Rant: Tell Kids to Stop Bugging Professors for Internships

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Nope. Parents need to tell their kids that they don’t need to be applying to schools that want any type of research.

If that's your view, professors can deal with the kids who do want to go to those schools pestering them

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Goat yoga Mom is right. A form email is polite and sets the precedent that research is for college kids with some relationship to the professor or college.

Don't for get that it is also for kids with a family connection to the professor or who attend high schools that can purchase research opportunities. As long as school care, unconnected kids with drive will try to find a way to tick the same box.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Nope. Parents need to tell their kids that they don’t need to be applying to schools that want any type of research.

The problem is schools are not clear about things, so kids do whatever it takes and appply 20 schools.

And this also needs to be stopped by parents. 20 schools? C’mon.

The problem is the schools are not clear about things with TO, Holistic, all sort of bullshit.

Kids and parents are just trying to play by the rules. They didn't make the rules.

[Anonymous]

I think this thread makes it clear that among higher SES parents college is now often seen as a service and when my! own! babies! have skin in the game all reason goes out the window and there is no desire to see or understand how academia really works because the most important thing is to SERVE! MY! SPECIAL! CHILD!

But here's the thing: academics are not service providers. They are educators and scholars and experts. We set our own agenda for research, service, and teaching. The outcome is to advance their field and part of that is shaping minds, but providing 16 yo Dylan or Sophia from Chevy Chase a summer internship is not that.

I also think a lot of people are misunderstanding the difference between shadowing and interning or being a research assistant. The first being theoretically possible and a fair ask, the second being a long shot and not really appropriate for a high schooler unless the program is specifically designed for them, and the later being totally implausible for a number of reasons that no one here wants to hear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think this thread makes it clear that among higher SES parents college is now often seen as a service and when my! own! babies! have skin in the game all reason goes out the window and there is no desire to see or understand how academia really works because the most important thing is to SERVE! MY! SPECIAL! CHILD!

But here's the thing: academics are not service providers. They are educators and scholars and experts. We set our own agenda for research, service, and teaching. The outcome is to advance their field and part of that is shaping minds, but providing 16 yo Dylan or Sophia from Chevy Chase a summer internship is not that.

I also think a lot of people are misunderstanding the difference between shadowing and interning or being a research assistant. The first being theoretically possible and a fair ask, the second being a long shot and not really appropriate for a high schooler unless the program is specifically designed for them, and the later being totally implausible for a number of reasons that no one here wants to hear.

So only the kids with rich dad and fancy connections get it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think this thread makes it clear that among higher SES parents college is now often seen as a service and when my! own! babies! have skin in the game all reason goes out the window and there is no desire to see or understand how academia really works because the most important thing is to SERVE! MY! SPECIAL! CHILD!

But here's the thing: academics are not service providers. They are educators and scholars and experts. We set our own agenda for research, service, and teaching. The outcome is to advance their field and part of that is shaping minds, but providing 16 yo Dylan or Sophia from Chevy Chase a summer internship is not that.

I also think a lot of people are misunderstanding the difference between shadowing and interning or being a research assistant. The first being theoretically possible and a fair ask, the second being a long shot and not really appropriate for a high schooler unless the program is specifically designed for them, and the later being totally implausible for a number of reasons that no one here wants to hear.

you’re preaching to the choir. Vent to your own insane admissions department. Maybe if professors as a group kicked back against this madness, it would make a difference but you’re aiming at the wrong target. We parents don’t make the rules.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think this thread makes it clear that among higher SES parents college is now often seen as a service and when my! own! babies! have skin in the game all reason goes out the window and there is no desire to see or understand how academia really works because the most important thing is to SERVE! MY! SPECIAL! CHILD!

But here's the thing: academics are not service providers. They are educators and scholars and experts. We set our own agenda for research, service, and teaching. The outcome is to advance their field and part of that is shaping minds, but providing 16 yo Dylan or Sophia from Chevy Chase a summer internship is not that.

I also think a lot of people are misunderstanding the difference between shadowing and interning or being a research assistant. The first being theoretically possible and a fair ask, the second being a long shot and not really appropriate for a high schooler unless the program is specifically designed for them, and the later being totally implausible for a number of reasons that no one here wants to hear.

Perhaps professors should tell their employers to stop caring about applicant's high school research?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this thread makes it clear that among higher SES parents college is now often seen as a service and when my! own! babies! have skin in the game all reason goes out the window and there is no desire to see or understand how academia really works because the most important thing is to SERVE! MY! SPECIAL! CHILD!

But here's the thing: academics are not service providers. They are educators and scholars and experts. We set our own agenda for research, service, and teaching. The outcome is to advance their field and part of that is shaping minds, but providing 16 yo Dylan or Sophia from Chevy Chase a summer internship is not that.

I also think a lot of people are misunderstanding the difference between shadowing and interning or being a research assistant. The first being theoretically possible and a fair ask, the second being a long shot and not really appropriate for a high schooler unless the program is specifically designed for them, and the later being totally implausible for a number of reasons that no one here wants to hear.

So only the kids with rich dad and fancy connections get it?

Huh? How did you get that from my post? I don't know of anyone who gets this where I work. It is not appropriate for ANY high schoolers to write professors seeking internships. Sometimes there are high school programs set up by professors, almost always through grant money aimed at helping high schoolers. There are NOT the same as college level internships. It would be appropriate to ask specifically about that, but these are often highly publicized, and also often marked for certain demographics (at HSIs or HBCUs or for lower income students, etc...).

If someone "fancy" emailed me to ask for a special opportunity that I have existing students trampling over each other for I would politely say no, even if they were a Prince or Princess. Ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this thread makes it clear that among higher SES parents college is now often seen as a service and when my! own! babies! have skin in the game all reason goes out the window and there is no desire to see or understand how academia really works because the most important thing is to SERVE! MY! SPECIAL! CHILD!

But here's the thing: academics are not service providers. They are educators and scholars and experts. We set our own agenda for research, service, and teaching. The outcome is to advance their field and part of that is shaping minds, but providing 16 yo Dylan or Sophia from Chevy Chase a summer internship is not that.

I also think a lot of people are misunderstanding the difference between shadowing and interning or being a research assistant. The first being theoretically possible and a fair ask, the second being a long shot and not really appropriate for a high schooler unless the program is specifically designed for them, and the later being totally implausible for a number of reasons that no one here wants to hear.

Perhaps professors should tell their employers to stop caring about applicant's high school research?

I sincerely do not know what this means. You think professors have connections to admissions? This is like telling a chef at Applebees to tell corporate marketing to change their logo. Absurd.

Research is not only possible at a summer college internship. It can be conducted in classroom settings and in APPROPRIATE PROGRAMS. High school teachers and counsellors should facilitate these opportunities - that is the appropriate place to start.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this thread makes it clear that among higher SES parents college is now often seen as a service and when my! own! babies! have skin in the game all reason goes out the window and there is no desire to see or understand how academia really works because the most important thing is to SERVE! MY! SPECIAL! CHILD!

But here's the thing: academics are not service providers. They are educators and scholars and experts. We set our own agenda for research, service, and teaching. The outcome is to advance their field and part of that is shaping minds, but providing 16 yo Dylan or Sophia from Chevy Chase a summer internship is not that.

I also think a lot of people are misunderstanding the difference between shadowing and interning or being a research assistant. The first being theoretically possible and a fair ask, the second being a long shot and not really appropriate for a high schooler unless the program is specifically designed for them, and the later being totally implausible for a number of reasons that no one here wants to hear.

So only the kids with rich dad and fancy connections get it?

Huh? How did you get that from my post? I don't know of anyone who gets this where I work. It is not appropriate for ANY high schoolers to write professors seeking internships. Sometimes there are high school programs set up by professors, almost always through grant money aimed at helping high schoolers. There are NOT the same as college level internships. It would be appropriate to ask specifically about that, but these are often highly publicized, and also often marked for certain demographics (at HSIs or HBCUs or for lower income students, etc...).

If someone "fancy" emailed me to ask for a special opportunity that I have existing students trampling over each other for I would politely say no, even if they were a Prince or Princess. Ridiculous.

"and not really appropriate for a high schooler unless the program is specifically designed for them" I.e in dad's lab

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this thread makes it clear that among higher SES parents college is now often seen as a service and when my! own! babies! have skin in the game all reason goes out the window and there is no desire to see or understand how academia really works because the most important thing is to SERVE! MY! SPECIAL! CHILD!

But here's the thing: academics are not service providers. They are educators and scholars and experts. We set our own agenda for research, service, and teaching. The outcome is to advance their field and part of that is shaping minds, but providing 16 yo Dylan or Sophia from Chevy Chase a summer internship is not that.

I also think a lot of people are misunderstanding the difference between shadowing and interning or being a research assistant. The first being theoretically possible and a fair ask, the second being a long shot and not really appropriate for a high schooler unless the program is specifically designed for them, and the later being totally implausible for a number of reasons that no one here wants to hear.

So only the kids with rich dad and fancy connections get it?

Huh? How did you get that from my post? I don't know of anyone who gets this where I work. It is not appropriate for ANY high schoolers to write professors seeking internships. Sometimes there are high school programs set up by professors, almost always through grant money aimed at helping high schoolers. There are NOT the same as college level internships. It would be appropriate to ask specifically about that, but these are often highly publicized, and also often marked for certain demographics (at HSIs or HBCUs or for lower income students, etc...).

If someone "fancy" emailed me to ask for a special opportunity that I have existing students trampling over each other for I would politely say no, even if they were a Prince or Princess. Ridiculous.

"and not really appropriate for a high schooler unless the program is specifically designed for them" I.e in dad's lab

No. Not at all. Again, that is not a thing, and why do you keep saying "dad"? This refers to programs designed for high schoolers which are described up thread -- usually tied to grant-funded programs aimed at elevating high schoolers in academic settings, particularly disadvantaged ones, so the ones I am aware of are specifically NOT for privileged kids. My institution has several summer camps that offer research that are funded by grants that professors seek out themselves, run, and publicize. But I teach at a lower status school that I am sure none of you would be interested in.

Again, just because a bunch of you have kids in this stage of life does not remotely make you an expert on the way higher ed works. You are no more knowledgeable about labs and research and grants and academia than I (a professor) am about how to secure a recording studio and record a hit song.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this thread makes it clear that among higher SES parents college is now often seen as a service and when my! own! babies! have skin in the game all reason goes out the window and there is no desire to see or understand how academia really works because the most important thing is to SERVE! MY! SPECIAL! CHILD!

But here's the thing: academics are not service providers. They are educators and scholars and experts. We set our own agenda for research, service, and teaching. The outcome is to advance their field and part of that is shaping minds, but providing 16 yo Dylan or Sophia from Chevy Chase a summer internship is not that.

I also think a lot of people are misunderstanding the difference between shadowing and interning or being a research assistant. The first being theoretically possible and a fair ask, the second being a long shot and not really appropriate for a high schooler unless the program is specifically designed for them, and the later being totally implausible for a number of reasons that no one here wants to hear.

Perhaps professors should tell their employers to stop caring about applicant's high school research?

I sincerely do not know what this means. You think professors have connections to admissions? This is like telling a chef at Applebees to tell corporate marketing to change their logo. Absurd. So you scream at the dishwashers and diners instead?

Research is not only possible at a summer college internship. It can be conducted in classroom settings and in APPROPRIATE PROGRAMS. High school teachers and counsellors should facilitate these opportunities - that is the appropriate place to start.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this thread makes it clear that among higher SES parents college is now often seen as a service and when my! own! babies! have skin in the game all reason goes out the window and there is no desire to see or understand how academia really works because the most important thing is to SERVE! MY! SPECIAL! CHILD!

But here's the thing: academics are not service providers. They are educators and scholars and experts. We set our own agenda for research, service, and teaching. The outcome is to advance their field and part of that is shaping minds, but providing 16 yo Dylan or Sophia from Chevy Chase a summer internship is not that.

I also think a lot of people are misunderstanding the difference between shadowing and interning or being a research assistant. The first being theoretically possible and a fair ask, the second being a long shot and not really appropriate for a high schooler unless the program is specifically designed for them, and the later being totally implausible for a number of reasons that no one here wants to hear.

Perhaps professors should tell their employers to stop caring about applicant's high school research?

I sincerely do not know what this means. You think professors have connections to admissions? This is like telling a chef at Applebees to tell corporate marketing to change their logo. Absurd.

So you scream at the dishwashers and diners instead?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Nope. Parents need to tell their kids that they don’t need to be applying to schools that want any type of research.

The problem is schools are not clear about things, so kids do whatever it takes and appply 20 schools.

And this also needs to be stopped by parents. 20 schools? C’mon.

The problem is the schools are not clear about things with TO, Holistic, all sort of bullshit.

Kids and parents are just trying to play by the rules. They didn't make the rules.

No one said you had to play the game at all. That’s kinda the point.

[Anonymous]

Here is an example of a paid research internship set up specifically for high schoolers. Yes, this particular one is restricted to Baltimore City students. But these types of opportunities exist if you look for them, contrary to the belief of many posting on this string.
https://engineering.jhu.edu/outreach/ceo-programs/wise/