What makes for an excellent application?
Most mentors look first at applicants who picked their projects and perhaps also at students who picked projects in related areas. What is important to a mentor varies greatly. Some emphasize previous coursework, good grades, extracurricular activities, or relevant work experience, while other mentors look for a student with excellent potential but in need of a first research experience. The one area most mentors agree is invaluable is the personal essay as an indicator of an applicant’s background and their interest in the projects offered in this years program. Avoid submitting a generic essay with the theme that this would be a good internship experience for you or that it will help you get into professional school. Instead, pick your projects carefully then spend time using your personal essay to explain your selections. The best applicants spend time perusing the Forest web site and craft a thoughtful essay about their individual interests, why they have picked the projects listed
