Apply to the Program – 2024 REU Application

2024 Program

May 29 – August 1, 2024

For strongest consideration, application materials should be received by February 5, 2024

Preparing your application for the 2024 Airborne Connections REU

Your application includes: Personal information; personal statements; a transcript; and two reference letters.

Personal Information will be requested on the application form. You do not have to identify a specific project, but you may want to look at the Projects page to see if any are more interesting to you.

Personal Statements

Please limit your response to each question to 250 words or fewer.

Question 1: What motivates your interest in the REU program, and how do you believe participating will contribute to your personal and professional growth?

Your statement should explain why you want to participate in the REU program, what you hope to learn, and how this research experience will help you achieve your academic and career goals. You might discuss research interests, and scientific or societal questions you are curious about.

Question 2: Where do you shine; what are you better at than most other people you know?

There are many ways of showing excellence, and we are looking for a good mix of students rather than a single profile. What accomplishments are you especially proud of outside of your academic record? What do you think they say about you?

Question 3: Research can be full of frustration. What experiences do you have that demonstrate your ability to overcome adversity?

Research can be very rewarding, but also very challenging.  Please describe a major challenge you have encountered, how it affected you, how you overcame it, and what you learned about yourself and others as a result of the experience. (This experience can come from any aspect of your life; it does not need to be related to academics.)

Question 4: Is there anything else you would like us to know about you or your goals for participating in the program?

We recognize that everyone and every situation is more complex than what can be captured in a few basic questions. We wanted to provide you with an opportunity to share anything additional with us.

Question 5: Is there anything that might prevent you from participating in the program if you were offered a place?

We understand that committing 10 weeks to participate in the REU program has the potential to be challenging for some people. We would appreciate understanding any potential scheduling conflicts, personal commitments, or other logistical issues that might imped your ability to participate in the program. This will allow the team to brainstorm potential options for addressing these challenges. This answer will not factor into how we consider your application, but if we choose you for the program, we would like an opportunity to discuss your limiting factors with you.

Transcripts

Please provide unofficial transcripts of all your college coursework. (Please don’t send high school transcripts.) If you are accepted, we will ask for an official transcript from your major institution. 

Reference Letters

On the application, you should enter the names of two people who will write reference letters for you.

At least one of these people should have some knowledge of your performance in an academic setting, especially classrooms and laboratories. We encourage you to include people who are familiar with you outside of a classroom setting – perhaps someone who can speak about “Where do you shine?”

Please have your references email their letters to REU-Air@colostate.edu with the subject line “REU Reference for [your name].” You might tell them that their letters will be stronger if they can speak about your problem-solving abilities, independence, ability to work with others, and dedication to work that improves people’s lives and surroundings.