Concerned About Insufficient Face-to-Face Research Exposure? Don't Fret. Here's Why Not.
In the midst of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, many undergraduates have found themselves adapting to remote research experiences, a shift that has raised concerns about the impact on their future graduate school applications. However, recent academic studies, reports, and articles suggest that remote research experiences can still be valuable and may not negatively affect an applicant's chances.
Princeton University, for instance, is planning to offer a full in-person experience in the fall, allowing undergraduates to engage in research projects on campus. Yet, for the upcoming summer, many research opportunities have been transitioned online, a trend that has been observed globally among students.
A 2025 article from Frontiers in Education discusses how undergraduate research experiences, including remote adaptations during Covid-19, influenced student performance and educational outcomes. The study highlights that while pandemic-related shifts caused scaling back and virtualization of lab work, research experiences remain important for retention and continuation in science careers. This suggests that remote experiences could still be valuable but might differ from traditional hands-on labs.
Other insights can be gained by exploring educational literature on virtual and hybrid learning during the pandemic. For example, a 2025 study in PMC documents the transition to online modalities and the adaptation of assessment strategies in virtual medical education. This could inform how remote research experiences were evaluated in graduate applications in fields requiring practical skills.
PhD program guidelines from universities like the University of Edinburgh and University of Birmingham show how remote or distance research and supervision during Covid-19 and beyond have been formalized. These guidelines reflect the accepted role of remote research in graduate education, including expectations for remote research commitment and occasional in-person visits.
To comprehensively assess the impact on graduate school applications, it is essential to search for peer-reviewed articles or education research reviews published from 2020 onward focusing on remote research experiences during Covid-19. Additionally, reviewing graduate admissions guidelines and statements from programs about evaluating remote research participation and looking at student surveys or case studies analyzing how applicants with remote research experience fared during admissions cycles affected by the pandemic can provide further insights.
In light of these findings, it is reassuring to note that graduate school admissions committees will not penalize applicants for lacking in-person research experience due to the pandemic. Instead, they recognise the value of remote research opportunities in developing important skills for graduate school and a career in research.
The author, for instance, was concerned about having enough in-person research experience before applying to graduate school. However, they emphasise that remote research experiences are valuable and should not be overlooked. The author's internship was also transitioned online for the upcoming summer, providing an opportunity to gain valuable research skills despite the pandemic.
In conclusion, the impact of remote research experiences on graduate school applications during the Covid-19 pandemic is being investigated through educational research on remote learning adaptations. These studies highlight both challenges and evolving acceptance of remote research work as meaningful preparation for graduate studies. The pandemic has pushed innovations that may have lasting effects on graduate admissions evaluation of remote research experiences.
Students should focus on the great remote opportunities available for personal and career development, rather than worrying about a lack of in-person research experience. As labs open up again after the pandemic, students will be better prepared when they return to in-person research, having gained valuable skills and experiences remotely. It's also important to remember that the quality of research experiences is more important than the quantity, regardless of whether they are in-person or remote.
- Although some concern exists about the impact of remote research experiences on future graduate school applications due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the author suggests that remote research opportunities can still be valuable for educational and career development.
- Princeton University, among others, provides undergraduates with opportunities to engage in research projects, either in-person or remotely, as a means of developing essential research skills.
- As remote research experiences become more prevalent, it is crucial for students to understand how such experiences might be evaluated by graduate admissions committees and to focus on quality instead of quantity when pursuing remote research opportunities.
