Rant: Tell Kids to Stop Bugging Professors for Internships

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a professor and regularly get emails from high school students who ask for research internships. They haven't finished high school, much less basic undergraduate courses in my field. I don't know who encourages this, but obviously those kids didn't think up this idea independently.

"Dear Professor X:

I am very interested in your work after reading [one of my obscure papers from a web search]. I would like to help you with research because I want to have a career [making a lot of money by doing something I know nothing about]."

This is insulting to their high school teachers, who have a lot to teach them.

Your points are good. But you could also show a little bit of empathy to these kids, who are clearly being encouraged to do this and think they need it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I blame the parents. Let the kids be kids. Tell them they don’t need to do research in HS to be successful in life. Don’t encourage them to harass professors. Bring back sanity - please.

Admissions offices should make it clear and announce that they don't expect researches from highschoolers and ignore that for decisions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of the MCPS magnet programs require the kids to do a research internship.

+ 1
The SMCS at Poolesvillle and SMACS at Blair. Students are told to send numerous requests to college professors and it is nerve-racking for the students too.

If they are asking students to do this blindly that is unethical and misguided. Someone should inform them to stop doing this.

The kids all seem to find someone to work with them. I can see how this would be annoying but from what I saw, I don’t think it ended up taking a lot of the professors time. My kid definitely got at least one nasty response though from a professor who told him he was worthless since he was still in HS. Maybe if you are that person just ignore random emails like the rest of us professionals.

Why would any professor risk “hiring” a minor unaffiliated with the school for something a freshman could do? Why does anyone think a professor could really use the help of a high school student?

College applications are ridiculous. The people most likely to benefit from this are, as always, people with connections. Because I can’t imagine a scenario in this day and age where a professor who didn’t know the kid at all would say this is a smart thing for them to do.

[Anonymous]

Blame your admissions office. Your colleagues and your institution are part of this problem. Esp your colleagues who are the inside connection for their nieces/nephews/second cousins.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:While we are on this topic, my child reached out to a professor connected to a high school research program. DC's varied interests are aligned with the professor and it shows in their experiences. This was one of among a few emails DC has sent to professors (we are completely unconnected people so this is the only way to get experience).

Surprisingly, this professor wrote back within 24 hours. They were not encouraging or discouraging but I thought it was encouraging that they wrote back at all.

DC responded with another nice email and again, professor responded very quickly but, again, very tersely, and in a non-committal way. Does it mean anything that they at least responding? Please give me a shred of hope!

I was also considering the idea that the professor was twisted and playing with DC. The way they answered was a bit odd. The OP makes me think there may be people out there who do this.

Some people just like to answer their email and check it off their list. Terse and non-committal? Drop it.

[Anonymous]

1/150 times it may work. Nothing wrong with trying.

[Anonymous]

I would never rely on a high school student for academic research purposes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would never rely on a high school student for academic research purposes.

"rely"?

You know how education works, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a professor and regularly get emails from high school students who ask for research internships. They haven't finished high school, much less basic undergraduate courses in my field. I don't know who encourages this, but obviously those kids didn't think up this idea independently.

"Dear Professor X:

I am very interested in your work after reading [one of my obscure papers from a web search]. I would like to help you with research because I want to have a career [making a lot of money by doing something I know nothing about]."

This is insulting to their high school teachers, who have a lot to teach them.

Your points are good. But you could also show a little bit of empathy to these kids, who are clearly being encouraged to do this and think they need it.

+1. This. And the letter may have been an assignment and the kid is waiting breathlessly for a response. They don't know any better. Be kind.

[Anonymous]

Imagine writing to a doctor at a hospital and asking if you, a high schooler, could help them find something to do there for your resume? Ridiculous.

Appalling that parents or teachers would encourage this. Have some respect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a professor and regularly get emails from high school students who ask for research internships. They haven't finished high school, much less basic undergraduate courses in my field. I don't know who encourages this, but obviously those kids didn't think up this idea independently.

"Dear Professor X:

I am very interested in your work after reading [one of my obscure papers from a web search]. I would like to help you with research because I want to have a career [making a lot of money by doing something I know nothing about]."

This is insulting to their high school teachers, who have a lot to teach them.

Your points are good. But you could also show a little bit of empathy to these kids, who are clearly being encouraged to do this and think they need it.

+1. This. And the letter may have been an assignment and the kid is waiting breathlessly for a response. They don't know any better. Be kind.

But why? Why are HS doing this? If the bringing to require an internship, they need to facilitate. My company has HS interns from Christo Rey schools. Internships are a huge part of their program. They actually partner with companies to provide the experiences. The kids apply and interview, but they are not set loose on unsuspecting employers who may have no idea how to work with a HS student. We received training and had regular evaluations of the students and check ins with the school. Honestly, we considered it a public service. HS kids do not have enough skills to really contribute. We gave them small administrative assignments but mostly had them attend meetings and events to learn. Then we would have them do some research and a presentation to our group for the experience (not for us but for them).

I’m not in STEM (but my college kid is), but I don’t see how 99% of HS kids could truly contribute in a significant way. I’m very skeptical of published academic articles with HA kids’ names on them. It is kind of a farce.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was a lab manager and my boss (the principal investigator) would task me every summer with handholding some high school student. They were generally just some random who had emailed him and he would always put their name on a publication! I noticed that every single one was the same ethnicity he was.

Since you used the term "ethnicity" I assume that person was not White and you are. FYI, when White people do this, it's called 'networking'.

[Anonymous]

My kid did his HS research internship by applying to a government institution program. He was able to produce some useful work that was used in a research paper by the PI. He was credited as a co-author, though not before he could apply to colleges. Anyhow, he got admitted to the same agency's college internship program on the dint of his earlier work and additional skills that he had acquired in college and this time he got paid also. He has been asked to return again.

So there may be some HS kids who are able to produce worthwhile research. Not every HS student is a duffer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was a lab manager and my boss (the principal investigator) would task me every summer with handholding some high school student. They were generally just some random who had emailed him and he would always put their name on a publication! I noticed that every single one was the same ethnicity he was.

Since you used the term "ethnicity" I assume that person was not White and you are. FYI, when White people do this, it's called 'networking'.

DP. No, that’s not what networking is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid did his HS research internship by applying to a government institution program. He was able to produce some useful work that was used in a research paper by the PI. He was credited as a co-author, though not before he could apply to colleges. Anyhow, he got admitted to the same agency's college internship program on the dint of his earlier work and additional skills that he had acquired in college and this time he got paid also. He has been asked to return again.

So there may be some HS kids who are able to produce worthwhile research. Not every HS student is a duffer.

And it still would have been exceptionally rude and presumptuous to just email a professor. Your kid applied to a program. Entirely different.