For those of you who missed the free pizza and excellent student presentations on October 11th at the REU info session, here's a run down of hints and tips for applying, followed by a summary of the four speakers.
Deadlines start December 16th (for CalTech's MURF program) through early March. All of the programs have yet to post their final application information for next year, but this is the trend observed from previous years. Start checking the NSF listing of schools that participate in the REU program (Physics REU Listing). They should all be up by mid November.
Start asking professors (preferably one you have a rapport with) in November. Typically, you're required to submit two or three recommendations. November may seem really early, but you want to give them plenty of time. Keep in mind that professors have other things to do, so e-mailing them the week before will probably not result in a positive letter of reference (if you get one at all). You should give your professor at least one month to write your letter.
It is usually best to request the letter in person, but in some circumstances an e-mail (with an in person followup) can be acceptable. Make sure you provide the professor with all the materials he/she needs - including any specific requirements from the REU, a copy of your resume, transcript, and a stamped, addressed, envelope.
Insiders tip: If you give the professor an envelope preprinted with the Physics Department return address (available from the main office on the 2nd floor), student services will provide the postage.
Most applications ask for a short paragraph describing you, your personal goals, and/or your specific research interests. It was suggested that you start by writing one solid personal statement, and then modify it slightly to fit the application requirements. Also, make sure you have a current resume in front of you so you can easily reference dates and facts regarding your experience.
When asked about future goals, make sure to not say "I don't know." What you write doesn't have to be super specific, but should include whether or not you plan on attending graduate school and what kind of work you'd like to get into after graduation (industry or academia), but not necessarily personal goals (i.e. get married and have children).
If you are interested in a specific area of research, it's recommended that you research what each specific REU site offers in that area. If you find a specific lab and professor that you'd like to work with, it can be helpful to mention that. Also, be sure that the areas of interest that you list are offered at each REU you apply for.
You should apply to multiple REUs. Even if you only want one in particular, there's a chance that you might not get in. The suggested number is between 5 and 10. That's enough to give you a good chance at one of them, but not so many that you spend hours upon hours filling out the applications.
Once you've been accepted, the university may or may not tell you the details of your research project until you get there. If this concerns you, you might want to consider that when deciding where you want to go.
Other factors that you may want to take into account include what the program offers in terms of parking (you may or may not be able to bring your car) and housing.
There is no parking fee.
Many universities use their REU program as recruitment for graduate school. If you know where you'd like to attend, it would be a good idea to apply there for an REU.
For more basic information, you can visit NSF's REU site.
