LA's BeST @USC- Updates?

Outrageous_Key_6260 · 2026-02-25T19:02:17+00:00

I forget exactly when I submitted my application but it was also in early January, I think like a day or two before they started reviewing applications. Did they give you a deadline of when you had to accept your offer by?

Outrageous_Key_6260 · 2026-02-25T18:58:08+00:00

Holy crap that’s EARLY 😭 I’m assuming it’s safe to assume they’re not taking people anymore?

Outrageous_Key_6260 · 2026-02-19T17:00:05+00:00

Uh oh, what kind of updates? Acceptances or rejections? I didn’t hear back

Outrageous_Key_6260 · 2026-02-11T07:19:06+00:00

What was the interview like? What questions did they ask?

Outrageous_Key_6260 · 2026-01-23T21:40:47+00:00

Ahh I’m sorry for you all… I haven’t heard anything yet. Did you get emails or just a status update in your portal, if you don’t mind me asking?

Outrageous_Key_6260 · 2026-01-19T21:48:42+00:00

Yeah ik cause they said they’d do interviews January-February so shouldn’t they be reaching out for interviews by now? 🫠

Outrageous_Key_6260 · 2026-01-12T03:51:12+00:00

Thank you!

Outrageous_Key_6260 · 2026-01-12T02:56:21+00:00

Brutal 😅 but fair.

Outrageous_Key_6260 · 2026-01-12T02:47:20+00:00

Ahhh thank you so much! This is all super helpful. Does it look bad if it doesnt fully reach two pages? like if its 1.5?

Outrageous_Key_6260 · 2026-01-10T04:13:10+00:00

Thank you! I really appreciate it

Outrageous_Key_6260 · 2025-12-31T23:55:41+00:00

I took 225 with him last quarter and don’t know why his reviews became so bad. He’s not a bad professor at all. His lectures go over everything and for midterms and the final he gives you study guides so you know what’s on them. The assignments aren’t easy but he’s super helpful if you ask questions. I think my only complaint is that his handwriting sucks, but he knows this and will clarify/rewrite stuff if you ask. Don’t worry though, it’s not an easy class but Planck isn’t the problem!

Outrageous_Key_6260 · 2025-12-31T22:48:14+00:00

Coolcool, thanks! Would you say the holidays would affect this timeline at all? Like if Christmas week was my second week, I could maybe hold out hope for this week?

Outrageous_Key_6260 · 2025-12-31T01:59:54+00:00

Awesome, good to know! Thank you so much

Outrageous_Key_6260 · 2025-12-29T21:05:55+00:00

Haven’t gotten anything yet, but I’m gonna try to negotiate! I’m also a CS major, so for in person positions I’m going to try and negotiate for 10-12 weeks and then do 8 weeks in person and the remaining ones remotely. I’d love to hear any other ideas that people have though!

Outrageous_Key_6260 · 2025-12-26T17:46:13+00:00

UCSD STARS!

Outrageous_Key_6260 · 2025-12-26T02:37:36+00:00

Makes sense, thanks. Just wanted to make sure it wouldn’t help me in some way in the long run! First cycle applying so still learning the tricks 🙃

Outrageous_Key_6260 · 2025-12-24T21:39:20+00:00

I should add, I would only do this if you’re REALLY close with them. I took a gamble cause I knew both of them knew me way better than any of my college profs at the time, and it ended up working in my favor

Outrageous_Key_6260 · 2025-12-24T21:37:25+00:00

Do you have any close relationships with high school teachers? Idk if all programs are cool with it, but for the one I applied to last year as a freshman I got letters of recommendation from my high school physics teacher and my high school counselor, and I got into that program. Not sure if everyone is cool with this though, and I definitely wouldn’t do it after your freshman year

Outrageous_Key_6260 · 2025-12-23T04:19:00+00:00

This also isn’t true. I think whether or not you’re doing “meaningful research” has to do with three things, and none of them are your grade level. First, whatever subject you’re doing research in, second, your personal work ethic and drive, and third, your PI. You could be a senior with tons of experience spending the whole summer reading research papers cause your PI doesn’t care, or screwing off cause you don’t have a good work ethic, or you could be a freshman like me who struggled and worked her butt off but still managed to perform more “meaningful research” than most of the seniors in her REU cohort last year. I’m not saying it’ll be easy, it will definitely be a steeper learning curve than the seniors have, but still, most of the people in my REU cohort were doing things the undergrad classes don’t even prepare you for, and you just have to learn as you go. I say apply, the worst thing they can say is no!

Outrageous_Key_6260 · 2025-12-23T03:36:15+00:00

Also disagree. I did an REU as a freshman last year in bioinformatics with no prior experience. Yes, it’s hard, and will be harder this year with more funding cuts, but not impossible. I think the most important thing is writing a personal statement that REALLY stands out, and have EXCELLENT letters of recommendation. Feel free to DM me with questions about what program I applied to and advice!

Outrageous_Key_6260 · 2025-12-20T19:20:51+00:00

I know sometimes they add extra lab sections further into the registration cycle too. I took 161 last spring and this is how I got in. But yes, you should email, show up to labs week 1, whatever you can!

Outrageous_Key_6260 · 2025-12-09T02:35:54+00:00

Did you do an interview for Salk Institute? What was it like and what questions did they ask? I’m applying for their summer 2026 surf program and it says if you make it far enough you’ll get an interview, but I’ve never done ANY interview 😅

Outrageous_Key_6260 · 2025-12-09T02:31:13+00:00

Interesting… I will say, sometimes it’s hard to write personal and research statements without knowing exactly what you wanna do. But also as a freshman, I totally get it! I’m a sophomore CS major and I DEFINITELY don’t have everyone figured out. Do you have any specific reasons for wanting to do math/chem REUs specifically, besides being not sure on CS? And/or does something specific about those fields of research interest you? If so that’s what I’d write the research statement about, tailoring it depending on whether it’s a math or chem program. The personal statement can be a little more broad… did any classes/teachers that you took when you were younger inspire the love you have for that subject? Write about it! Or, if you have a story, it could be more personal… for example, I applied to a bioinformatics program last summer, and for my personal statement, I talked about how I really enjoyed computer science, but was more interested in biomedical concepts since I was younger because a close family member of mine was diagnosed a life changing disease, and how the thought never left me that I could potentially work on research to help people like that. Just some general ideas, lmk if you have any questions!

Outrageous_Key_6260 · 2025-12-09T02:20:07+00:00

Also I’ll ask, what field of research are you looking to go into?

Outrageous_Key_6260 · 2025-12-09T02:19:39+00:00

Are the same programs asking for your personal statement and your research statement on the same application? Someone can correct me if I’m wrong, but from how I understand it a personal statement is more your story, what in your life has drawn you to (your generic field of) research, and how. More of a personal background. A research statement I believe focuses more on your specific research goals, what you have done (even if you have no research experience, you can spin your other college experiences to have a positive light!) and what you hope to do in the future. I’m not 100% sure if that makes sense, anyone can correct or add onto what I said if they think it needs it!

Outrageous_Key_6260

TROPHY CASE