<p>Do applicants need to be a Science Scholar to be considered for Undergraduate Research, or can we speak to professors freely? I REALLY want to get into the research aspect of things wherever I go, so I want to know what the Science Scholar program really does.</p>
<p>There are plenty of students involved in research who aren’t College Science Scholars.</p>
<p>Jefferson designed an “academical village” where faculty and students would interact beyond the classroom. We still hold onto that idea (while recognizing the the word doesn’t exist outside of Grounds!). </p>
<p>You can read about CSS on their website:
[College</a> Science Scholars — Undergraduate, College of Arts & Sciences, U.Va.](<a href=“http://artsandsciences.virginia.edu/college/awards/science_scholars.html]College”>http://artsandsciences.virginia.edu/college/awards/science_scholars.html)</p>
<p>Here’s a post from the student blog:
['Hoos</a> for Open Access: College Science Scholars and Research Opportunities at U.Va.](<a href=“http://hoosforopenaccess.blogspot.com/2010/04/college-science-scholars-and-research.html]'Hoos”>http://hoosforopenaccess.blogspot.com/2010/04/college-science-scholars-and-research.html)</p>
<p>Thanks Dean J! Do you by chance know how many applicants are offered the Science Scholar program per year? Or any admissions statistics on the scholars?</p>
<p>Well, obviously the CSS students are 100% admitted. We don’t offer it to the waitlist or deny groups. </p>
<p>I’m not quite sure about how many we offer it to. It’s designed to be a fairly small, select group.</p>
<p>My S is second-year and was in the CSS program last year. (It continues in a different form after first year.) There were maybe a couple dozen first-years total? They had periodic lectures to small groups by professors, some of which my son thought were really outstanding and some that were a “miss”. We really encouraged him to go to these talks as something special. </p>
<p>He is now working for a professor, but it really had nothing to do with CSS, as it was a direct invitation by a specific professor to join the team. </p>
<p>The woman who ran the program for first years was enthusiastic and very helpful. I’m sure she’d answer any questions.</p>
<p>
Yes! Dr. Karen Schmidt! She’s lovely and attends most of the Days of the Lawn. She usually wears a College Science Scholars t-shirt at DOTL…she’s a wonderful resource.</p>
<p>[College</a> Science Scholars Program](<a href=“http://web.virginia.edu/css/directors.asp]College”>http://web.virginia.edu/css/directors.asp)</p>
<p>She is also affiliated with Brown College, she is wonderful.</p>