ELIGIBILITY
  • All applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents. (NSF requirement)
  • Applicants must be enrolled at one of the following community colleges:
    • Citrus College
    • Glendale Community College
    • Mt. San Antonio College
    • Pasadena City College, or
    • Rio Hondo Community College

  • Women, minorities, re-entry students, and other students from under-represented groups are especially welcome to apply.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE/CHECKLIST
  1. MANDATORY! Attend the informational session at 5:00pm on Thursday December 11, 2008 at Oak Crest. To help us plan better, please email reu@oak-crest.org to let us know that you will be attending. If you are unable to attend but are interested in applying to the REU program, you should let us know, as well.

  2. Read about Oak Crest's REU research projects in detail and select three that would be of interest to you. There is a space on the application form to note your choices. Note: letting us know your preferences does not guarantee that you will be assigned one of your selected projects to write about for your research proposal. It also does not guarantee that you will be assigned a particular project if you are accepted into the REU program. Projects are assigned on a case-by-case basis after discussion with the project mentors.

  3. Email your completed Application Form as a Microsoft Word document or a PDF by 11:59pm on Friday January 9, 2009. The application form can be downloaded in Microsoft Word format using the link at the bottom of this page. If your grades are not what you would like them to be yet, use the personal statement to explain why and what you plan to do to raise your grades in the future--help the Review Committe to understand your situation honestly. Regardless of whether your grades are fantastic or not yet fantastic, don't be shy about using the personal statements to describe your strengths, describe your reasons for wanting to conduct independent research at this stage of your career, and to make a strong case for yourself as an applicant. Consider this application one more opportunity to practice for the many other applications that you will be writing throughout your career!

  4. Ask one recommending professor to submit a Recommendation Form for you. Ask a science professor who has experienced at least one full semester of your capabilities as a student in community college. The deadline for receipt of recommendation forms is also January 9, 2009. Be courteous: give your professor plenty of time to write and submit your recommendation (minimum two weeks!) The recommendation form can be downloaded in Microsoft Word format using the link at the bottom of this page. The recommendation form should be emailed to Sherry Tsai at reu@oak-crest.org directly by the recommending professor.

  5. DO NOT WAIT TO DO THIS STEP! You do not have to submit your formal application form before doing this step--you may do this at the same time: Make an appointment to visit Oak Crest in person and meet with potential mentors of interest. During your one-on-one meetings, you will learn more about the projects and you will learn how to write your required research proposal. You will write and submit one research proposal (not three) after discussing the topic with the mentor whom you choose or are assigned. Give yourself AT LEAST THREE WEEKS!

  6. Submit your research proposal by 11:59pm on January 9, 2009.

    IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ALONG THE WAY, PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO WRITE TO Sherry Tsai at reu@oak-crest.org

DEADLINES

The following are all due on January 9, 2009 at 11:59pm:

  • Application Form
  • Recommendation Form
  • Official Transcript
  • Research Proposal

The Application Form and Recommendation Form can be downloaded via the links below.  The completed forms and the Research Proposal should be emailed to reu@oak-crest.org.  Official transcripts should be sent directly to Sherry Tsai at:

Oak Crest Institute of Science
2275 E. Foothill Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91107