How should I approach the BU RISE summer program application essays?

BU RISE is a competitive six-week summer research program for high school juniors with two tracks: the internship (more selective, more hands-on research hours, broader field options) and the practicum (industry-focused, either computational neurobiology or data science). Both carry significant weight in college admissions. Here's how to approach each essay:

Essay 1: Why RISE? (200 words)

Specificity is essential. Avoid vague or whimsical responses. Focus on valid motivations intimately tied to the research process itself, such as learning to navigate peer-reviewed literature, understanding how statistics generate insights from data, learning to communicate scientific findings effectively, identifying complex problems that spark your imagination, or pushing your limits by tackling unsolved challenges.

Don't cram all these motivators into your essay. Instead, select the reasons that resonate most with your lived experiences and show the reader a snippet of those experiences to establish strong personal motivation. Conclude with a vivid picture of who you'll be as a researcher after RISE, demonstrating how you'll have strengthened one or two technical skills essential to being a scientist.

Essay 2: Academic Achievements and Research Background (200 words)

This essay doesn't need to be eloquent, clarity matters most. Convey your roles and responsibilities, highlight personal contributions and accomplishments, and explain research outcomes. For each experience, specify the exact questions your group addressed.

When discussing programming skills, mention specific packages like PyTorch or NumPy and explain the types of mathematical calculations or models you can build. If you're applying as a long shot with only one formal research experience, describe it vividly and passionately. Instead of listing skills, demonstrate how you used them to solve problems and achieve results. Conclude by reflecting on how your experiences have shaped your aspirations as a researcher.

Essay 3: Why Your Research Interest? (300 words)

Begin with a short anecdote unique to you that demonstrates a personal connection to your subject. This could be wondering how something worked, a revelation from a documentary, or a life-altering event that gave you an ironclad goal. Once you establish this personal connection that differentiates you from other applicants, you can delve into the subject itself.
Earn bonus points by discussing contemporary challenges or questions the field is addressing. Additional points for concluding with a vivid picture of how you intend to apply findings from this research to create positive, tangible change in the world, change you can articulate strong personal motivation for advancing.

Essay 4: Professor Selection (Internship Only, max 250 words)

Similar to Essay 3, provide a short personal anecdote unique to your lived experiences that creates a strong connection to each professor's research. Each professor should receive their own personal connection unless their work is very similar. After the personal reason, explain why their work appeals to you intellectually, how you possess technical skills that will help them achieve their research goals, and how doing so will help you achieve yours.