High Schoolers "Doing Research" from the Perspective of Professors
There has been so much information (and IMHO disinformation) about high schoolers "doing research" on this subreddit that I think that some dose of reality and perspective from the other side is needed. That is, how do professors view high schoolers "doing research" and applying for research positions with them? Here is a link to a subreddit discussion among professors on the topic as well as some selected posts by professors. The comments by professors at **the following link should really be required reading** for anyone interested in the topic of high schoolers doing research with professors:
[Professors, how do you react when a high school student reaches out for research?](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskAcademia/comments/1kvm2pm/professors_how_do_you_react_when_a_high_school/)
(1) "*I won't consider high school students, even if they're excellent, because I just don't have the time. I already don't have enough time in the day to do the things I have to do (teaching, supervising PhD students, committee meetings...) and can't justify taking time away from those activities to spend on a high school student.*
*I do appreciate the enthusiasm though and will direct them to some activities our department organizes for high school students."*
(2) *"I'm similar. In my case I also have a queue of students at my university waiting to research with me but my group is full.....*
*If I'm saying no to my university students because I'm too busy, it would be insulting to them to turn around and say yes to a high school student that takes even more time. And it would be detrimental to my existing students..."*
(3) *"People also forget highschool students are kids. Actually literally kids. Kids are the flakiest mfs around, and I expect that. I taught a highschooler once in a lab internship over the summer and they just ghosted one day, WITH MY FU$KING LAB NOTEBOOK OF REACTIONS. Then 3 months later asked for a referral and if I can help them make a poster for their science fair. I asked for my notebook, "idk where it went". Well cool, idk where your poster went. Cut all contact. Never again. But if I was a teenager, would I have done the same? Yeah, probably.*
*So no, dont take highschoolers into your research. Maybe do a workshop day or something."*
(4) "*If it’s a well-written email, I might send an answer giving some pointers to programs our university organizes for high school students, or might offer some quick insights myself, but I’m not going to work with a high-school kid 1-1 or as part of my research group. Also, there are too many side issues involved when working with minors.*
*University starts once you have graduated high school and enroll, not before. It’s simply too early to get involved in ‘real’ research.*
*Nevertheless, I do admire the enthusiasm.*"
(5) "*I don’t take volunteers in my lab as they rarely do decent work and volunteer interns just propagate inequities. (Only rich kids can afford to spend their time volunteering instead of working for money.)*
*So I sure as heck am not going to pay a high school student to work in my lab. Lab resources are limited - cash and equipment. I don’t have the time to mentor a student at that stage, nor would I impose they work on my grad students or postdocs who have enough to do already.*
*So, no. Not happening*."
(6) "*I wonder who lied to them about it being a good idea. Minors cannot enter my lab and they cannot touch anything we work with (animal model neuroscience lab). The number of emails I receive has been increasing over the years and it's mostly students from high schools in wealthier areas, which says a lot. Of note is that most PIs in my field want an actual job experience during highschool from undergrads (service jobs, minimum wage), so in that sense lab experience is useless. My lab will always prefer an undergrad who served burgers over summer to someone with "lab experience"*"
(7) "*I tried it once but the student didn’t actually seem interested in research and more as box to check on their resume. Never again.*"
(8) "*I try to send a reply, which is almost always a “sorry, no.” But it’s also the kind of thing that scrolls off the bottom of the email list when things are busy, which was most of the time. I’ve done it a couple of times, had a high school student in the lab. It was a net drain on the lab each time. The students were bright and motivated, but they just didn’t have the time or experience to be of help. We, I, enjoy the teaching aspect, but it doesn’t drive the lab mission forward. It slows us down....*"
(9) "*I delete the email. And then spare a minute of frustration for the parents/counselors/whoever told a high school kid they deserve to work with college professors. Look for established programs that do this. Otherwise, our obligations are to our own students. Not gonna work (extra) over the summer to find some way to incorporate a high school kid who knows nothing into my research. It's hard enough doing it for my own undergrads - and is a major waste of time with no upside for high school. It's ok to be in high school and just do high school! You don't need to work with a professor to get ahead or start on college early. Let high school be high school. College will be there for you once you're enrolled as an undergrad.*"
