Here are some frequently asked questions regarding URSA. Feel free to contact us at ursa-group@office365.illinois.edu if you have any more questions.
Mentee Questions
Can I apply as a mentee if I’m a junior or a senior?
No, we strictly prohibit juniors and seniors from joining the program. At this stage in your degree, you have gained enough skills through advanced classes to make a good contribution to a full university research group working under a PI. URSA is an introductory research program aimed at freshmen and sophomores who have minimal research experience and have not taken advanced classes. We advise all upperclassmen to reach out directly to university research groups.
Can I drop the program after I’m accepted as a mentee?
Barring extreme circumstances, you cannot drop URSA if you have committed to participating. Before submitting an application, carefully consider your other time commitments including, but not limited to classes, jobs, and RSOs. Dropping the program after acceptance may lead to a failing grade in ENG 199 URS and exclusion from future iterations of URSA.
Are mentee application decisions rolling or do they have a fixed date?
There is a fixed decision date. Mentee applications open and close on the dates marked on our timeline. Once they close, mentors will complete their selections. Mentees will then be informed by the fixed date on our timeline or before, if all mentors complete their selections early. All mentees will be informed of decisions at the same time. Thus, when you submit your application has no bearing on whether you will be selected, as long as it’s submitted before the deadline.
Can I reach out to mentors regarding the status of my application?
Please do not reach out to mentors directly. You will be informed of decisions by the date marked on the timeline. If you have any questions about their projects, please email us directly at ursa-group@office365.illinois.edu.
Can I reapply to URSA if I was accepted in a previous semester?
No, we do not allow previous participants to reapply. Participants in URSA are more than welcome to independently pursue future projects with their URSA mentor, or reach out to a different research group.
Mentor Questions
Can I return to URSA if I was already a mentor?
Yes, we welcome mentors to return to our program.
Can URSA provide research funding?
URSA may provide funding for mentee involvement if our budget permits. We cannot fund research projects, as that is the responsibility of the department and outside grants.