Applying to REUs
Hello! Although I will not be applying in this upcoming REU cycle, I still wanted to make a post on the REU application process as someone who was accepted into 3 out of 6 of the REUs I applied to.
My academic stats (January/February 2025):
- School: Arizona State University (Very high research activity, PWI)
- Primary Major: Biology, general
- Class Standing: Freshman
- GPA: 4.0
REUs I applied to:
- Bigelow Institute of Ocean Sciences: Rejected
- UChicago Marine Biological Library: Rejected
- University of South Florida Making Waves: Rejected
- USC Wrigley Institute Ocean Sciences: Accepted
- Dauphin Island Sea Lab: Accepted, committed
- Mote Marine Laboratory: Accepted
I believe that there were 3 factors in my application that made it especially strong: my recommendation letters, specific research interests, and my story of resilience. But before I explain those factors, I will say that most REU applications are reviewed holistically, so a high GPA or past research experience alone will not greatly increase chances of an acceptance. In fact, the REU that I participated in did not even include student GPAs in their review process, and many REU interns have no research experience. There are many REUs that are geared towards students without research experience.
1) Recommendation Letters. Recommendation letters make or break an REU application. REUs are very competitive, and an applicant with a strong recommendation letter will almost always get chosen over an applicant with a weak one, regardless of academic standing or past research experience.
One of my recommendation letters was from my PI. I had no ongoing research projects with her, but I spent about 10 hours each week assisting graduate students in their projects, completing lab maintenance tasks (like autoclaving and cleaning), and washing glassware. This semester also included a lot of training on operating equipment, making artificial seawater and media, and maintaining cultures.
The second recommendation letter was from my supervisor at the Botanical Research Institute of Texas. I was very dedicated to my projects at BRIT, and I worked very hard each week. It is very important to have a strong relationship with your letter writer. They should know you well and have good things about you to write about.
2) Specific research interests. I only applied to REUs that had 1 or 2 mentors that researched exactly what I wanted to research, which was marine microbial ecology (specifically phytoplankton) and biogeochemistry. These research interests are not necessarily specific in the field of biological oceanography, but they are in a broader biology or marine science context. I made sure to be specific and focus my application on the research I wanted to pursue. This showed that I was knowledgeable about ongoing research in the field and gave potential mentors a better idea of how I could contribute to their lab. If this means tailoring each REU application to a potential mentor’s ongoing research, then I would recommend doing that.
3) Story of resilience/overcoming adversity or challenges. A good story of enduring hardship and coming out even stronger shows that you are able to persevere and grow when faced with challenges. Being involved in research means that you will deal with challenges, failure, and disappointment. In your story of overcoming hardship, include what you took from the experience. Here is an excerpt from the “what makes you unique” portion of an application that mentioned addressing obstacles to a traditional education.
“I missed two years of high school due to issues in my personal life and health problems. This negatively impacted my GPA and affected my academic standing. As someone who has always valued academics, it was upsetting to fail classes because of circumstances beyond my control. I began attending high school full time my junior year. That year, I began taking dual enrollment classes. I was struggling mentally during this time, and I was learning to find balance. I was not used to asking for help, but I met with my school counselor weekly and found ways to manage my time efficiently. Prioritizing my mental health alongside my academics helped me stay focused and resilient during challenging times. My high school experience was far from what I had anticipated, but it played a significant role in my personal growth. By my senior year of high school, my mental health had improved considerably. My hardships gave me clarity and helped me gain a deeper understanding of myself and my goals. They have motivated me to work harder and stay true to my passion and core values: curiosity, authenticity, and community. These experiences have shaped me into someone who is not only determined to achieve my goals, but also deeply committed to making a positive impact in both my personal and academic communities.”
You may not have a significant event that you overcame, but you probably do have an example of overcoming a challenge or solving a problem. If the application does not include a prompt about overcoming adversity/unique situations, then include it in your personal statement. It is highly dependent on the story itself, but a story of resilience should usually only take up a small portion of your personal statement (usually 1-2 paragraphs in a 2-page personal statement). Focus your personal statement on reflections/lessons from challenges (how they shaped you into the person you are today), research interests (specific), and personal and career goals (and the steps you’re taking to achieve them).
Another tip. If you have any disadvantages preventing you from participating in the research that you want to pursue, make sure to mention them in your personal statement. I mentioned living in a landlocked state while wanting to pursue oceanographic research. It could also be: not being from an R1, socioeconomic issues, a non-traditional path, etc.
I hope this was helpful. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions, and good luck! My email is at the bottom of this page.