Transcript Science Fair Project - Mount St. Mary's University

How to Apply to Summer
Research Programs
By: DOCS
Developing Our Careers in Science
Why Summer Research?
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Gain laboratory experience
Explore your career options
Networking opportunities
Travel and see new places
Make new friends
Build your resume
A great opportunity that you
can possibly get paid for
Research Program
 8-10 weeks
 Travel expenses paid
- housing usually paid as
well
 RESEARCH!
 ~ 40+ hours per week
 Social gatherings
 Workshops/Speakers
 Career Options
 Hot topics in science
 End of the year symposium
Where has MSMC gone?
(2005 Summer Research):
University of California, San Francisco
University of California, Los Angeles
Southwestern University (Dallas, Texas)
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Stanford University
Pepperdine University
New York University
Harvard University
California Institute of Technology
Western Michigan University
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Application Checklist
 Basic information
 Research Interests
 Transcripts
 Resume
 Letters of Recommendation
 Personal Statement
Letters of Recommendation
 Professors/Research mentors
 Seniority
 Science/healthcare experiences
 Letter-writers should know who you are:
 Personal level
 Teacher-student level
 Ask directly whether professor is willing to
write an excellent letter
 Discuss “outside factors” not mentioned in
the Personal Statement
 Have them support what you address in your
Personal Statement
Personal Statement I
 Tell your own story and sell it
 What’s unique and special about you
 Your dreams
 Why are you interested in science
 Your motivation? Why science??
 What you will bring to their program
 How you will benefit from their program
 **Read directions carefully**
 Distinguish yourself
 Concrete details/examples that set you apart as an individual
 Positive/confident outlook with personal experience
 Show your interest in their institution/research
 “Why this institution?”
Personal Statement II
 Logical flow of ideas
 Go in-depth
 Adopt theme/thesis (your hook)
 Use “Bookends”
 Connect your conclusion with thesis/theme at
beginning
 Get to the point – clear and concise
 Proofread/revise at least 3x
 Have others critique it
 Peers & non-bio-majors
 Professors
 REGINA MEISTER in the Learning Center 