<p>Seems like Columbia names a few special scholars - Rabi Scholars in science or Kluge and John Jay Scholars, then showers them with extra opportunities and special treatment. If Rabi Scholars get guaranteed research opportunities, what happens to regular Columbia students? Do they get a second-class education while the named scholars grab the plum jobs with the best professors? My son wants to study physics or astronomy and enters Columbia this fall without any special scholar designation. Will I be paying for him to be ignored by faculty who want to work with a Rabi scholar who brings guaranteed funding to the lab?</p>
<p>To tell the truth, at almost any college there are such special programs to coddle the ‘bestest’ students (except for HYP) Anyhow, the number of scholars are very few, and there will be plenty more opportunities for your son to conduct research. Don’t worry!</p>
<p>^Agreed. Plus New York has tons of opportunities especially for Columbia Students. and I heard, I don’t know how reliably, that ~6-10% students are named scholars. (i.e. kluge, John Jay, Davis, etc.)</p>
<p>^northcreek</p>
<p>Your son has been admitted to one of the top colleges in the world. You should be happy and proud of this achievement. The fact that he wasn’t named a scholar in no way will detract from the fine education he will receive. With that being said, if you are going to complain about something, it might help if you knew what you are talking about. The Columbia Scholars Program does not have “Rabi” Scholars for science.</p>
<p>Per the CUSP website:</p>
<p>“The named Scholars supported by the CUSP administration are selected by the Office of Admissions when they submit their applications to Columbia University. Scholars are chosen for their intellectual pursuits, extracurricular achievements, and promise for future growth and exploration. Falling under four discrete Scholar designations (Kluge, John Jay, C.P. Davis, and Global), these Scholars distinguish themselves for their remarkable academic and personal achievements, dynamism, intellectual curiosity, the originality and independence of their thinking, and the diversity that stems from their different cultures and their varied educational experiences. The Columbia Undergraduate Scholars Program has thus been specifically designed to serve as the humus from which Scholars, who have the demonstrated capacity to apply their intellectual gifts to better serve society, can expand and strengthen them, learning from each other as well as from leaders in the academic and professional world.”</p>
<p>My daughter, who is a scholar, was told they represent about 8% of undergraduates.</p>
<p>[Rabi</a> Scholars](<a href=“http://www.columbia.edu/cu/physics/undergrad/main/organizations/RabiScholars.html]Rabi”>http://www.columbia.edu/cu/physics/undergrad/main/organizations/RabiScholars.html)</p>
<p>Yes, there are Rabi Scholars.</p>
<p>Northcreek, I also had similar questions. See the thread below to see if the replies I got are useful to you.</p>
<p><a href=“Undergrad Physics - Chicago v Columbia - Columbia University - College Confidential Forums”>Undergrad Physics - Chicago v Columbia - Columbia University - College Confidential Forums;
<p>^
I repeat, the Columbia Scholars Program does not have “Rabi” Scholars. Rabi Scholars are associated with the I.I. Rabi Science Scholars Program.</p>
<p>[The</a> I.I. Rabi Science Scholars Program](<a href=“http://rabi.columbia.edu/#]The”>http://rabi.columbia.edu/#)</p>
<p>2kids, you seem to miss the point of northcreek’s question.</p>
<p>^
I didn’t miss the point at all. I get his or her concerns. IMHO, the original posting appears condescending towards those who have worked hard to earn their “scholar” designations.</p>
<p>The Rabi Scholar program is not affiliated with CUSP because it was established long after CUSP in 1989 and some Rabi Scholars are also named Kluge or John Jay scholars. There are very few if any academic variations between John Jay and Kluge scholars and the general CU admits population. It seems to me that the differences lie more in the so-called “intangibles” that include extra-curricular interests and general experience. Rabi Scholars are students that have illustrated strong interest in science during high school. There are sixteen Rabi Scholars in the class of 2013.</p>
<p>The CUSP program is not as extensive as the Rabi Scholars program, and the students are usually required to attend a few extraneous seminars and programs. Rabi Scholars receive a stipend, research funding, advising, and free summer housing in order to conduct research.</p>
<p>Full Disclosure: I am a Rabi Scholar.</p>
<p>I will say that I thought the whole scholar program at Columbia was a bit ridiculous. Even though I heard that the students aren’t necessarily segregated from the rest of the population, the implied elitism of “being the best of the best” turned me off.</p>
<p>^look who’s talking! did you pick Yale because of or despite Skulls and Bones? ;)</p>
<p>You got meeee</p>