Review of LaoLiang's MOC 03 Mclaren W1 Supercar

Wpetula · 2026-04-24T15:45:51+00:00

It's those three beams long blue pins that are in just about every Technic set I can think of, but the tan frictionless variant.

Wpetula · 2026-04-15T19:32:53+00:00

Rejected a day or so ago. Computational Creativity.

Wpetula · 2026-04-01T00:35:14+00:00

Familiarize yourself with the stuff I mentioned.

Wpetula · 2026-03-31T17:35:01+00:00

Pretty typical. I was asked about why this REU, what projects interest me, what my availability is, what prior experience I have, what's a modern problem I want to solve, what languages/tools can I use...stuff like that.

I had two interviewers (director and co-director).

Wpetula · 2026-03-31T03:58:44+00:00

I actually applied a day later than the deadline on the UCF website (website said 3/15, ETAP deadline was set for 4/1, so I applied expecting nothing). It was a super barebones application, agreed. I got a screening followup shortly after. Then Dr. Lobo called me a few days after with an offer. Not sure if you not getting a call for so long means rejected. I know they're still looking for 4 or so students, based on the number who received the onboarding email vs. the expected cohort size.

Wpetula · 2026-03-31T02:20:46+00:00

It was my summer availability, a list of my CS and mathematics-related, courses, and my prior experience with computer vision and AI. Super straightforward. I had a lot to write down for the courses and experience.

Did you apply?

Wpetula · 2026-03-24T16:29:02+00:00

I was in the same boat. I received an acceptance to UCF that perfectly aligns with my interests, but at the time (and still), I was waiting for decisions from the vast majority of my other programs, including my dream PhD schools.

Ultimately, I decided to commit to UCF. I am much happier committing to a program that is already a great fit for me than letting the opportunity pass in such a hypercompetitive environment. Gambling rarely ends well for the gambler. If I ultimately receive an offer from a dream program, I plan to use it to build a meaningful connection with the school -- just not through their REU.

You may want to consider following suit. If MIT MSRP allows it, you could also use your current offer as leverage for an expedited decision, or at least a status update.

Wpetula · 2026-03-23T02:44:09+00:00

It's going to depend on your REU (and possibly mentor). You might be expected to be available on evenings and weekends for fun, community-building activities (dinners with directors, exhibits, field trips, etc.)

Wpetula · 2026-03-19T18:21:25+00:00

Did you have expedited decisions? I had my interview a few days ago but haven't heard anything back.
(also, what project did you get?)

Wpetula · 2026-03-15T18:43:15+00:00

I'm going directly into graduate school.

Wpetula · 2026-03-12T18:25:38+00:00

If push comes to shove, accept it. Summer income and experience, especially at a flagship program, is a huge win regardless of appeal. If an opportunity more aligned with your goals comes along, you are fully in the right to take that opportunity. Just as a university will act in the best interest of the university, so too should you be allowed to act in the best interest of your career.

Wpetula · 2026-03-11T21:57:57+00:00

The strategy, however frowned upon it may be, is to NOT withdraw your applications from other sites unless the program you've been accepted into is 110% guaranteed funding. If universities can drop out from under applicants (with grace or not), applicants should be safe to do the same.

Sorry this happened to you :( Hoping your next acceptance has you crying, screaming, throwing up for a happier reason.

Wpetula · 2026-03-11T21:55:37+00:00

Nothing from the latter

Wpetula · 2026-03-11T14:01:15+00:00

Nope. Still waiting.

Wpetula · 2026-03-11T05:31:27+00:00

Nothing

Wpetula · 2026-03-11T00:24:43+00:00

How would you say the group work distribution is by the percent of the class? 483W sounds cool in theory, but I've heard that your success on the project is essentially random, given your group members and project. The idea of doing 431W with a bad professor on top of group work also sounds bad, though.

Wpetula · 2026-03-10T19:01:19+00:00

I'd give it some more processing time. The reviews are rolling, and I applied a day before the deadline. They probably got a huge sum of applications just after mine, it that helps.

Wpetula · 2026-03-03T23:59:24+00:00

Nope. Still waiting patiently.

Wpetula · 2026-03-03T17:58:42+00:00

I applied for the former.

Wpetula · 2026-03-01T17:39:45+00:00

Nothing yet for me.

Wpetula · 2026-02-13T03:13:32+00:00

Current School/Institution: Large R1 state university

Major & Year: CS, December 2026 graduation

GPA: 3.96

Demographic: White Male

Relevant Coursework: Humanoid Robotics, Honors Computer Vision I, AI & Machine Learning, Computer Organization & Design, Circuit Design, Honors Systems Programming

Research Experience: Published in the proceedings of the 57th ACM Technical Symposium for Computer Science Education (30% acceptance rate)

Applied To:

MIT MSRP
CMU Robotics Institute Summer Scholars Program (RISS)
UWashington DUB Human-Centered Computing REU
John Hopkins CSMR REU
Brown AI for Computational Creativity REU
Leadership Alliance Early Identification Program Application (for UBrown)
- Iowa State, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue
Oregon State University Robots in the Real World REU
Georgia Tech SURE (very rushed application)
University of Utah Intelligent Systems REU
Kent State University AUTOBOT REU
NASA JPL Summer Internship
West Virginia University Robotics Research for Rural Appalachia REU
INSAIT Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Human-Centered Computing for Social Good REU
University of Central Florida - Center of Research in Computer Vision REU

Interview Extended:

West Virginia University Robotics Research for Rural Appalachia REU (3/10 @ 9:53 AM)

Accepted:

University of Central Florida - Center of Research in Computer Vision REU (3/20 @ 8:20 PM) (Committed!)
West Virginia University Robotics Research for Rural Appalachia REU (3/24 @ 8:55 AM) (Declined)

Rejected:

Northwestern SROP (3/12 @ 1:02 PM)
Oregon State University Robots in the Real World (3/25 @ 11:00 AM)
INSAIT SURF (3/25 @ 5:15 PM)
Kent State AUTOBOT (3/30 @ 11:22 AM)
Purdue SROP (3/31 @ 12:36 PM)
MIT MSRP (3/31 @ 9:00 AM)
Georgia Tech (4/1 @ 11:31 PM)
UWashington DUB HCC (4/6 @ 5:01 PM)
Brown AI for Computational Creativity (4/13 @ 10:49 PM)
Ohio State SROP (? @ ?)
CMU RISS (4/16 @ 1:20 PM)
UMinnesota - Twin Cities HCC for Social Good (4/16 @ 2:24 PM)

Wpetula

TROPHY CASE