2020 REU

[cauchysequence]

Anybody applying to REU programs this year?

[complexcat]

Yeah I sent in my first related application to the Fields Undergraduate Summer Research Program.

[complexcat]

Does anybody know how the FUSRP program compares to other REU programs (such as DIMACS, UVA)? I've been asked to accept/decline an offer before the REU common reply date.

[Cyclicduck]

Does anybody know how the FUSRP program compares to other REU programs (such as DIMACS, UVA)? I've been asked to accept/decline an offer before the REU common reply date.

In terms of pure math, it is very bad. This is based off of the testimony of a friend I trust who did the program in 2018. Project 4 (involving CSFs) is particularly bad, as the professor of the project was incompetent even in the basic algebra and representation theory used to study this subject seriously. I read the paper they wrote, which got rejected from all journals, and there were only experimental results and one or two trivial propositions that took a few lines to prove. I don't know details about other pure math projects but from my friend's impressions they weren't particularly impressive either.

Maybe the applied projects are better. But the fact that they want you to reply so early should tell you something. I would definitely ask for an extension.

[homotopysphere]

Has anyone heard back yet?

[complexcat]

Does anybody know how the FUSRP program compares to other REU programs (such as DIMACS, UVA)? I've been asked to accept/decline an offer before the REU common reply date.

In terms of pure math, it is very bad. This is based off of the testimony of a friend I trust who did the program in 2018. Project 4 (involving CSFs) is particularly bad, as the professor of the project was incompetent even in the basic algebra and representation theory used to study this subject seriously. I read the paper they wrote, which got rejected from all journals, and there were only experimental results and one or two trivial propositions that took a few lines to prove. I don't know details about other pure math projects but from my friend's impressions they weren't particularly impressive either.

Maybe the applied projects are better. But the fact that they want you to reply so early should tell you something. I would definitely ask for an extension.

Do you think this had a lot to do with that professor? The mentor for the (pure math) group I've been invited to seems extremely qualified, and he's new this year. I plan to ask for an extension.

[complexcat]

Has anyone heard back yet?

I know SMALL has started making first-round offers, and I think most programs (unless they have late deadlines) will make first offers during the last week of February or first week of March. The general trend I have seen is that competitive programs tend to make offers early on and some less competitive programs will start making offers later.

[Cyclicduck]

Does anybody know how the FUSRP program compares to other REU programs (such as DIMACS, UVA)? I've been asked to accept/decline an offer before the REU common reply date.

In terms of pure math, it is very bad. This is based off of the testimony of a friend I trust who did the program in 2018. Project 4 (involving CSFs) is particularly bad, as the professor of the project was incompetent even in the basic algebra and representation theory used to study this subject seriously. I read the paper they wrote, which got rejected from all journals, and there were only experimental results and one or two trivial propositions that took a few lines to prove. I don't know details about other pure math projects but from my friend's impressions they weren't particularly impressive either.

Maybe the applied projects are better. But the fact that they want you to reply so early should tell you something. I would definitely ask for an extension.

Do you think this had a lot to do with that professor? The mentor for the (pure math) group I've been invited to seems extremely qualified, and he's new this year. I plan to ask for an extension.

For sure it had to do with the professor. I would still guess that the overall level of your peers would be less than what you would find at a standard REU though.

[homotopysphere]

Has anyone heard back yet?

I know SMALL has started making first-round offers, and I think most programs (unless they have late deadlines) will make first offers during the last week of February or first week of March. The general trend I have seen is that competitive programs tend to make offers early on and some less competitive programs will start making offers later.

Oh, thanks. Do you know if all SMALL groups make offers at the same time, or are they somewhat independent?

[complexcat]

In terms of pure math, it is very bad. This is based off of the testimony of a friend I trust who did the program in 2018. Project 4 (involving CSFs) is particularly bad, as the professor of the project was incompetent even in the basic algebra and representation theory used to study this subject seriously. I read the paper they wrote, which got rejected from all journals, and there were only experimental results and one or two trivial propositions that took a few lines to prove. I don't know details about other pure math projects but from my friend's impressions they weren't particularly impressive either.

Maybe the applied projects are better. But the fact that they want you to reply so early should tell you something. I would definitely ask for an extension.

Do you think this had a lot to do with that professor? The mentor for the (pure math) group I've been invited to seems extremely qualified, and he's new this year. I plan to ask for an extension.

For sure it had to do with the professor. I would still guess that the overall level of your peers would be less than what you would find at a standard REU though.

It's not obvious to me why that would be the case.

[complexcat]

Has anyone heard back yet?

I know SMALL has started making first-round offers, and I think most programs (unless they have late deadlines) will make first offers during the last week of February or first week of March. The general trend I have seen is that competitive programs tend to make offers early on and some less competitive programs will start making offers later.

Oh, thanks. Do you know if all SMALL groups make offers at the same time, or are they somewhat independent?

Sorry, I have no idea.

[Cyclicduck]

Do you think this had a lot to do with that professor? The mentor for the (pure math) group I've been invited to seems extremely qualified, and he's new this year. I plan to ask for an extension.

For sure it had to do with the professor. I would still guess that the overall level of your peers would be less than what you would find at a standard REU though.

It's not obvious to me why that would be the case.

I'm basing it off of what my friend told me of the program. Also, this program has not built up any sort of a reputation despite running for a while, and in many cases offers the same projects year-to-year. The fact that they include something like Project 4 is also quite a bad sign.

[homotopysphere]

I emailed Dr. Adams, the leader of the SMALL Knot Theory group. He said that one round of offers has gone out, but that there will be more offers made in a while. There's a short list, but they didn't notify people on the shortlist.

[cokuhn]

I know that a shortlist was made for the SMALL Number Theory & Probability REU, and those on the shortlist received notification of this.

[complexcat]

For sure it had to do with the professor. I would still guess that the overall level of your peers would be less than what you would find at a standard REU though.

It's not obvious to me why that would be the case.

I'm basing it off of what my friend told me of the program. Also, this program has not built up any sort of a reputation despite running for a while, and in many cases offers the same projects year-to-year. The fact that they include something like Project 4 is also quite a bad sign.

This is a fair point. It seems like a decent amount of Goldwater Scholars have gone to the program though. (Edited for a typo.)

[hctep]

It seems like UVA sent out offers yesterday. They also sent emails to people on the waiting list this morning.

[mathmjr]

Hi Everyone,
I read in a previous year that Duluth selects its team way before the 2/14 deadline. Is this true? Has anyone heard from Duluth yet? Thank you...

[complexcat]

Hi Everyone,
I read in a previous year that Duluth selects its team way before the 2/14 deadline. Is this true? Has anyone heard from Duluth yet? Thank you...

I would be surprised if this was the case. I doubt for any REU that the people most fit for the program are going to apply early enough for a system like that to be effective. I think very competitive REU's just tend to send out offers early because they are competing among themselves for a certain pool of students.

[Cyclicduck]

Hi Everyone,
I read in a previous year that Duluth selects its team way before the 2/14 deadline. Is this true? Has anyone heard from Duluth yet? Thank you...

Before the deadline? Definitely not, Joe wouldn't do that...

[analysister]

I know that a shortlist was made for the SMALL Number Theory & Probability REU, and those on the shortlist received notification of this.

SMALL definitely makes decisions group by group, so it is entirely possible that some groups have made a round of offers and some have not.

Echoing what is above, if you applied for NT&P and didn't get an email about the short list, it is a no.

[ehaithc95]

Anyone know any (decently prestigious) REUs/other research programs that still have applications open? Currently abroad at BSM and had a lot of trouble getting into contact with one of my letter writers (he submitted the letter yesterday after I asked him to submit it three weeks ago lol). Tried to apply to places anyway and email the coordinators to explain but got rejected everywhere because I was missing a letter. Trying to do something in graph theory/combinatorics/number theory.

[lettuce]

Has anyone heard from the following REUs: Uchicago, Texas A&M, Clemson, or Oregon State?

[hctep]

Has anyone heard from the following REUs: Uchicago, Texas A&M, Clemson, or Oregon State?

Based on their website, UChicago will send out acceptance (and maybe waitlist) letters by e-mail tomorrow (Feb 21st).

[complexcat]

Anyone know any (decently prestigious) REUs/other research programs that still have applications open? Currently abroad at BSM and had a lot of trouble getting into contact with one of my letter writers (he submitted the letter yesterday after I asked him to submit it three weeks ago lol). Tried to apply to places anyway and email the coordinators to explain but got rejected everywhere because I was missing a letter. Trying to do something in graph theory/combinatorics/number theory.

That's a really unfortunate situation... Here are some programs that I had written down with later deadlines. I haven't double checked any of these deadlines, so definitely fact check me ASAP.

SUMaR (my impression was that they have rolling admission)
UConn
Auburn
UMich Dearborn (quick, I think the deadline is today! 2/21)
Cornell
Indiana University

MORE IMPORTANTLY: I highly recommend going to mathprograms.org > View Programs > sort by deadline. You'll get a much more complete list compared to mine this way.

[notaiscrim]

Has anyone heard from the following REUs: Uchicago, Texas A&M, Clemson, or Oregon State?

Based on their website, UChicago will send out acceptance (and maybe waitlist) letters by e-mail tomorrow (Feb 21st).

Has anyone heard back from UChicago or PCMI? I can't find where UChicago said that they'll get back to us Feb 21, but the PCMI said they'll send out answers by Feb 22.

[homotopysphere]

Has anyone heard from the following REUs: Uchicago, Texas A&M, Clemson, or Oregon State?

Based on their website, UChicago will send out acceptance (and maybe waitlist) letters by e-mail tomorrow (Feb 21st).

Has anyone heard back from UChicago or PCMI? I can't find where UChicago said that they'll get back to us Feb 21, but the PCMI said they'll send out answers by Feb 22.

I haven't heard back from UChicago. To see Feb 21, go on the website and read the "Announcement and Description of the Program" document. It's in there. Last year, they sent out rejections the same day as acceptances (I think). As for PCMI, they were late last year and had to move the decision day back by something like four days. If you haven't heard back, it doesn't necessarily mean anything.

[notaiscrim]

I haven't heard back from UChicago. To see Feb 21, go on the website and read the "Announcement and Description of the Program" document. It's in there. Last year, they sent out rejections the same day as acceptances (I think). As for PCMI, they were late last year and had to move the decision day back by something like four days. If you haven't heard back, it doesn't necessarily mean anything.

Thanks!

[REU2020]

Has anyone heard from the following REUs: Uchicago, Texas A&M, Clemson, or Oregon State?

Based on their website, UChicago will send out acceptance (and maybe waitlist) letters by e-mail tomorrow (Feb 21st).

Has anyone heard back from UChicago or PCMI? I can't find where UChicago said that they'll get back to us Feb 21, but the PCMI said they'll send out answers by Feb 22.

UChicago replied late both of the past two years.

Anyone heard from Michigan?

[homotopysphere]

UChicago replied late both of the past two years.

Anyone heard from Michigan?

Michigan said it hopes to have decisions finalized by mid-March.

[openballs]

How late was UChicago in the past?

[PicoHenries]

Has anyone heard from the following REUs: Uchicago, Texas A&M, Clemson, or Oregon State?

I was accepted into the Texas A&M Probability and Algebra group. Annoyingly they want a response by March 1st though.

[Bolbbalgan4 Bom]

Someone on top said that UVA has already sent out acceptances -- was that just for the number theory group or the whole thing? I applied to the topology group and haven't heard anything yet. I'm also wondering if anyone has heard back from any analysis or topology groups yet since those were the ones I applied to.

[homotopysphere]

Someone on top said that UVA has already sent out acceptances -- was that just for the number theory group or the whole thing? I applied to the topology group and haven't heard anything yet. I'm also wondering if anyone has heard back from any analysis or topology groups yet since those were the ones I applied to.

UVA said they are doing groups separately - yes number theory has already come out, but topology is moving slower. They hope for them to come out by the end of the month.

[Bolbbalgan4 Bom]

Someone on top said that UVA has already sent out acceptances -- was that just for the number theory group or the whole thing? I applied to the topology group and haven't heard anything yet. I'm also wondering if anyone has heard back from any analysis or topology groups yet since those were the ones I applied to.

UVA said they are doing groups separately - yes number theory has already come out, but topology is moving slower. They hope for them to come out by the end of the month.

Also, do you happen to know if this is the first UVA topology REU group? I know Ken Ono moved his number theory group from Emory to UVA this year, and the only information on past REUs on the UVA site is all number theory.

[homotopysphere]

Also, do you happen to know if this is the first UVA topology REU group? I know Ken Ono moved his number theory group from Emory to UVA this year, and the only information on past REUs on the UVA site is all number theory.

Sorry, no idea.

[lettuce]

Has anyone heard anything from UChicago...? I do not believe they were this late last year.

[hctep]

I received a rejection letter from UChicago 2 hours ago.

[mathmjr]

May I ask a couple protocol questions?
1. I read that the deadline to accept an REU is in March. But is it frowned upon to wait to accept an offer?

2. If I accept an offer should I withdraw other REU applications? If I withdraw an application from MathPrograms.org, will it notify the REUs I applied to or should I email the professors directly?

[analysister]

May I ask a couple protocol questions?
1. I read that the deadline to accept an REU is in March. But is it frowned upon to wait to accept an offer?

2. If I accept an offer should I withdraw other REU applications? If I withdraw an application from MathPrograms.org, will it notify the REUs I applied to or should I email the professors directly?

1. Programs will usually tell you when they need to hear by. If you are still waiting on other programs that you would consider, it is not frowned upon to wait until that date, but I would let them know ASAP if you'd made your decision.

Also, if that deadline is like a week away and you haven't heard from other programs, then I would recommend reaching out to the contact person for the REUs and asking. In general a "Dear Dr. fghfkghfkdg, I am reaching out to inquire on the timeline of the SHKFS REU application process. I am extremely interested in your program, but have an alternative offer that I must respond to by 4/20. Any clarification you can provide here would be great. Best, Analysister"
They might get back to you and say "Yeah its a no from me" or that they've made the first round of offers and do not expect to make many more, but I also know someone who got into SMALL after sending essentially the same email.

2. I never withdrew, but if you want to take the time to do so that is polite. REU applications aren't as formal as other things, so it isn't really necessary, just decline quickly if you get accepted anywhere afterwards.

[deviant_lime]

Hi this is my first time applying for math REUs so sorry if I'm not up to date on what normally happens. So far I have received an acceptance from Occidental for the number theory REU which I'm really excited about. I was just curious about whether it is normal to wait for other results and then accept or if it's bad form to wait until the decision deadline. I don't want to make a bad impression but I'm just not sure how these things work.

Additionally, has anyone heard anything about the SMALLS tropical geometry group?

[deviant_lime]

Also is it customary to email the programs directly to receive your results? I haven't heard back from any except the one I was accepted to so I'm not sure how to know which ones I have been rejected from already.

[jjmb11]

Also is it customary to email the programs directly to receive your results? I haven't heard back from any except the one I was accepted to so I'm not sure how to know which ones I have been rejected from already.

I would give it a bit more time, since I expect this upcoming week will probably bring some more news. Also, you have as long as the program you've been accepted to has given you to respond. If you want to use that time to consider your options, I would just give the program a heads up about that and then let them know as soon as you make your decision. Congrats on your acceptance!!

[Bolbbalgan4 Bom]

Hi this is my first time applying for math REUs so sorry if I'm not up to date on what normally happens. So far I have received an acceptance from Occidental for the number theory REU which I'm really excited about. I was just curious about whether it is normal to wait for other results and then accept or if it's bad form to wait until the decision deadline. I don't want to make a bad impression but I'm just not sure how these things work.

Additionally, has anyone heard anything about the SMALLS tropical geometry group?

Hi, might I know when you submitted the application for Occidental? I also applied, but for their positional game theory group, and haven't heard anything back yet. I'm surprised Occidental was so soon, since the applications just closed two days ago on 2/21.

[deviant_lime]

.

[deviant_lime]

Hi this is my first time applying for math REUs so sorry if I'm not up to date on what normally happens. So far I have received an acceptance from Occidental for the number theory REU which I'm really excited about. I was just curious about whether it is normal to wait for other results and then accept or if it's bad form to wait until the decision deadline. I don't want to make a bad impression but I'm just not sure how these things work.

Additionally, has anyone heard anything about the SMALLS tropical geometry group?

Hi, might I know when you submitted the application for Occidental? I also applied, but for their positional game theory group, and haven't heard anything back yet. I'm surprised Occidental was so soon, since the applications just closed two days ago on 2/21.

I only applied a couple days before the deadline and I was shocked and quite excited to hear back so soon! Unfortunately, I don't know anything about their other groups timeline as I received an email directly from the number theory group leader. Good luck with your application!!

[notaiscrim]

I only applied a couple days before the deadline and I was shocked and quite excited to hear back so soon! Unfortunately, I don't know anything about their other groups timeline as I received an email directly from the number theory group leader. Good luck with your application!!

Congrats on your acceptance! Applied to the number theory @Occidental too, do you know if they have any spots left? Also has anyone heard back from the Algebraic Geometry group at SMALL?

[deviant_lime]

I only applied a couple days before the deadline and I was shocked and quite excited to hear back so soon! Unfortunately, I don't know anything about their other groups timeline as I received an email directly from the number theory group leader. Good luck with your application!!

Congrats on your acceptance! Applied to the number theory @Occidental too, do you know if they have any spots left? Also has anyone heard back from the Algebraic Geometry group at SMALL?

Thanks! I'm not sure about how many spots remain. The email said there were 3 total spots for the number theory group and I'm not sure about the decisions of the other two accepted students.

[hctep]

I just got accepted to PCMI/USS. It seems like they selected about 40 students.

[hermy448]

I just got accepted to PCMI/USS. It seems like they selected about 40 students.

I also got accepted to PCMI just now! Congrats! Still dying to hear back from REUs though!

If anyone heard from:
CSUSB, MSRI, UCSB, Kent State, Baruch, Rose-Hulman let me know! I know someone on reddit got into the Kent State one but I’m hoping they’re still rolling out acceptances?

[bmuent1]

I've gotten accepted into the REUs at KSU and the College of William and Mary and rejected from Duluth and University of Chicago. Has anyone heard back from UCSB yet?