President's Scholars

Advice from Previous President's Scholars:

WHAT CURRENT PRESIDENT'S SCHOLARS WISH THEY HAD KNOWN WHEN THEY WERE FROSH:

  • Don't procrastinate spending the funds
  • PS funds can be used to discover something new
  • Any field is fair game
  • It is important to get to know faculty early
  • Take advantage of choices - don't just jump at the first opportunity because you worry there would not be another
  • Dealing with Human Subjects protocols can take longer than expected
  • Prepare for the challenge of conducting interviews
  • Projects can change
  • A sponsor relationship can have a long term impact
  • Read up on potential topics
  • Don't wait for the perfect project
  • More funding will be available later from other sources so there is no need to "save the PS funds" for the perfect moment.
  • Remember that the whole grant does not need to be used at one time
  • Mentor advice would have been helpful
  • Realization of a project can be more difficult than you expect
  • Carefully balance mentor pressure with your own original ideas

 

 

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"After spending a summer working on this project, I have gained an invaluable perspective on the joys and challenges of doing historical research and, more generally, academic scholarship."

Alan Murphy PS 2003

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