REU Frequently Asked Questions

1. I am an international student studying at a U.S. university. I am not a citizen and do not have a green card. Am I eligible for your program?
   Funding for the REU program comes from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), and as such is restricted to U.S. Citizens and U.S. Permanent Residents (i.e., Green Card holders). If you are neither a citizen nor have a green card, we cannot provide funding.
2. If I am not eligible to receive NSF funding, can I participate if I pay my own way?
   Some REU programs may accept students who do not meet the criteria for NSF funding (e.g., because they are not U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents), if they provide their own funding (e.g., through a grant from their college). However, the NSF recommends against this practice, as any additional participant takes up some of the mentors' time and effort and thereby reduces the amount of time and attention available to NSF-funded participants. We intend to follow the NSF recommendation in this regard.
3. Is this program open to current U of I students?
   Yes. Any U of I student who meets the requirements regarding citizenship and undergraduate status is eligible. We aim for a mix of local and non-local students. In years past, about one in three participants has been a local student.
4. I am a senior and will graduate in May. Am I still eligible for your program?
   No. The program is targeted at undergraduates (the "U" in REU). According to NSF rules, students who have received their bachelor's degree by the time of the program are ineligible.
5. I am a high school student, but will start college in Fall 2009. Am I eligible for your program?
   Yes. According to NSF rules, high school graduates who have been accepted at an undergraduate institution for the coming academic year are eligible.
6. I am only a freshman. Do I stand a chance?
   Possibly. While most participants will be at the sophomore or junior level, "official" designations like freshman, sophomore, etc., matter much less than a student's mathematical maturity and ability, as evidenced, for example, by the courses taken and grades earned, by awards and honors received, etc., and attested to in letters of recommendations. For example, a freshman taking graduate level courses, or a student still in high school taking upper level undergraduate courses, could very well beat out most more "senior" applicants. Here, at the University of Illinois, we have a few of such star students almost every year.
7. Can I take a part-time job in the summer while I am participating in the REU program?
   No. Participating in an REU is a full time job.
8. Can I take summer classes while participating in the REU?
   Normally not, though exceptions may be made in special circumstances.
9. I'd like to attend my sister's wedding in California on July 10, and as a result may miss a day or two of the program. Will this be a problem?
   In general, participants are expected to be in residence during the full period of the REU program, June 15 - August 7. That said, a one or two day absence should not be a problem if coordinated in advance with the Program Director.
10. Do you pay for housing, meals, transportation, etc.?
    No. These expenses will have to come out of your stipend of $3,200. That said, living costs in the Champaign-Urbana area are low, and the stipend should be enough to cover all expenses, with some pocket money left over. Reasonably priced housing is available both in University Residence Halls and in private apartments through summer sublets.

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