FAQ

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For Students

When is the application deadline?

February 10th, 2012, at midnight, Pacific Time.

Who is eligible to participate?

  • Citizens and permanent residents of the U.S.
  • Full-time students who are generally sophomores or juniors in college.
  • Students who are majoring in math, physics, geology, geophysics, physical geography, or closely related topics.
  • A GPA of 3.0 or higher is generally expected but not required.
  • Students from populations that are underrepresented in the Earth sciences are strongly encouraged to apply.

I'm a senior and plan to attend graduate school this fall. Can I still apply?

Yes. Although students are usually accepted into the program during their sophomore or junior year, graduating seniors will be considered. One of the main goals of the internship is to give undergraduate students exposure to doing scientific research, to inspire them to go to graduate school, and to help them as they prepare to apply for graduate school.

Is biology okay as a major?

If the student has course experience in math, physics, geology, or physical geography, they will be considered for the program and should consider applying. The applicant must be willing to consider doing a research project that uses biology in relation to geology. For example, a project might focus on studying plant fossils, or the spatial relationship between plant diversity and underlying bedrock type.

I am interested in atmospheric sciences or atmospheric-ocean interactions. Is this the internship for me?

Please visit our partner internship program, SOARS, which has opportunities in the atmospheric sciences and atmospheric-ocean interactions. This will be a better match for you. RESESS does match students up with projects on climate change records ice core records, glacier retreat patterns, hurricane trends, and more.

When is the summer internship program?

The program starts May 21 and runs until August 4th, 2012.

How many summers can I participate in this program?

In general, interns may participate in the program for about two summers.

Is there help with travel costs?

Travel to Boulder, CO, is paid for and arranged by RESESS.

Is there help with housing?

Housing is provided for the summer. Typically interns will share beautiful two-bedroom apartments with another RESESS intern. Interns from our partner program, SOARS, also reside in the same apartment complex.

Will I get paid for my work?

Yes. Interns are paid a competitive salary full-time (40 hours per week) for eleven weeks of the summer. The salary is approximately $600/week for 11 weeks.

Where will I do my research?

In their first summer, interns work closely with a scientist at one of: (1) the University of Colorado at Boulder, (2) the U.S. Geological Survey, (3) UNAVCO, or (4) another local organization. One day a week is dedicated to RESESS activities and takes place at UNAVCO in Boulder.

Will I get to do research on a topic I'm interested in?

Most likely, yes. One of the unique aspects to RESESS is that we do our best to find a project that matches the skills and interests of the student. Each student has their own project which will be the focus o their work, writing, and presentations over the summer. Examples of topics of focus include: earthquakes, plate tectonics, glaciers, water quality, petroleum geology, geophysics, mineralogy, geomorphology, and many more. We are also interested in the possibility of a student bringing a project or idea that grew out of needs in their community, or that the student believes needs attention. We will work with the community and try to find a science mentor in Boulder who would be interested in such a project. In your application, you will get to indicate what your primary fields of interest are in the geosciences, and we will try to pair you up with a project in that area.

Will I need a car to get around?

No. RESESS interns usually do not have a car. There is a good bus system in Boulder and there are excellent bike paths. Grocery shopping is a short bus ride away or a bike ride. We recommend obtaining a bicycle (and helmet), and will help you with that process. The weather is generally good in the summer. Interns working on campus at the university can bicycle or take a bus, and interns working at UNAVCO or the U.S. Geological Survey will need to take the bus.

I have children. Can I bring them with me or go and visit them?

You should apply, and if you are accepted, we will discuss what kind of arrangements would be needed for your family and whether we can meet those needs.

What kind of social activities are organized?

Much of the first week in RESES is dedicated to fun team-building activities including a city scavenger hunt and a geology field trip to Dinosaur Ridge. After that, we have almost weekly gatherings such as potluck dinners or barbecues, along with a weekly field trip, professional development workshop, or technical training that follows the weekly writing workshop. Cohort-building is an important part of RESESS, and students leave at the end of the summer saying that they feel that they have a whole new family.

How can I apply for this internship?

Go to the RESESS Apply page for details.

Who should I ask to be a reference for me?

We suggest that you ask people who have taught you in science or math, or who have advised you in a research or science capacity. Usually applicants will ask professors who have instructed them. You might also ask a scientist who supervised your work in a research lab, such as an employer at the U.S. Geological Survey. Avoid asking high school teachers, guidance counselors, friends, or relatives.
It is better to go with a reference who knows you and your work and who believes in you, over a reference who has a big name but doesn't know you very well.
You will need to provide the name, institution, email address, and telephone number for each reference.
Be sure to give your references plenty of time to fill out the online recommendation forms by completing Step 1 of the application early.

How do I get my references to make recommendations for me?

Go to the Apply page on the RESESS website, and complete Step 1. In an online form, you will provide contact information for each of two references.We will contact your references and ask them to fill out a recommendation form.

Be sure to give your references plenty of tie to fill out the recommendation forms.

What is the acceptance process and when will offers be made?

Applications received by the end of day on Feb. 10, 2011, will be screened for minimum requirements and then evaluated by a selection panel. We will hold telephone interviews in late February. Offers will be made by the end of February, 2011.. We will do what we can to help.

Are students who have participated in RESESS before glad that they did? Here are some quotes.

"RESESS really wants you to succeed. I was worried about failing this summer, but they help you at every step; there's so much support." - 2010 intern

"Prior to RESESS, I hadn't really considered graduate school, except in case I didn't get a job. Now I see the importance of grad school, and I have the skills and confidence to apply." - 2010 intern.

"The RESESS program is very unique in the sense that it gives an intern the freedom to choose the field of research they are interested in and allows them to participate in the program up to three years." - 2010 intern.