How to Apply for 2024 Summer REU Program

• Check the Eligibility and Practical Details paragraphs on our REU program home page. In particular, are our start and end dates, which unfortunately are not flexible, consistent with the term or quarter schedule at your university?
• Review the list of Summer 2024 REU Projects.  Though these specific projects are not cast in stone, most of them will be assigned to REU students more or less as described.  The project assignment will take into consideration applicants' interests in specific projects.  
• Criteria for selection include grasp of basic physics and mathematics, independence, ability to learn quickly and work with peers and mentors, initiative, motivation, responsibility, organizational and communication skills, and suitability for the research project (e.g., potential in hands-on laboratory skills, programming skills, etc). Participants come primarily from physics, astronomy, and mathematics majors, have outstanding faculty recommendations, and have strong academical records or potential. Like many other REU programs, ours is over-subscribed by an order of magnitude.

• Fill out and submit the on-line application form. Make sure to follow the guideline to write your personal statement.
• Within the application form, submit electronically an unofficial college transcript that includes your Fall 2023 final grades. If you are selected to participate in this program, you will be asked to submit an official copy of your transcript prior to May 1, 2024.
• Submit recommendations by two faculty members who have agreed to write recommendations on your behalf. Provide this link http://solar.physics.montana.edu/reu/faculty_recommendation.html to your references who should submit their recommendations on-line before the application close date.

The last day for receipt of all items is February 23. The on-line application form and recommendation form should be submitted by midnight (23:59) Mountain Standard Time on February, 23 when the site will be closed.

We will start to send out our first offers by e-mail in the last week of February, 2024, though it may be a few weeks before our list of REU participants is finalized.   N.B.:  If you receive an offer, you will be expected to either accept or decline by March 20. Extensions of this deadline are not possible, so it will be useful for you to have a clear idea of your priorities, and a realistic grasp of your opportunities, among the programs to which you have applied. We notify all applicants when our program is full.