate students from the United States, Canada, and the UK with research internships at universities and research institutions in Germany. During two to three months of the summer, students work on projects in STEM fields such as biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, and computer science.

Although the subject matter is different, the spirit of the research connects with her desire to one day make an impact at the at the intersection of eco-friendly fashion and materials science: 

“The project really aligns with my interests around sustainability,” she says. 

Wnuk is no stranger to studying abroad: In Summer 2023, she participated in Lehigh’s Iacocca International Internship at the University of Zaragoza in Spain. There, she took part in research involving hydrogel coatings applied to two types of pancreatic cancer cells. The goal was to see if the coatings influenced a process called epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, which indicates increased mobility in cancer cells. 

She then spent a semester studying fashion design and merchandising in Milan, Italy, through IES Abroad. 

Fitting these experiences into her demanding course of engineering studies took careful and early planning as well as determination—by her sophomore year she was tackling junior-level classes to create room in her schedule for a semester abroad. It was challenging but worth it, Wnuk says.

“To someone concerned about the workload, I would say the summer is always an option,” she says. “You can gain great experience in a short amount of time through studying abroad, which helps you stand out.” 

What’s different this time around, however, is that Wnuk will make the trip to Germany on her own. She sees it as a path for personal growth and greater independence. 

“It’s always a challenge to leave the people, place and lifestyle that you know, and then just go to a different environment and adapt to that,” says Wnuk. “I hope to become more adaptable and learn to appreciate spending time on my own.” 

—Brianna Banful ’24 is a student writer for the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science

Wnuk named DAAD Young Ambassador

Rising senior Alexandra Wnuk has been named Lehigh’s first-ever DAAD Young Ambassador. She is one of only 24 students from the United States and Canada to receive this honor.

As a DAAD Young Ambassador, Wnuk will spend the 2024-2025 academic year promoting Germany and German study abroad opportunities at Lehigh. Her role will begin with a training workshop in New York this August, where she will join her fellow ambassadors to learn about various DAAD programs and other student opportunities in Germany.

Throughout the academic year, Wnuk will collaborate closely with the Office of Fellowship Advising, the Study Abroad offices, and related groups to fulfill her duties as a Young Ambassador. This includes organizing events, giving presentations, and offering one-on-one advising to students interested in studying in Germany.

Wnuk, a top materials science and engineering student, is passionate about reforming the fashion industry through environmentally friendly practices, making her an exemplary representative for Lehigh both academically and as an advocate for international education.

Related News

Bioe student spotlight: christie ortega, myeongyeon lee: leading beyond the lab, lexy guazzone ’26: making engineering connections abroad, student group innovates prosthetic technology for global impact.

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• CAREER FEATURE
• 25 June 2024

How researchers navigate a PhD later in life

• Elizabeth Landau 0

Elizabeth Landau is a science writer based in Washington DC.

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On a roll: Krista Bresock celebrates in her local skate park after graduating with a PhD in mathematics from West Virginia University, Morgantown, aged 41. Credit: Michael Germana

Krista Bresock sat crying in her professor’s office. She had to discuss one of five questions with her professor, in person. It was the concluding step of her final exam in functional analysis, the last course that she needed to complete for her PhD in mathematics. He’d shuffled a set of five cards, and she’d picked Card Number Two — corresponding to the one problem that she had not fully studied.

Unlike her fellow students studying intractable maths problems, Bresock was in her late thirties redoing coursework that she had failed years earlier. As a full-time maths teacher at West Virginia University (WVU) in Morgantown, she could find time to study only during nights and weekends.

“Problem Number Two was just collateral damage to being able to maintain this life of work full-time and be in grad school full-time,” Bresock remembers. She “fell to her knees” in relief when, a week later, she learnt she’d still got an A- in the course.

Many think of doctoral degrees as the domain of people in their twenties. Yet according to the US National Science Foundation, 17% of people who gained a PhD in science or engineering in the United States in 2022, the most recent year for which figures are available, were aged 36 or older . In some countries, including Colombia, Mexico, Portugal, South Korea, Iceland, Greece and Israel, the median age for entering a doctoral programme is 32 or higher, according to 2017 data from the OECD in Paris 1 .

Resources for mid-career scientists

A PhD requires a vast commitment of time and energy, often lasting five or more years. Stipends, when available, are often lower than salaries for other full-time jobs or professions. What’s more, students might have to move to another city, or even a different country, to attend their chosen course. Although difficult for any age group, those constraints can create different challenges for prospective students in their thirties, forties and beyond than for their younger colleagues.

At the same time, age often brings wisdom and self-confidence, qualities that can help older students to cope with a strenuous academic life. “The extra ten years that I was out doing other things gave me a lot of perspective and maturity to the way in which I think and live, and I think that was a big reason why I’ve succeeded,” says Peter Swanton, a 36-year-old graduate student working towards a doctoral degree in astrophysics at the Australian National University in Canberra.

Motivation is key

For Bresock, a doctoral degree represented “unfinished business”. She had struggled with alcohol and drug addiction from the age of 16, but hit a dangerous low point in early 2013, when she was a graduate student at WVU the first time round. She dropped out and checked herself into an in-patient programme, but still drank heavily afterwards. With the support of friends, family and Alcoholics Anonymous, she became sober in July 2013.

Bresock then taught maths at WVU, first as an adjunct and then as a full-time instructor, but she didn’t forget her incomplete doctorate. Finally, at the age of 37, she re-enrolled. “This little voice was like, ‘You have more to say. You have more to do. You have this thing sitting on the back burner that is kind of eating away at you,’” she says.

Despite her drive to finish the degree, motivating herself was “really hard sometimes”, she says, “because if I didn’t finish, no one would care: I would just not finish and still have this job and be fine.” One of her top tips for others looking to pursue a doctorate in mid-life is to fully understand and reflect on their motivations. If the goal is “more money”, that might not be enough, she says.

Before returning to his studies, Swanton held a variety of jobs, including hauling sugar cane, working in nightclub security and tutoring in secondary schools. He has this advice for anyone who’s considering a doctorate: make sure you’re “doing it because you love it”. For him, that has meant finding ways to combine telescopic investigations of cosmic objects, such as active galactic nuclei, with preserving folklore about the cosmos from the Gamilaraay, the people of his Aboriginal culture.

Peter Swanton, a 36-year-old graduate student in cultural astronomy at the Australian National University in Canberra, says that his previous work experience has given him the maturity to cope with the strains of academic life. Credit: Lannon Harley/ANU

Swanton’s heritage influences both his academic interests and the way in which he wants to communicate them. For example, the Gamilaraay language was originally a purely oral one. So, rather than just writing “a big block of text” for his dissertation, Swanton says that he would like to include elders and community members telling their own stories, and to bridge their knowledge with the Western understanding of the universe.

“My success has come down to finding something I am passionate about, and not concerning myself with future employability, which was the focus of my earlier attempts at academia and ultimately the reason why I didn’t succeed” at the time, he says.

Finding mentors

María Teresa Martínez Trujillo arrived at the Paris Institute of Political Studies to embark on a graduate programme in political science at the age of 32. Having spent her whole life up to that point in Mexico, she felt isolated from her classmates because of linguistic and cultural barriers, in addition to being the oldest student in her cohort. Martínez Trujillo had already had a career in the Mexican government, including working as an adviser to the secretary of the interior, yet she felt “less brave” than younger students, and had many more questions about reading materials.

She also felt ashamed about her lack of fluency in French. Over time, with the help of a therapist, she learnt to be less judgemental of herself and to overcome her impostor syndrome. Classmates helped her to proofread some of her assignments and she focused on improving her language skills.

Cultural and linguistic barriers left María Teresa Martínez Trujillo feeling isolated from her peers when she arrived from Mexico, aged 32, to embark on a graduate programme at the Paris Institute of Political Studies. Credit: Hiram Romero

Martínez Trujillo’s advisers — Hélène Combes and Gilles Favarel-Garrigues — were key for her as she dived into reading and fieldwork on the relationship between drug trafficking and the business world in Morelia, Mexico, for her master’s project. “They let me go to the ‘forest’ and spend time and lose myself,” she says, adding that when she felt lost or stuck, her advisers helped her to find her way.

Time and money

Finances often pose a problem for graduate students who don’t already have savings and support, including those who have worked previously. Even with tuition covered, and a stipend to help towards living expenses, making ends meet can be challenging, especially for students who have other financial responsibilities, such as providing for family members or maintaining a home.

Martínez Trujillo received a stipend, but she spent almost all of it on rent and didn’t want to ask her family for money. She worked as a nanny, consulted for a Mexican think tank and spent summers working in Mexico on friends’ projects. “I’d never have free days,” she says.

Bresock wishes she could have spent more time away from both work and studies. “I did a terrible job of that. Make sure you make time for yourself. That dissertation will still be there, if you go take a walk, or if you go swim or whatever, for an hour out of your life.”

Training: Data Analysis: Planning and Preparing

Like Bresock, Marc Gentile kept a full-time job while doing his PhD in astrophysics at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne in his mid-to-late-fortiess. He needed to earn enough to support both himself and his wife, and to address other financial responsibilities.

“The top advice would be establishing effective work and study habits right from the start,” he says. “In my case, time was the most precious resource, and I had to be very well organized to make the most of it.”

Gentile would work on his doctoral assignments from 5 a.m. to 6 a.m. each weekday, before leaving for his day job. He would then read articles while commuting by train, and tackle more PhD tasks or further reading in the evenings. “I was told that I was, on average, more productive and better organized than most other, younger students, because you develop such skills when you work professionally,” he said.

Family matters

When Wendy Bohon walked across the stage to receive her doctorate in geology, she was nearly 38 years old and pregnant with twins. She wound up at Arizona State University in Tempe after beginning her career as an actor, and then becoming fascinated with earthquakes after one shook her apartment in 1999.

For her dissertation, Bohon conducted fieldwork in India on two large fault systems, focusing on how fast they had been moving, their intersections and their frequency of earthquakes — as well as the growth of mountains around them — over the past 34 million years. Today, she heads the Seismic Hazards and Earthquake Engineering branch of the California Geological Survey in Sacramento.

Wendy Bohon was nearly 38, and pregnant with twins, when she graduated from Arizona State University in Tempe with a PhD in geology. Credit: Linda Bohon

As a student, her desire to expand her family had put her in a different life stage from younger peers. She had met her husband, who already had a young daughter, while in her graduate programme. And whereas her classmates had wanted to avoid pregnancy, she had struggled to conceive. “That emotional disconnect and the difference in their reality and my reality — it was really tough,” she says. Ultimately, she and her husband chose to try the intensive process of in vitro fertilization, which Bohon mostly kept secret. At the same time, she was helping to co-parent her husband’s daughter, and the couple were given full custody of the girl when she was seven.

Bohon coped with parenting and finishing graduate school with the help of “a built-in village of people around who could step in to help us”. Other graduate students would play the card game UNO with the girl, or colour pictures with her. And Bohon’s mentor, along with the mentor’s husband, became the child’s godparents.

“In a lot of ways, it was easier to parent during my PhD, because my schedule was relatively flexible, so I could stay home with her when she was sick, or attend school functions,” Bohon says. What’s more, she adds, “having a kiddo that needed me helped me to set and keep healthier boundaries than I think I would have otherwise”.

Charlotte Olsen, a postdoctoral researcher in astrophysics at the New York City College of Technology, earned a PhD at the age of 42 and now investigates the factors that influence star formation and galaxy evolution. Olsen says that working on her doctorate presented challenges for her marriage. “I’m not gonna lie: grad school is really rough on a relationship,” she says — adding that, especially at the beginning, “it’s an incredibly stressful time”.

Among the responsibilities that older students might have is taking care of ageing parents. Olsen recalls that during her qualifying exams, she hadn’t heard from her mother, who was 76 years old at the time, for a while. She assumed that her mother wanted to give her space during that stressful time. Later, she found out that her mother’s appendix had ruptured, necessitating surgery and a stay in a hospital’s intensive-care unit.

Through it all, Olsen’s spouse was an invaluable source of emotional support. “Having somebody who is there with you along the way” helps a lot, she says.

What happens next?

Not everyone who gets a PhD stays in their field. Gentile, now 60, works as a data scientist for a Swiss television station. He had a postdoctoral research position for five years after graduation — but for several reasons, including financial ones, he could not find an academic job afterwards. “If I had really wanted to continue in astrophysics, then I would have had to move abroad; it’s difficult now,” he says.

Still, Gentile found the PhD experience rewarding and worthwhile. As well as acquiring problem-solving techniques, he learnt coding and data-science skills, such as machine learning and statistical methods. And he has used all of these in subsequent jobs, including his current one.

His graduate work also remains relevant. Some of the algorithms and software that he worked on during his PhD helped to inform the tools that scientists will use to analyse data from the European Space Agency’s Euclid observatory, which aims to explore dark energy and dark matter.

Bresock received a promotion at West Virginia University after earning her PhD in maths in December 2022, aged 41. Her dissertation examined how students understand the definite integral, a fundamental concept in calculus, when solving different kinds of problem.

Today, she has greater empathy for her own students because of her own struggles as a graduate student. Finishing her doctorate remains one of her most satisfying accomplishments, she says. “When people ask me what’s the biggest thing I’ve ever done in my life, it’s: get sober, and then, finish my PhD. That’s a close second.”

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-02109-x

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Education at a Glance 2019: OECD Indicators (OECD, 2019).

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What is exactly meant by "research experience" in grad application?

I'm confused by what the term "research experience" actually means in a PhD application. The following examples come into my mind:

• working as research assistant with university professor
• publishing research papers in conferences
• work in R&D division of company (industry research)

Do all examples of the list above count as research experience? Or which ones do? If so, what are they?

Which ones are more important and provide competitive advantage for getting accepted to good university?

• graduate-admissions
• terminology

• 3 I can confirm that RA experience and published work counted as research experience when I applied to my PhD. –  user7112 Commented Jan 11, 2014 at 11:28

3 Answers 3

I would say all of those count as "research experience". Which ones will be most valued depends on the nature of the program you're applying to, and the exact nature of the work you did. In general, though, the more independent your work was, the better, and the more generic it was, the worse. So if you were a research assistant but all you did was photocopy documents, that will not earn you many points. If you were a research assistant who, e.g., conducted experiments, did fieldwork, participated in lab meetings, whatever, those will be worth more. If you actually contributed to the writing of papers or presentation at conferences, even better.

As a rule of thumb, the more that what you did was something other people could not have done (i.e., it required your special expertise, not just "more hands'), the "better" it is.

Most of the applicants for PhD positions (after bachelor, different for master) don't have much research experience or have even written a paper as first author, more common would be poster at a conference. So if you have to show something here over average, list it in your application.

As professors get sometimes over 100 applications for PhD positions, more importantly list in bullet points what you experience handling distinct scientific methods is (technical terminus and usage time, e.g. electron microscopy on biological objects for one year or matlab scripting on neural networks for 6 months) . As soon as you have worked for several weeks with a distinct technique, list it as research experience (name - object - duration)

This profile of your expertise is in the end to my experience more important to a professor/distinct position than a higher number of posters/papers of a distinct candidate, because it depends more on your team/advisor/co-workers if you publish before PhD a lot

It means during your undergraduate or after your undergraduate or in masters (if you are going for a PhD program), what did you do that counts as research.

In PhD application, the committee is looking for whether you already have warmed up for research or not because PhD is about taking a problem and doing research which only you could have done.

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How To Apply For College: Forbes Advisor’s Application Checklist

Updated: Jan 2, 2024, 1:26pm

Applying for college can be a lengthy, stressful and complicated process, with lots of moving parts and deadlines. Filling out an undergraduate application typically involves gathering documentation, taking standardized tests, writing essays and asking for letters of recommendation, among other steps. It’s easy to get overwhelmed.

To help you stay organized, we’ve put together this college application checklist. Here, we round up all the materials you need and the dates by which you need them. We even provide a printable version of this checklist to guide you as you work through this process.

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Forbes Advisor’s education editors are committed to producing unbiased rankings and informative articles covering online colleges, tech bootcamps and career paths. Our ranking methodologies use data from the National Center for Education Statistics , education providers, and reputable educational and professional organizations. An advisory board of educators and other subject matter experts reviews and verifies our content to bring you trustworthy, up-to-date information. Advertisers do not influence our rankings or editorial content.

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Keep track of your most important application tasks and deadlines with the simplified PDF version of this checklist. Save it to your phone or print it out for easy reference. (If you print it, make sure to choose the “fit to paper” scale option!)

Forbes Advisor’s College Application Checklist 

Before you start.

You can’t begin the application process until you’ve made a plan. Start by narrowing down your prospective schools. Know where you’re applying, what each application entails and the due dates you need to meet.

Decide About Early Decision

It’s important to determine whether you plan to apply for early decision or early action at any school. As the name implies, early decision often involves an earlier due date for your application.

Early decision comes with perks—admission rates for early-decision applicants tend to be higher, for example, and you learn about your admission decision more quickly—but this method comes with strings attached, too. For example, if you are admitted on early decision, you may have to give your response before learning whether other colleges have also accepted your applications, and you may have to withdraw your applications to other schools.

Get a Jump Start on Standardized Tests

You should prepare for and take the SAT early on since many students take the SAT multiple times. If you plan to take the ACT more than once, consider taking the ACT early on as well. And make sure to sign up for the Common App , which allows you to use a single form to apply to multiple colleges.

Your Checklist

• Know which schools you’re interested in
• Take the SAT
• Know if you plan to apply for early decision
• Mark down all college application due dates
• Sign up for the Common App

Two Months Before College Applications Are Due

A couple of months before your deadlines, things are getting down to the wire. If you’re submitting standardized test scores, it’s time to make sure your results are up to snuff. If you plan to take the ACT , now is the time to do it. And if you weren’t satisfied with your earlier SAT scores , it’s time to retake that test as well.

• Take the ACT
• Retake the SAT (if applicable)

Four Weeks Before College Applications Are Due

Most undergraduate applications require letters of recommendation , at least one of which must come from an academic source. You could ask a teacher, a school counselor or another faculty member to write your recommendation letter.

Keep in mind that these individuals are busy professionals who may be writing multiple letters of recommendation for other students, so it’s important to give them at least a few weeks to complete this task.

• Ask for letters of recommendation

Several Weeks Before Applications Are Due

Not all universities ask applicants to submit essays, but this is a common requirement for many. If you’re applying to schools that require college essays , you’ve probably been working on yours for a while—potentially even as assignments in your English class.

In the weeks leading up to your application deadlines, it’s time to polish up those essays and get them ready for submission. Gather feedback from trusted peers, teachers and mentors, and make edits as necessary. Make sure your essays answer the prompts, comply with word count requirements and are free of grammatical errors.

• Complete college essays

The Week Before Applications Are Due

At this point in the application process, it’s time to gather all the materials required for your college application. These may include the application forms themselves, preliminary transcripts, test scores and essays. Make sure your letter-writers have finished your recommendation letters as well.

Once all your documents are in order, there’s no need to keep waiting—submit those applications.

• Gather letters of recommendation and required materials
• Submit all applications

Before, During and After Applying to College

Applying for college and applying for financial aid are separate processes. Before, during and after your college application process, you should be researching scholarships and grants to help you pay for your education.

Unlike student loans, scholarships and grants do not require repayment. These forms of aid may be need-based, merit-based or use other identifying characteristics, like ethnicity or religion. If you qualify for a scholarship or grant, make sure to apply—these awards can add up to make a big difference.

• Apply for scholarships and grants

During October

We recommend submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) regardless of whether you think you will qualify for financial aid. The factors determining aid eligibility are complex, so you may qualify for a federal student loan even if it seems unlikely to you. Many states use the FAFSA to determine eligibility for state-level student aid as well. Some aid is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, so submitting the application in a timely manner is wise.

Also by October, you should know whether you will be registering to take any AP exams. The College Board usually requires all AP test-takers to register for their exams by November 15, but your high school may impose an earlier deadline for registration. Make sure you know and are on track to meet those deadlines.

• Gather materials and submit the FAFSA
• Know when to register for AP exams

By May, you should have received responses for all your college applications. Of the schools that granted you admission, you should have narrowed down your options and decided where you’d like to attend. Now, it’s time to make it official.

Note that if you were accepted to a school on early decision, you will have to complete this step of the process much earlier in the year—usually by February.

• Accept an offer of admission
• Decline offers of admission from schools you will not attend

During June and July

By this point, you’ve accepted admission to a college and you’ve graduated from high school—but we’re still going. Now that you’ve officially wrapped up your high school career, it’s time to tackle these last remaining tasks: submitting AP scores and official transcripts.

Send these materials in June if possible, and check with your prospective college for its specific deadlines—they are usually in early or mid-July.

• Submit AP scores (if applicable)
• Submit final transcripts
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• university of new orleans
• campus news
• uno earth and environmental sciences professor is fishing for clues

CAMPUS NEWS: JUNE 21, 2024

Tilapia research, uno earth and environmental sciences professor is fishing for clues in port sulphur waters.

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University of New Orleans earth and environmental sciences professor Martin O’Connell has received a grant to study fish habitat in Port Sulphur for tilapia, considered an invasive fish species in the wild.

University of New Orleans earth and environmental sciences professor Martin O’Connell is fishing for clues in Plaquemines Parish to determine whether tilapia—considered an invasive fish species in the wild—has survived a targeted kill conducted almost 15 years ago.

O’Connell, director of the Nekton Research Laboratory at UNO’s Pontchartrain Institute for Environmental Sciences, has received a nearly $50,000 grant from the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program for the project in Port Sulphur, Louisiana.

O’Connell’s research involves studying, managing, and conserving aquatic animals in freshwater, estuarine, and marine habitats. His lab researchers examine long-term changes in fish assemblages, responses of aquatic communities to natural and anthropogenic disturbances, and ecological needs of organisms threatened by changing global conditions. Ann Uzee-O'Connell, a researcher in the Pontchartrain Institute for Environmental Sciences, is the co-principal investigator for the grant.

“As a scientist who has studied invasive species most of my career, I am curious to see how well the eradication strategy carried out by LDWF worked,” O’Connell said. “I hope that 14 years after all this happened that we don't find any tilapia.”

Tilapia species are probably the worse group of escaped aquaculture species when it comes to causing ecological and economical damage around the world, O’Connell said. When the area ditches were surveyed for tilapia around 2010, it was estimated that they represented 85 percent of the population.

“This type of quick population growth causes local native fishes to lose both food items and habitat,” O’Connell said.

There are important freshwater species, such as largemouth bass, bluegill and estuarine species like red drum and spotted sea trout that use the areas around Port Sulphur as nursery habitats, O’Connell said.

“It’s bad enough that we are losing so much habitat in Plaquemines Parish to coastal erosion,” he said. “Having another stressor like non-native fishes just adds to the threat to both commercially and recreationally important native fishes.”

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This subreddit is for anyone who is going through the process of getting into graduate school, and for those who've been there and have advice to give.

How to get research experience after college

Hello, everyone. I'm a Psychology major graduating this semester with aspirations of becoming a Clinical Neuropsychologist, but I found out too late that my lack of research experience will get in the way of that.

I'll have to take one or two gap years regardless due to the fact that I'll be moving to a different state this year, so I was wondering how I could go about this process during this time and gain as much research experience as I can before applying to grad schools.

I'd be happy to answer any questions!