This talk will focus on successful strategies and components of our REU site based on student reviews and exit interviews. It will also compare and contrast other research experiences with the REU experience. Providing undergraduate students with research experiences has been shown to lead to an increase in student perseverance in higher education, higher graduation rates, and a greater number of students pursuing bachelor and graduate studies. The mission of the Auburn University REU site is to provide community college and university undergraduates a research experience that will prepare and motivate them for further education and careers in science and engineering. The specific objectives are to (i) promote REU opportunities to the targeted students, (ii) present well-focused current projects that appeal to the students and faculty mentors, (iii) provide a ten-week program for 10 students per year with meaningful research and comprehensive professional development experiences, (iv) provide a positive social experience with diverse grouping of student participants and scientists, and (v) create a cohort experience between participants and among faculty mentors. The research projects are multidisciplinary in scope and have a strong intellectual focus on micro and nano-material science and technology.