19) Who pays for what?! Who provides what?!
20) Can you help with the cost of travel to and from Cambridge for the Program?
21) What arrangements are there for food at SAO?
22) What kind of housing is there for interns?
23) How much is the stipend, and how is it paid?
24) How safe is Cambridge?
I'm about to apply, but I need to know...
Questions that arise after students have applied.
Miscellaneous information.
Who are you?!
Many elements can vary, though our goal is to be as consistent as possible.
The program may be nine or ten weeks, depending on how long Harvard housing is
available to interns. We sometimes offer specific internships in such fields
as History of Science or Science Education. The stipend may change. The number of
interns has been about the same every year but we can't guarantee any absolute
number in any year. We try to contact students as soon as we can about the results
of our selection process, but that process can be delayed by a number of variables.
Because things may change, we urge students to check our web site for current information.
Not unless you are also enrolled as an undergraduate someplace. The NSF guidelines specify
that we must limit internships to undergraduates. There is a summer program
for high school students at MIT. Their program allows students to work in various departments
(not just astronomy).
To find out about their program, go to: MIT ESP
Phillips Academy, in Andover, Massachusetts, has a summer science program called MS2
for minority high school students. Here's a quote from the site (circa 2004) about the program:
"MS2 is a competitive math and science program for minority
students who have shown strong interest in and aptitude for
mathematics and science."
To get more information about their program, go to
Phillips Academy ,
and enter "MS2" (no quotes) in the search box at the upper left.
Thanks to Mike Short, the ESP chairman, for the following information:
MIT also hosts RSI (Research Science Institute), one of the most
prestigious programs in the country.
Harvard offers its extension school program through the summer.
Brown has a precollege program. Most large colleges and universities
in the Boston area hold some sort of summer program.
You are eligible if you are enrolled in a degree granting program.
A number of high school students take a college course at a local college
but are not enrolled in a degree granting program. Thus most high school
students are not eligible. If you are eligible, the answer to the question
about whether or not college freshmen applicants have a chance at an internship
provides further information you might find useful.
The SAO Summer Intern Program is only open to those who are enrolled
as undergraduates at the time of the internship. Graduating seniors are
not eligible. This is an NSF requirement for all REU Programs.
As a freshman you will be up against more experienced students. I don't
mean that you don't stand a chance against them, just that you will have
some heavy competition. Successful interns have generally completed at
least sophomore level calculus and physics classes.
If you have taken these courses, it may be a good idea to apply for next
summer, even if you don't get accepted. Going through the process gives you practice
in putting a strong application together. If you are not accepted, you can apply again. You
have lots of time, and therefore many chances to be accepted here. Your
second application would demonstrate perseverance, not seem like a rerun
of a failed attempt. That would be true the following year, too (truly!). Some students
believe that if we don't accept them the first time, we never will. Proven
untrue! In theory all undergraduates who apply for placement in the SAO
Summer Intern Program have an equal chance at landing an internship. In
practice we base our choice on criteria which generally cause us to select
more experienced students. Elements such as courses taken, other job experience
or extracurricular experience would help a student qualify for an internship.
If you are a highly motivated person and you have a serious interest in
science, there is no reason not to apply for an internship, providing you meet the
eligibility guidelines.
On the other hand, you might decide to wait a year.
During the year you might let your teachers know that you are aiming
for an internship (at SAO and perhaps other NSF REU sites). Ask them for
their support, and for suggestions as to how to improve your chances. Professors
can help in many ways. They can help you learn to write a great essay,
help you find summer work which would be of interest to you and helpful
to your application, or help you to strengthen any weaknesses in preparation
for an internship. If you can get a job or internship this summer working
in science, that would be great. (It's the classic dilemma: it's difficult
to get work because you don't already have experience!) Volunteer work
in science would be as valuable as paid work in terms of experience and
recommendations. You might try applying for work at science museums, check
with scientists at your institution (just about everyone could use some
volunteer help, and you might even get a piece of a grant!), or join a
local amateur astronomy club. Look for any place you can get some astronomy or
science-related experience.
Sure. If you had teachers in high school, or if you worked for someone outside
of school who will write you a rave letters of recommendation, then by
all means send us those. We want to know as much as we can about you, so
ask at least two people who know you fairly well to write the letters.
Please see the related question about freshman applications for further information.
No, we don't have any positions in chemistry, etc. Students who apply
for internships here want to see what it's like to work in astronomy, physics
or closely related fields. We have offered internships
in instrument-building (lab work), though we can not be sure if such an internship
will be offered until a technician applies for an intern.
If you have an idea of how you might fit into our Program and want to find out
if we would consider you eligible, write
to us. The Center for Astrophysics contains a very wide variety of people
who do many different sorts of work related to astronomy and astrophysics.
The NSF specifies that students must be United States citizens, or have
a Green Card to be funded REU interns. This rule extends to foreign students who are
enrolled in United States colleges and universities. "J1" or other visas are not
sufficient.
The only exception to this rule is that foreign students may apply if they have
their own research funding from their college, or funding associated with their
student fellowship/scholarship. We would not be able to provide any funding, nor
could we offer the stipend. If you wish to apply under these circumstances, you
should go through the usual application process, note what funding you have
available, and the source of the funding. Your application will be evaluated and
considered exactly the same as those of all other applicants.
If you are unsure about your status, please contact us.
For the many highly-qualified students who are not eligible for REU internships,
the Web is probably the best source for information about other jobs and internships.
Ask your professors, teachers, friends and/or family members if they know anyone
who works in science (and/or in industry, depending on your area of interest)
in the U. S. A.. Someone might be able to put you in touch with a scientist who
could provide you with summer work or with another type of internship.
If you find a job possibility or an internship, please be sure to check what what visa
(if any) is required. The visa-acquisition
process changes, so please be sure to research the matter carefully and allow the
time needed for the paper-work to be processed.
Yes. As long as you are a citizen or have a valid Green Card, and as long as you are enrolled in a
program that leads to an undergraduate degree, you are eligible. If you are not sure whether or not
your study program fits this guideline, please contact us.
Non-science majors are not included in our REU Program. The SAO Program is
intended to help undergraduates who have an interest in astronomy and
astrophysics, physics, or general science to decide what major or field they
want to pursue; to confirm what they have already chosen, and/or to give
them practical experience in these fields which may help them choose the best
course to pursue.
We have occasionally offered internships in closely related fields (history
of astronomy and astronomy education to name two), but our focus is on
physical science.
Maybe. Our Program is designed to help students decide if they like
working in a research environment. We don't expect that they all will. As
with any experiment, one must be prepared for negative results - they are
as valuable as positive ones. Past Interns have mostly gone on in astronomy,
physics or astrophysics (about 90%). Applicants should have a
strong interest in science and math. (There may be exceptions to this.
Sometimes we offer a science education internship.) Applicants may be weighing
science and another career choice. Our Program can help them make such
a choice. Because we have only ten or eleven positions to offer each year,
we try to select students who will get the most out of being in the Program.
Our Program offers students a great way to get a realistic look at a science
career before investing the time and money for graduate school study in science.
In addition to working on a science project, students talk with scientists, mentors,
grad students and each other about the non-science aspects of choosing
science as a career. This aspect of the Program is an invaluable help in making
the choices that will determine the direction of a student's adult life.
We don't expect undergraduates to become instant postdocs! Assuming that you have
written accurately about your background and experience on your application,
we will be able to match you well with a project/Advisor.
As stated elsewhere, a strong math/physics background is important (generally
at least sophomore level calculus and physics classes). We don't require students
to have taken astrophysics or astronomy. We try hard to match students well with
their science Advisors, and to make sure that the students don't feel overwhelmed
by their projects. Interns get "on-the-job training", and plenty of
support as they work. Mentors stay in touch with their
interns to help with all kinds of matters. It is sometimes more convenient or
more comfortable for an intern to bring up a problem with their Mentor than with
their Advisor.
The staff of the Intern Program will help in the event that a student's skills
and an Advisor's needs are seriously mis-matched.
So, we don't expect students to have special knowledge about x-ray astrophysics
or radio astronomy when they arrive. What matters most is that a student
be willing and able to tackle a project with good organization skills and
a curious mind. The projects are not busy-work. Students help scientists
with their actual research, but the work interns do is appropriate for their
academic level.
No. We also choose candidates who might not be "obvious" choices,
based on their whole experience and demonstrated enthusiasm for science.
We match students with scientists who work here. We are looking for a good
fit. That opens the door for students from all kinds of institutions. Students
from institutions which have limited opportunities for research are encouraged
to apply.
I'd love to be able to write that it would be no problem for you to
get around here. That's how it ought to be. Alas, our facility is pretty
primitive. Even so, it *would* be possible for you to be an intern here.
A new ramp was just built two years ago. Last year the Interns all worked
in one room - down a small flight of steps. We could put a terminal someplace
more accessible. The fourth floor is also inaccessible, but there's no
reason an intern would have to go there.
The biggest problem would be getting
to and from the dorm. I assume that Interns will be staying where they
have in the past. That dorm is about six blocks from here. If you've been
to Cambridge, you know that the "infrastructure" is ancient.
The sidewalks are made of brick, for example. They might be hard to traverse
in a wheelchair. People ride in the street because of the poor state of some
sidewalks. That would probably work during
the day but might be dangerous after dusk. Unfortunately, both sidewalks
and streets are rather narrow and poorly-lit. You probably have considerable
experience dealing with poorly-designed facilities like ours, alas. If you apply
and are accepted as an intern, write to us and describe some of the problems
you anticipate. We will work with you to solve them.
Yes: 18.
Absolutely. Harvard University, however, limits dormitory residency
to participants in our Program. That's only a problem if you need housing for
two. Housing is expensive and difficult to find
in Cambridge, so you should allow plenty of time to make your own housing
arrangement. You should probably start a search as soon as you are accepted
into the program.
We require that interns be here for the entire nine or ten weeks of the Program.
We structure the program to take advantage of all of that time. Students have
occasionally missed the first day or two while they complete final exams.
You will be an ideal candidate in terms of where you are in your schooling.
It helps to have as much experience as possible. We can only accept undergraduates,
so you will have the maximum permitted course work behind you (and
this is the last year in which you can apply). It would
be best to wait until after your winter term course work is complete and
recorded on your transcript to send it to us, if you can do so before the
application deadline.
The travel subsidy covers round-trip travel by air or rail up to $500.
The Interns are on their own for food. There are some nearby places
to get good, relatively inexpensive food*, and there are grocery stores near the dorm.
We have a lunch "cart" at the Center for Astrophysics. Tasty soups, salads and
sandwiches are available at moderate prices.
(~$5.00 for a good sandwich and a fruit drink).
The cart is open from noon to about 2:30pm every weekday.
The dorm has a kitchen. We provide kitchen utensils and dishes. Interns are
responsible for keeping the kitchen and dishes clean.
Cambridge is a city: there are markets nearby, and lots of restaurants of all kinds
within a 10 minute walking distance. Harvard Square (a ten minute walk from the dorm) is a
good resource. One can find a meal just about any time, though after about midnight,
it might have to come from a 24-hour mini-market (there's one near Porter Square).
*Prices are higher here than in many parts of the country.
Housing has been provided by Harvard University (dormitory space about
six blocks from the Observatory) during past summers. The rooms
currently provided are singles, though that might change. We expect
this will continue to be our source for housing. If not, the Program
will find similar housing elsewhere. Keys to the dorm will be provided
on arrival. Housing in this area is relatively expensive, and we want
students to be able to make some money during their summer
here, so the Program covers housing costs. Students pay for telephones
if they want them installed in their room. There is a shuttle bus for students,
and an escort van so students can get around safely late at night. You are
not required to live in the dorm but we are unable to subsidize any other
housing arrangements.
Students take home $3500 for nine or ten weeks. The same stipend applies
whether our program is nine or ten weeks. We pay the interns 10% of the
stipend at the beginning of the Program, and the remaining 90% in two equal
installments at the end of June and at the end of July. The Smithsonian
does not issue 1099's because the students are not on the payroll. The
funds are considered "fellowships", and not "stipends."
Students must consult with their tax advisors to determine their tax liability.
(Students don't get a w-2 or a 1099 form from us.)
It is difficult to measure safety. Safe in comparison to what? Cambridge
is a city - it has the same problems other cities have. My impression is
that Cambridge is safer than many cities its size, though I don't have
statistics to back up that claim.
The Observatory is in a relatively safe neighborhood. It is an up-scale residential
neighborhood which contains mostly large old houses and occasional apartment buildings
interspersed with Harvard housing and facilities.
Harvard owns a lot of property here, so there are libraries, gyms, dorms
and other university buildings scattered around.
Because students often have expensive gear, there is some theft of personal
belongings here. Property left unattended may vanish. Bicycles get stolen.
Occasionally students are robbed. Most theft is non-violent, but muggings
happen here, as elsewhere.
Violent crime statistics have been coming down
here, as they have elsewhere. Rape, murder and violent hate-crimes occur,
but they are very rare, and they very rarely involve students. The population
of Cambridge is culturally diverse -- comfortably so. The level of education is
high because of the many schools and universities here. This is a cosmopolitan,
liberal city. People from all over the world, gay and straight, rich and poor,
live together here with relative ease.
Poverty exists here, but because the city government works hard to help less-
privileged citizens, Cambridge doesn't have the problems many other old cities
have of blighted areas which are dangerous to inhabitants and visitors alike.
This writer has lived in Cambridge since 1962. She feels safe walking alone
just about anywhere in this city, day or night. She doesn't have her black
belt or pack a pistol!
Interns choose how venturesome they want to be while they are here.
There is no need to leave Cambridge, but it is natural for interns to
take advantage of their stay here to have a look around Boston.
Boston is more urban than Cambridge. Most of the city
is quite safe, though. It is easy and fun to walk around Cambridge and
Boston, as many natives do. Busses and the "T" (subway) are available, reasonably
priced, and they cover the area pretty well. Interns can ask anyone here for advice about
interesting places to visit. We give students maps of the city when they
arrive, and a packet of safety suggestions from the Harvard campus police
office.
Of course one should always be aware of other people when walking around
any city. One should take reasonable precautions - don't wave large
amounts of cash around, don't wander alone around places which look or feel
dangerous. Try not to look like a wealthy tourist. Don't alter your
consciousness in unfamiliar surroundings or go off alone with strangers.
The use of common sense will keep one safe from most harm here, as elsewhere.
Interns are not "free summer help" for scientists. A common
concern of prospective applicants is that they will be doing routine chores
all summer. They won't. Scientists are asked to design a nine or ten week project
on which interns collaborate. The projects require full-time attention and
involve creative work. Sometimes projects extend beyond the end
of the Program. The decision to participate in an extended project is the
student's, of course.
No, you can't choose your project. We do our best to match students and advisors.
Interns work with scientists on projects which the scientists have designed
to be completed (if at all possible) in the nine or ten week period of the Internship.
The scientists who design the projects don't always know much in advance what they will
be working on over the summer. Projects vary widely. Check the list of past projects to
get an idea of what interns have done in the past -
Past and Present Interns.
The projects are at a level appropriate for undergraduate Interns.
Scientists know that they may need to teach Interns new skills. We don't
expect to match student's experience or skills exactly with scientist's projects.
If we tried to do so, we might have to rule out candidates who haven't specialized.
By doing so we would always decide in favor of the most focused students.
"Write well"... that sounds obvious, but it's not so simple. Use
standard spelling and punctuation in every correspondence or piece of writing
we will see. (Skipping capital letters or using creative abbreviations
and spelling makes you seem illiterate, not cool.) Be honest. Write from your heart
as well as from your mind. Read what you've written aloud - to a professor,
to a tape recorder, to a friend, to yourself. Put your essay away for a
week and read it aloud again. Put yourself in our shoes. We are real folks
here, sympathetic and interested in what you have to say. "Outside
interests" or non-school activities are important. It seems a lot
to ask of students who are perhaps earning their way through school that
they also do volunteer work or have extensive hobbies! If you do have interesting
avocations, write about them in your essay. Your interests may be
varied. They don't have to be science-related. We are looking for engaging,
multidimensional folks. It is important to characterize yourself strongly
and clearly in your essay. We get a lot of applications for the 10 internships,
so candidates must work to be "memorable." It would be good to
mention and discuss any research you have done, and it wouldn't hurt to
say so if you want to do more work in that field.
-- Use standard punctuation throughout. Unless you are sure it will be
appreciated, lose the no-capital-letters mode.
-- Make sure that what you are asking or providing doesn't make you look
foolish or careless. Try to find the answer to your question by looking
at the brochure, the poster or the web site. Learn as much as you can
before you write. For instance, we don't accept e-mail resumés,
and we spell that out pretty clearly. Every year some students send them
anyway, so I have to write back to them and tell them to mail everything.
Such things aren't of earth-shaking importance, but remember that
you're trying to impress people with your intelligence and competence!
-- If possible, send your message in ASCII as well as any other format you use.
You don't know what kind of e-mail reading program/software the recipient will have.
ASCII is always readable.
-- Spell-check your e-mail messages
and check them for grammatical errors. The form of the message (which
greeting to use, if any, whether or not to write "Regards" or some
other formal closing, etc.) doesn't matter, but if you send a mangled,
misspelled message with a risqué quotation after your signature,
you will make a negative impression on most recipients.
-- Conversely, a well-written note makes a good impression. It might
help you, and it will never hurt you. Employers and academic types notice
and appreciate this show of courtesy and skill. Good writing form doesn't
make you seem stiff, stuffy or boring.
-- Remove any scatological, overly-cute, snide, or otherwise
off-putting logo or quotation you might use at the end of your
personal correspondence. When it comes to "trimmings", less
is more.
-- Apply the same principals to filling out e-mail forms and to all other
electronic communications you make. The recipients will appreciate it.
We don't know until February what the intern projects will be. Scientists
here are working on on-going projects. If they ask for an intern, we ask
that they design a 9- or 10-week project. We list various possible areas of concentration
on our main web page. Look at the project descriptions for other year's internships
(link follows) to get an idea of the range of projects we offer.
Past and Present Interns.
Probably not. The internship would have to take precedence over any course work.
While the interns arrange their own work schedules with their advisors, they
don't generally have much "free" time for independent projects. The program
is just too short for less than full concentration. Even one additional
course would probably interfere with the internship. You would probably not
be able to do either the project work or course work as well as you would like.
Your experience of the internship
would suffer because you'd feel pressured and over-worked. And remember,
it will be summer --- you might want to leave yourself some time to play!
No.
You have a lot of company! This baffles lots of folks. We want you to
choose two (or three) people who know you, and who know your work. As
mentioned elsewhere, we suggest that you ask three people to write letters
for you if there is any chance that one of your two top choices
might fail to mail a letter to us on time.
(not FAXed or e-mailed!)
by February 1st.
If you ask three people to write letters for you, let us know in your
cover letter which of the writers of these letters is likely to know you best,
and which second-best, and we will consider the letters accordingly.
Three letters won't make an application better than those which have two.
If you are sure you can trust two people
to write and send letters to us before the deadline, two is all we need/want
(no need to rank them).
We suggest that you ask faculty members to write letters for you, preferably at
least one from a professor of math, engineering, or science, but your letters
can come from any people with whom you have worked. You can ask your high school
teachers, if they are your best advocates. Ask each person if they are willing to
write a letter of recommendation for you
and if they will be sure to mail it to us
before February 1st.
Stress (as I am trying to do!) that the deadline is firm, and that,
if the letter is not postmarked on or before it, your application
will be discarded.
Pick people you are pretty sure will write positively about you. If you are in
doubt, ask them directly if they can give you a good recommendation. This is a
completely reasonable question, awkward though it might sound: one to which you
need the answer!
You can send us the letters or they can send them, it doesn't matter. We just
need two or three letters by February 1st.
Send us the names and addresses of the two or three people who wrote letters for you
so we will have that information if the letter writer fails to include
crucial information in their letter, or writes illegibly. We might
want to check your references by talking with "J. Smith"
(or whomever), and we don't want to have to hunt through the Los Angeles
phone book (or wherever) to find him/her.
No.
As of now we don't accept any e-mail letters, or essays sent via e-mail or FAX.
Please submit your essay via the on-line application, or, if you prefer, via snail mail.
Our current policy might change in the future. If it does, we will post the new
policy immediately here, and elsewhere on this site where submissions are discussed.
The current policy is based on a number of factors:
Neither e-mail not FAX is a fool-proof way to send documents.
E-mail can bounce. It may be dumped into our spam file by accident,
or be lost somewhere on the internet.
Printing and tracking down
e-mailed and FAXed application materials would overtax our volunteer
staff. The project does not have a FAX machine. FAX machines at the
SAO are shared by several groups. If a FAX got lost, we would not
know it. If someone claims to have sent either a FAX or an e-mail
message, we can not verify or disprove the claim.
Every year
some students have difficulty getting all
elements of their applications to us on time.
Some fail.
In spite of our attempts to let them know clearly that we
do not accept them, every year some students (and just as often, some of the
professors on whom students relied for letters) are late, and/or they ask to send
material by FAX or e-mail.
Please -- don't be one of these students!
Q. In short, what do you want?
Q. Should it be single or double spaced?
Q. Should I include anything in particular in my essay?
Note any projects or science areas you have particularly enjoyed or ones that you
didn't enjoy.
Q. How important is the essay?
Some suggestions are given under "General Suggestions" (question #27 above, third paragraph).
No, we need an official transcript. If there's a problem, let us
know its nature and we will work with you on it if we can.
Variations on this theme come up every year. Often the situation involves
elements that seem to be or are beyond applicant's control. It may seem unfair
that a student's application is rejected because their institution failed
to send us a transcript or a professor failed to mail a letter.
We rarely make exceptions. If we did, it would be unfair to students who meet the
requirements on time. We advertise the Program widely so that students
can learn about it early, and thus have time to apply. We state the requirements
strongly and clearly in our bulletins and posters, and on our web site.
If we don't take our own policy seriously, the terms "requirement"
and "deadline" become meaningless. Most students do meet the
deadline. If you are mailing any part of your application close to February
1st, we strongly suggest that you get some kind of receipt which proves
that you mailed it to us before that date. FedEx has late hours, in case
your application has to go out at the very last minute.
If your situation truly seems to you to merit exception from our rules, write to
Christine Jones-Forman at: cjf-at-cfa.harvard.edu and explain it to her.
She will make a decision about your case.
At the January, 2002 meeting of the American Astronomical Society, astronomy REU
program directors decided to set March 1st as the date to begin
offering internships. Students will have a week in which to respond. If we
cannot reach a student, or if a student declines our offer, we will contact
the next person on our list.
The Summer Intern Program staff charged with evaluating and contacting students
work hard to fill the internships as quickly as is possible, given the need to
co-ordinate with students who are scattered around the globe. We know that
all students are eager to know their status so they can make their plans
accordingly. Experience has shown us that we can't specify an absolute date
by which we can notify all applicants, but we expect to contact all students
to whom we will make offers during March. We will send letters early in April
to everyone who applied.
If you need to know your status before you hear from us, you are welcome to
send us e-mail to see if we can give you a definite answer. (We probably would
not be able to give anyone an answer before March 1st.)
We will not be bothered at all by requests for information, and such requests
will not prejudice us against you in any way.
We post the list of interns on this web site a week or more after the
letters are sent to everyone to whom we were unable to offer positions.
Sometimes it takes us quite a while to do this.
Sometimes the whole process takes a longer time due to circumstances
beyond our control. We understand and regret the tension this uncertainty can cause
students who are trying to make their summer plans.
We have to wait until all material posted by the deadline has reached
us (about a week). As explained in the previous question, the screening process takes time.
After the initial screening, we make offers to several candidates. Some
of those may not accept our offer. If that happens, we continue to go
down the waiting list. The process might continue for three weeks or more.
Any variables such as difficulty reaching a student or a staff member's
absence due to illness slow the process. We have many applications to
review, and references to check. We do this all carefully, as quickly as is possible.
We have decided to wait about a week after all letters have been mailed out
so that applicants will be given the courtesy of learning of our
decision privately, by letter. After about March 7th we can often
tell you the status of your application, and whether or not you are on our
waiting list. You may write to Kara Tutunjian at: ktutunjian-at-cfa.harvard.edu,
or call her at 617-496-7063.
If you don't reach her, please leave a message and someone will return your call.
The deadlines and offering dates for REUs and other job prospects
cause problems for students every year. That is why the astronomy REU program directors
decided to standardize their deadline and offering dates. We regret the inevitable
(and apparently unavoidable) conflicts that arise because of programs which make earlier
or later decisions. The February 1st REU deadline date will give students more
time to make other plans if their first choice REU application
does not result in an offer.
Sometimes other programs are willing to give students a week or so to see if they are
accepted elsewhere. If you have been offered an internship elsewhere but you had hoped
to come here, you might ask the other institution if they will let you delay your answer.
You can contact us to find out if we can give you an idea of your chances of getting an
internship here. That may or may not be possible, depending on the date of your inquiry.
(See the answer to question #40, above.)
We get between 150 and 200 applications for 10 or 11 slots here, so if you get an attractive
offer elsewhere, we often suggest that it might be wise to accept it. We are not trying
to send anyone elsewhere. We just don't want any of the many good candidates who apply for
an internship here to miss an opportunity elsewhere because the timing of our process makes
it impossible for us to assure them a place.
We encourage students to apply for the next summer's Program if they
will still be eligible. If you weren't chosen the first time you applied,
it would probably weigh in your favor that you apply again. Students might
fear that the opposite is true. If you've contacted us once, we already
know you a bit. If you are still interested a year later, it shows perseverance!
We don't keep application materials from year to year, but we do keep a
record of who applies.
Generally the interns work fairly "normal" working hours on Monday
through Fridays. Often interns, especially toward the end of the
program when they are trying to finish up their projects, also
work during the weekends. We do not require that anyone work on weekends.
One suggestion is to take a look at the
AAS home page
Obviously, the Web is a great resource. Many institutions have excellent
astronomy departments and programs. Museums or planetaria might also be
interesting places to work. Just start looking at web sites of places
that you've heard about. Follow interesting links. You'll get a sense
of what kinds of work people do. Most institutions employ a
variety of people: administrators, astrophysicists, docents,
professors, computer specialists, instrument builders, web site
creators/managers, publicists, secretaries, to name a few possibilities.
Adult education, high school astronomy programs, community college courses,
and college-level courses might be of interest. If you can't take such
courses, speak with the instructor(s) to see if they have any suggestions
for you.
Smithsonian Institution Office of Fellowships and Grants
Also, you can contact the Center for Museum Studies at the Smithsonian
Institution (in Washington, DC) which has an unpaid internship program.
You can specify to that program that you would like to come here.
Try the Web-based CfA Undergraduate Job Site links.
The Science Museum here might have work. You could contact their personnel
department by phone (or perhaps they have a web site through which you could
apply).
Having written all of the above, I should add that every year some students
*do* get interesting jobs in Cambridge/Boston, and they do make ends
meet financially, and they do live in reasonable housing. If you'd like
to work here during the summer, start looking around early for possibilities.
Yes.
There may be graduate research fellowships offered at Oak Ridge, though the
formal program seems to have ended.
These three people, plus one or two other CfA scientists read and evaluate the
intern applications. They solicit intern advisors and mentors from the CfA staff
and match interns with advisors. During the summer they monitor the research
progress of the interns.
Kara Tutunjian maintains application folders and updates
the on-line application web forms. She handles most of the logistical work that makes all the
elements -- computers, meeting rooms, travel arrangements, housing --
come together smoothly.
Elizabeth Bohlen is the Intern Program Webmistress. She
answers student and other e-mail inquiries. She also posts information about the program
on external web sites which offer listings of summer jobs and internships.
To get an idea of who the mentors and advisors are (and what they have offered
students), please look at the
Past and Present Interns page.
To top of page...
25) I'm hoping to do some real science - is that realistic?
26) I'd like to choose my project. Can I? What if my training isn't adequate?
27) Any general suggestions?
28) What are the titles of projects for internships?
29) Can I also take other courses or another course during the summer?
Information about the application process.
30) Do I have to send all my application materials in one package or at one time?
31) I'm confused about the letters of recommendation and references you want.
32) Can I send my essay (or can my professor send a letter) via FAX or e-mail? Why not?!
33) Questions about that essay...
34) I'm having trouble getting a transcript. Can I send you a grade report? Can I send an unofficial school transcript?
35) Can you make an exception for me to the deadline or other requirements?
36) What if the deadline falls on a Sunday?
37) I don't want to bug you, but I'm anxious to know if...
38) When will I be notified as to whether or not I'm being offered an internship?
39) Why can't you let us know who is chosen for the Program immediately after the deadline?
40) Why don't you post the results of your selection process on your web site immediately?
41) I'd like to be in your Program but I've had another offer...
42) I missed the deadline (or I wasn't chosen this year), but I want to be in your Program.
43) My religion requires that I not work at certain times. Will I be able to participate in the program?
44) How can I find out about careers in astronomy?
45) I'm a minority student. Are there opportunities at the Smithsonian for minority students?
46) I'm not eligible for an internship. Are there any other opportunities at the Smithsonian?
47) Are there any opportunities for graduate students similar to the REU internships?
48) Who staffs the Intern Program?
49) How can I get more information?
1) Is the summer program essentially the same every year?
To top of page...
2) I'm a very bright high school student.
Can I apply to this Program?
To top of page...
3) I am a high school student. I'm taking some
undergraduate courses now too, but I'm still technically in high school.
Am I eligible for your Program?
To top of page...
4) I'll be graduating from college in June. Am I still eligible?
To top of page...
5) I'm a freshman. Do I have a chance at an internship?
To top of page...
6) I have only been at my college for one term. My high school
science teachers know me and my work better than my professors
here do. Can my high school teachers (or other people) write
letters of recommendation for me?
To top of page...
7) Do you have internships in chemistry? biology? medicine?
To top of page...
8) I am a foreign student. Can I be an intern?
To top of page...
9) I am a U. S. citizen, studying abroad. Am I eligible?
To top of page...
10) I'm a business major, do I have a chance at an internship?
To top of page...
11) I'm not 100% sure I want to be an astronomer - or even a scientist!
Does it make sense for me to apply for an internship at SAO?
To top of page...
12) I haven't taken astrophysics (or astronomy, or some other specialized courses).
Do I have a chance at an internship?
To top of page...
13) Do you only accept candidates from the big,
"prestigious" institutions?
To top of page...
14) I use a wheelchair. Can I participate in the SAO Program?
Yes...
To top of page...
15) Is there a minimum age requirement
(or a maximum age limit) for interns?
To top of page...
16) I'm married. Can I still apply? If I am accepted,
can I bring my spouse?
To top of page...
17) Can I be an intern if I can't begin the Program on the starting date?
Or if I have to leave before the end of the Program?
To top of page...
18) I'm a junior. Do you have any special advice for me?
To top of page...
19) Who pays for what? Who provides what?!
To top of page...
20) Can you help with the cost of travel to and from Cambridge?
To top of page...
21) What arrangements are there for food at SAO?
To top of page...
22) What kind of housing is there for interns?
To top of page...
23) How much is the stipend, and how is it paid?
To top of page...
24) How safe is Cambridge?
To top of page...
25) I'm hoping to do some real science - is that realistic?
To top of page...
26) I'd like to choose my project. Can I?
What if my training isn't adequate?
To top of page...
27) Any general suggestions?
-- You may find the clever string of letters you chose for your e-mail
address when you were younger is now embarrassing.
28) What are the titles/projects of internships?
To top of page...
29) Can I also take other courses (or one other course) during the summer?
To top of page...
30) Do I have to send all my application materials in one package or at one time?
To top of page...
N. B. We have changed our policy about electronic application materials.
You may use either the on-line application form or you may send us your essay
via snail mail.
We collect application materials for each applicant and
record the materials received in on-line application "folders" so students can
check to be sure that we have received everything they expected we should.
It may take a few days for us to post that we have received
material, due to in-house mail delivery delays and/or the high-volume of
mail near the deadline. We accept everything postmarked on or before the
deadline date. We wait a while to give anything sent by snail mail a chance to
arrive. Then we begin the review process. Everything that is sent for you or that you send
will be in your "folder". Feel free to write to us for confirmation at
31) I'm confused about the letters of recommendation and references you want.
To top of page...
32) Can I send my essay (or can my professor send a letter)
via e-mail or FAX?
To top of page...
We are happy to correspond with students or others via e-mail in advance of the deadline.
If we do not answer your mail, or if the matter is urgent, please telephone us.
If you want to make sure we receive everything you send, use registered mail or
one of the private carrier's registered services.
Check your on-line application "folder" to be sure we received everything you
expect us to have.
33) Questions about the essay?
To top of page...
A. We ask for an essay (600 to 800 words) describing academic and career
goals, scientific interests, relevant work experience, why you would
like to be in our program and why you would be a good candidate.
A. Single spaced, please. At present, our on-line application form removes
all formatting from the essay. We hope to change this soon, but, for the present,
everyone's essay will be reduced to a single block of text.
A. Please tell us something about your familiarity with specific computers,
either in your essay or on our application form. What computers
(e.g. Sparc Stations, PCs, or Macs) have you used? With what operating systems
(e.g. SunOS, Mac OS) are you familiar? Which software packages
(e.g. IDL, IRAF, Mathematica) have you used?
A. It's very important. We can't interview candidates in person. The essay is the
next best thing.
34) I'm having trouble getting a transcript.
Can I send you a grade report? Can I send an unofficial school transcript?
To top of page...
35) I'm late trying to get professors to write letters for me
(or my professors haven't done what they said they'd do).
Can you make an exception for me to the deadline,
since it's not really my fault that my letters will be late?
To top of page...
36) What if the deadline falls on a Sunday?
If the deadline falls on a Sunday, we accept applications postmarked on the following Monday.
To top of page...
37) I don't want to bug you, but I'm anxious to know...
Please don't hesitate to write to us or to call us (after checking to see if the
answer to your question is in your application "folder" or elsewhere on our site).
You won't bother us at all. If you don't get an answer, try again. If you still
don't hear from one of us try another address. See the notes under Question #48:
"Who staffs the Intern Program?" for contact information.
To top of page...
38) When will I be notified as to whether or not I'm being
offered an internship?
To top of page...
39) Why can't you let us know who is chosen for the Program
immediately after the application deadline?
To top of page...
40) Why don't you post the results of your selection process on
your web site immediately after you finish it?
To top of page...
41) I'd like to be in your Program but I've had another offer.
I haven't heard from SAO. Should I accept the other offer?
To top of page...
42) I missed the deadline - or - I wasn't chosen this year, but I want to be considered for your Program next year.
To top of page...
43) My religion requires that I not work at certain times. Will I be able to participate in the program?
To top of page...
44) How can I find out about careers in astronomy?
To top of page...
or the Center for Astrophysics, CfA
where the Intern Program is held.
45) I'm a minority student. Are there any particular opportunities I might pursue
in addition to or instead of a standard internship?
Minority students may elect to apply to the SAO Summer Intern Program
through the Smithsonian Institution Minority Student Internship Program.
This program provides internships throughout the Smithsonian Institution,
including SAO. Applications and further information can be requested from
Pam Hudson at the Smithsonian Institution's Office of Fellowships and
Grants (202-275-0655). Indicate on your application that you are
interested in the SAO internship. An application form and more
information is also available:
46) I'm not eligible for your Program.
Are there any other opportunities for work at the Smithsonian
Astrophysical Observatory I might pursue?
To top of page...
To top of page...
25 Birch Street, Cambridge, MA 02138-1205
telephone: (617) 354-0484 FAX: (617) 354-0665
General comments about finding work in Cambridge
Start as early as December to look for a summer job in Cambridge (or anywhere in the
Boston area). As you probably know, Boston/Cambridge is full of students,
so it can be difficult for students to get paying jobs here. Difficult but
not impossible. It costs a lot to live here, so students generally can't
make enough money to save much toward their tuition bills. Finding affordable
housing anywhere nearby is another very difficult matter. I'm sorry to
write so negatively, but it's better to give you a realistic view of the
situation here than to encourage you to come unprepared.
47) Are there any opportunities for graduate students similar to the REU internships?
48) Who Staffs the SAO Summer Intern Program?
Dr. Christine Jones is the Principal Investigator for the NSF grant.
Dr. Jonathan McDowell organizes the summer seminar series and is
an informal advisor to all the interns.
Dr. Marie Machacek is the Program Coordinator. She acts as
ombudsperson and general advisor to the interns. Marie also organizes field trips and
outside meetings.
49 How can I get more information?
If you are unsure about something or need more information, write to us at:
intern-at-cfa.harvard.edu (We all get e-mail sent to this address.)
Or you can write to us individually: Elizabeth Bohlen:
liz-at-cfa-at-cfa.harvard.edu
Marie Machacek:
mmachacek at-cfa-at-cfa.harvard.edu
If you don't get an answer within three days or so (allow for illness and vacations!),
please write to Kara Tutunjian:
ktutunjian-at-cfa.harvard.edu
If that also fails, write to Christine Forman:
cjones-at-cfa.harvard.edu
To find out if we have received all of your application materials, please check the on-line form. If you have further questions about your application, please write to Kara Tutunjian.
Thank you for your interest in the SAO Summer Intern Program!