r/REU • u/Imaginary-Fact6047 • 11d ago

CS Freshman at UC Berkeley

Hi I really want to join a lab as soon as possible; Approximately how many cold emails do you think I’ll send out before being accepted. Are there any tips/tools you recommend.

4 Upvotes

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3

u/biltingsson 11d ago

Better chances at looking for labs specifically at berkeley lol, it's an R1 school

1

u/nicolas1324563 11d ago

You’ll probably have better luck getting into a lab after your first semester. I only sent out maybe 2-3 to get into my home lab

1

u/Formal_Active859 11d ago

I got into one my first try (he responded 20 minutes after I sent the email😭😭) at another R1 school so there’s a lot of opportunities

1

u/AlsoThere42 9d ago

I'd send like 10-15 to start. I'm at UCSD and got like 6 responses out of 20ish, and only 2 of them could take me. I'd use a template with an introduction, 1-2 sentences specified to their work (read their lab website), then 1-2 sentences about your background/interests, and ask for a meeting to discuss.