Why become a Volunteer Research
Assistant?
Here are five actual letters I received from former students (with identifying information removed) illustrating the benefits of working as a research assistant, and the cost of not doing so.
Hi Dr. Ryan,
I
was just about to reply to your previous email and let you know that
you can take me off the (undergraduate research assistant email) list.
Right
now I am working as a graduate assistant in the office of Professional
Secondary Education at xxxxxxxxxxxxx University. I
am
pursuing my masters degree in Clinical Psychology here, and I am taking
courses in Multicultural Psychology, Statistics, and Adult
Psychopathology.
I wanted to thank you again for your
letter of recommendation for acceptance into graduate school, and for
allowing me to participate in your research group. The
experiences that I encountered while designing and conducting research
studies have proven invaluable not only in applying for a higher
degree, but in allowing me to experience my field in a more broad and
tangible way. I have been encouraging all of my undergraduate
psychology major friends to participate in some sort of research
because of all of the benefits associated with it.
I
plan on participating in some more research groups here at
xxxxxxxxxxxxx once things get more settled; hopefully by next semester.
Once
again, thank you. I cannot express how much working as a
researcher, and presenting that research at both the LVPA and EPA
conferences has benefited me as both a student, and a person passionate
about the science of psychology. I look forward to following
the
work of your group, and if you want, I can keep you up to date on the
research that I will be carrying out here at xxxxxxxxxxxx. Take care.
Hi Dr. Ryan,
This is Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx (well its Xxxxxx now) from
xxxx-xxxx. I was
just thinking about Kutztown and thought I'd say hi. I hope
your
research is going well, and the undergrads are still helping you
out.
Currently I'm in my fourth year in the Ph.D. program at
Xxxxxxx
University. My current research diverged a bit from the
cognitive side
of the brain; I'm studying the 'functional role of adult neurogenesis
on social behaviors' and its implications with neuropsychiatric
disorders, which is keeping me pretty busy. Well, I hope that
all is
well at Kutztown, and please say Hi to some of the other professors for
me.
Cheers,
Xxxxxxxx
I replied to
this student that I would be happy to fill out recommendation forms for
her, and that I would say whatever I could honestly say in them to try
to help her out. But I also had to advise her that if the graduate
program really wanted applicants who had conducted, or helped conduct,
research, then my letters would be of limited value. I asked her if I
could use her letter to try to encourage other students to take
advantage of opportunities to help conduct research in order to improve
their chances when they apply for graduate school, and she kindly
consented.
Hello Dr. Ryan,
It's one of your former psychology students, Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx. I hope you remember me. I graduated in XXX XXXX, and am now really busy applying to graduate psychology programs throughout the state of Xxxxxxx. At KU, I was a participant in most research studies (for extra credit points in your classes,) but never got rolling on my own independent research. Due to my lack of sufficient research experience, I need really good recommendations for the schools to which I am applying. I had three or four classes with you during my studies at Kutztown, and spent a great deal of time visiting your office trying to find research opportunities and going over review questions. If there is any way you could help me out, it would be greatly appreciated. I know to send you stamped and addressed envelopes with the recommendation forms attached. When you get a spare minute, please email me back and let me know how you feel. Thank you for your time and consideration,
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx