Came across the Boston University RISE program while researching universities. Does anyone know what it entails and who it's for? Is it worth pursuing?
The Boston University Research in Science and Engineering (RISE) program is an intensive program where high school students participate in hands-on research work at BU under the supervision of already-established university research faculty. It is a wonderful opportunity for secondary school students interested in the sciences, engineering, and health fields to get a taste of what research at the collegiate level entails.
The RISE program is comprised of two tracks: the Internship Track and the Practicum Track. In the Internship Track, students work full-time in a professor's research lab (around 40 hours a week), either furthering the faculty member's ongoing research or executing an original project developed with the mentor's guidance.
In the Practicum Track, students engage in group research projects under the guidance of a BU instructor. Each project typically encompasses a team of five students. In recent years, projects have revolved around Computational Biology, Synthetic Biology, and Nanotechnology.
Admission to the program is competitive and requires an application, transcripts, and two recommendation letters. The cost to attend can be rather steep, coming up to approximately $5,350, excluding room and board costs. However, there are a limited number of scholarships available based on financial need and academic merit. In terms of whether it's worth pursuing, well, it largely depends on your personal academic and career interests. If you're passionate about exploring research in these areas more deeply and gaining hands-on experience while you're still in high school, the RISE program is definitely worth considering. Plus, it can give you a substantial boost when applying to colleges. However, given the costs attached, you might want to consider if the program fits into your financial situation, and explore financial aid or other comparable programs, if necessary.
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