<p>Just wondering if anyone could tell me about the College Science Scholars Program. Around how large and competitive is the program and what are some of the perks of being in the program?</p>
<p>I was notified of this today as well, and I’d love to learn more about the program!</p>
<p>I’m speaking as a first-year member of the College Science Scholars program, so my answers are not necessarily authoritative.</p>
<p>There are currently something like twelve first years (and roughly the same number of students in other years, although I’m less sure about that) in the program. I’m pretty sure more are selected, but many wind up going to other schools (a couple of my friends in the program were notified over the summer) or not continuing a science major at UVA. I’m not exactly sure how the selections are made, but they seem to be fairly competitive- everyone in the program is an Echols scholar, about half participated in research in high school, and everyone could certainly be described as a top student of some sort.</p>
<p>First-year students are required to attend a two-hour seminar once a week to listen to a science faculty member present their research; the presentations are usually interesting and can be a good way to find a lab to do research in. There are also some other requirements; you have to participate in undergraduate research (eventually), major in a science or mathematics, and maintain a certain GPA, among other minor things.</p>
<p>The main benefits are that being in the program can make it much easier to do research as an undergraduate- you have someone to advise you and vouch for your competence, there are a variety of opportunities to meet with faculty you might want to work with, and there are a few stipends (mainly for living expenses for summer research) that are prioritized towards CSS members that apply for them.</p>
<p>Oh McPhail…</p>
<p>I’m also a First-Year College Science Scholar which means I personally know “Circumflex.” The First-Year College Science Scholar program is a selective program since we only have 12 students currently. There are more selected after their First-Year who become “Second-Year College Science Scholars,” but this is determined by their research experience. Since Circumflex already described the program, I’ll go into a little more detail about my personal experience.</p>
<p>College Science Scholars makes it much easier to join a lab. I interviewed at two labs and one was unintentional. I emailed the head of a department who presented to CSS and asked about professors to do research with and he instead set up an interview with me for his lab. During this interview he made it apparent that he wanted me to join his lab.</p>
<p>In my second interview, I was only asked a few questions about my qualifications. What chemistry series are you (we have 80’s, the more difficult sequence and 40’s, the easier sequence)? I was also asked if I was a CSS. After talking about my interests in science she proceeded to offer me a position for pay over the summer.</p>
<p>While CSS doesn’t do all the work for you, it certainly makes the task of finding and joining a research lab easy. The program also offers 4-10 $5,000 stipends to members of the program (First-Years have priority) to stay over the summer and conduct research. So if you get involved in a lab during your first year, then you are most likely going to be able to stay over the summer and continue your research if you so choose.</p>
<p>Here’s the website for CSS which formally states the requirements (Circumflex and I are two of the people pictured…)
[College</a> Science Scholars Program](<a href=“http://web.virginia.edu/css/]College”>http://web.virginia.edu/css/)</p>
<p>Let me or Circumflex know if you have any more questions either via post or PM! Congratulations on your acceptance and offer to join CSS!</p>
<p>Just got notified that S was selected for this program. It sounds like a great opportunity. Anybody have anything more/less to say about it?</p>
<p>if you go to one of the days on the lawn, i think theres going to be something talk on it (im going monday and i got an email about it)</p>
<p>From the UVA website:</p>
<p>College Science Scholars Program</p>
<p>c/o College of Arts and Sciences
Garrett Hall
University of Virginia
P.O. Box 400133
Charlottesville, VA 22904-4130
(434) 924-3351
[The</a> Undergraduate College of Arts & Sciences, U.Va.](<a href=“http://artsandsciences.virginia.edu/undergrad/special_programs]The”>http://artsandsciences.virginia.edu/undergrad/special_programs)</p>
<p>Overview An enrichment program for exceptional students overseen by the chairs of the departments of Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, and Psychology. There is no application form; students are selected based on information contained in their applications for admission.</p>
<p>Unlike the situation found at most large research universities, the program is designed to give each student individual attention and close interaction with research faculty. Scholars have a senior faculty member serving as their advisor-mentor from the very beginning of their program of study. All participants have the opportunity to become a member of a research lab or group as early as the first semester so that advanced research experience can begin quickly. During the first year, all scholars enroll in the CSS seminar (both fall and spring semesters), where they meet internationally-renowned science faculty from each of the participating departments, hear talks on issues in the forefront of science, and visit research laboratories, etc.</p>
<p>College Science Scholars usually choose a traditional major in a department. However, the program also encourages multidisciplinary education. For example, students may follow interdisciplinary tracks, majoring in topics such as Biophysics, Biochemistry, Astrophysics, and Neuroscience.</p>
<p>Scholars in good standing (e.g., GPA 3.400 or higher) within their host department are guaranteed admission into to a 5th-year Masters degree program in those disciplines where the degree is available, including Masters in Engineering or Education.</p>
<p>I think it’s a great program. I know that I posted last year, but it’s definitely an excellent program for a couple of reasons.</p>
<p>1) You’re placed in a group of scholastically qualified and driven peers. In this manner, you push each other to join research labs early and then to achieve a high caliber of research. In addition, I love everyone who was in my CSS class since they were all very cool people and a lot of them are very good friends of mine to this day.</p>
<p>2) Specialized funding. Like I said in my previous post, there are $5,000 stipends that you can win. The important part is that they give priority to younger scholars. I won one last year and I think it really gave me a jump start on my research and I have won a Harrison grant for my upcoming summer of research (so I have not paid for staying for a summer of research yet). I don’t think that I would have been nearly as qualified to apply for the Harrison Grant if I did not conduct research over the summer which was funded by the CSS program.</p>
<p>3) Access to top notch professors. I’m a little detached from this now that I’ve joined a research lab, but being in CSS definitely made it much easier to join a research lab for two reasons. One, you come into closer contact with professors your first or second year. Second, the professors that know about CSS are normally very impressed by it.</p>
<p>If you have any additional questions feel free to ask them or send them to me via PM.</p>
<p>Thanks all for the answers… It DOES sound like a great program… However, S was admitted to Stanford today with a great package. We’ve both always dreamed of Stanford so, I guess there will be room for one more in CSS next year! :-)</p>
<p>-d</p>