Does anyone know about this program? I’m torn between UT Austin’s Dean Scholar program and Cornell’s RCPRS program. They seem to be very similar, but I don’t know too much about RCPRS.
I googled it in 2.2 nanoseconds
I know how to google. I simply wanted to know if anyone in this subforum participated in the program or knew anything about it. Thanks for posting an unhelpful comment.
I got the email too. Would like to know more information about this program.
I’ve been to a Dean’s Scholar information session. Visiting Cornell is expensive for me so I would like to have as much information as possible. I researched RCPRS a little and all I can find is a student handbook and some general information. However, RCPRS doesn’t seem to be as well-known elsewhere. I want to know what current RCPRS students think of it.
Additionally, it seems as if there is a large emphasis on staying under the $8000 budget (which is for all 4 years and does not seem like much to work with). This concerns me because though I am interested in research I don’t want to be encumbered by financial constraints, especially at a highly regarded and well-endowed research university like Cornell.
You can get it renewed anually for $4000 and I’m sure depending on the nature of your research there could be additional money from other sources. I think the benefit is less “I’m a scholar!” and more “Look how much amazing research I’ve done my entire time at cornell”
@xraweda2
hey, I’m have the same dilemma as you! (I got into Dean’s and RCPRS). Which schools did you get into at UT and Cornell?
@FlyingWombat
Nice! I got into Computer Science at UT (Dean’s and Turing scholar) and the College of Engineering at Cornell (also Computer Science).
Congrats to everyone here who got into CPRS. My daughter also made it. She’ll be a CS major in CoE. Cornell was her #1 choice (ED). We’re also still trying to learn more about this so additional insights are more than welcome. Here are some impressions so far:
On the Research spending account (RSA) – Although CPRS doesn’t require you to do research in your major, 8K isn’t all that bad especially if you’re doing research in CS? It should cover machine time on the cloud (AWS?), books and journals, trips to conferences, even data collection experiments should one need to hire volunteers. It’s not like you’d need buy chemicals, specimens, and all that fun stuff. Mostly it’s just designing algorithms on a whiteboard, and coding them away. The biggest chunk of the 8K might come from summer accommodation, and they allow you $3.5K for 8 weeks. To OP’s question, whether 8K is enough or not is briefly addressed in the CPRS FAQ in the handbook. Apparently, it works for most people, and when it doesn’t, one’s mentor can usually find a way to compensate.
On the program itself – It appears this isn’t merely a badge of honor that you’re entitled to carry once you’re in. There’s work to be done to remain in good standing. That means keeping a 3.0 GPA (no easy feat at Cornell), 6-12 hours/research per week (this must add up in a hurry), at least one semester of summer research on campus (unless you make other arrangements and apparently CPRS scholars do more), tons of faculty and peer interactions, etc. The fact that they have all these conditions can only mean this is a serious structured program that’ll help develop great research/inquiry skills, and prepare you for grad school (if that’s a goal). It also seems to be very selective and there were only ~40 freshmen chosen in 2013 (Got this info straight from the Spring 2014 newsletter). That’s around 1% of the students who enrolled that year.
It seems like a great opportunity. I hope some of you who avail yourselves of it will give consideration to future
admitted students who will be in the same position as your current selves, and come back on here and post about it for their benefit.
Did you make a decision yet? My daughter was also selected as a PRS but with no financial aid – her dad (my ex) can afford Cornell but doesn’t want to pay for it after all, so it isn’t an option. My D has decided on Minnesota where she has been offered almost a full ride. I still researched the Cornell offer anyway. Turns out there are many ways to do research at Cornell, same as UMN, including paid jobs doing research, classes for credit doing research, and arranging voluntary research. So it isn’t just the Presidential Research Scholars doing research on campus as undergrads. Also I searched for these scholars on LinkedIn to see what their resumes looked like over time and where this led them. It is certainly prestigious and a huge honor, but I think it has to be weighed along with everything else. My D is studying the sciences and can possibly attend Cornell for graduate school in a funded PhD program later, instead of paying $63,000 a year now. So that is her plan. For you or others the situation will be different. I have read a lot of good things about the Turing program, plus UT has that new comp sci building by Gates, and Austin is a bigger town than Ithaca. Curious what you decide…
I’m a current junior in the College of Engineering and RCPRS. I can’t speak to your other options, but I can tell you about some of the perks of RCPRS/Cornell.
First of all, coming in as a freshman with RCPRS is a huge advantage when it comes to joining a desirable lab. Most of the faculty are familiar with RCPRS and it makes you an attractive candidate for an undergraduate research position because you bring in your own funding and have the necessary research experience (usually) to get accepted into the program.
Secondly, there are lots of social events with other Rawlings scholars as well as a peer advising system which can help you meet people with similar interests as well as leverage the experience of upperclassmen who were in your shoes a couple of years ago. I’ve found this aspect of RCPRS to be particularly rewarding.
Additionally, being part of RCPRS helps you stand out as an exceptional undergraduate researcher amongst a very strong student body. In my experience, this has been very helpful during recruiting for internships, etc. (many recruiters who give on-campus interviews are alums and have told me that they are aware of/impressed by RCPRS). Rawlings Scholars place well at the top graduate programs in the country every year and are often recognized beyond Cornell (e.g. a Rawlings Scholar was selected for a Rhodes Scholarship this year).
Obviously I’m biased, but I think RCPRS is a great program that can add a lot of value to your undergraduate research experience and I would highly recommend it. Good luck with your decision and I hope to see you on the hill this fall!
I’d also encourage you to check out the Facebook page for some student profiles and other news:
https://www.facebook.com/RCPRS?fref=ts