Learned an incredible amount and met amazing people doing awesome research in Natural Language Processing in a cool town.
What I wish was different
Less stress. The work could be very stressful when crunching to meet deadlines.
Advice
Communicate with your advisor frequently and read a book on how to conduct research. Have fun.
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Undergraduate Researcher
June - August 2019 • Colorado Springs, CO
What I liked
This was a phenomenal research experience put on by the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs Engineering and Applied Science Department and the National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates program. It is a long standing REU site and therefore was very well put together, with a plan laid out for the entire summer that included informative presentations, strict deadlines, and fun activities. The staff was extremely knowledgeable and provided help along every step of the way. I believe this is a perfect experience for any student thinking about graduate school or a career in research for their future.
What I wish was different
I wish that I had personally prepared myself for this experience a bit more before showing up to it. If I had done so, then I would've been able to hit the ground running and begin my project and work a bit quicker. For those considering a research-related internship or position, ironically enough, you should do your research about the topic. I don't believe anything as far as the program itself could've been changed for the better though. This was an all around great experience.
Advice
The piece of advice I'd share about this experience is don't be afraid to take risks. Sometimes you feel like you've bitten off more than you can chew, but you'll learn to adapt to the situations you're in. It's important to challenge yourself early on and with an experience like this, you'll get just that. A challenge. Keep your head up though and don't be afraid to ask for help along the way.
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Summer Researcher
May - August 2018 • Colorado Springs, CO
What I liked
I enjoyed working in a small REU program. There was about ten of us total and we spent a lot of time both doing research together and just hanging out.
What I wish was different
Nothing important comes to mind.
Advice
If you are vaguely considering a PhD, I strongly recommend doing summer research. Research during the school year will involve research as a secondary focus to your classes. Summer research allows you to focus on research which is important as it is a central part of a PhD program.
