<p>My son is thinking of applying to Olin. He loves their applied, project oriented program. One of the questions that we have been struggling with is the extent to which Olin supports multi-disciplinary work and research. It does not come across. For example, are there opportunities to pursue research in genomics or robotics outside of the core courses? Can you take courses in other schools to supplement this? </p>
<p>Any comments please??</p>
<p>ThoughtfulParent –</p>
<p>I think you’ve gotten answers to this on your other thread. You might look at the Expo descriptions from this fall as a small sample of the different things students are doing in-class and out.</p>
<p><a href=“https://www.olin.edu/events/docs/Expo%20Program%20-%20FALL%202013%20-%20FINAL%20-%2012.19.13.pdf[/url]”>https://www.olin.edu/events/docs/Expo%20Program%20-%20FALL%202013%20-%20FINAL%20-%2012.19.13.pdf</a></p>
<p>Don’t forget that besides classes, student activities (including the design teams like SailBot – robotic sailing, Baja, Human Powered Vehicles, Research on Electric Vehicles at Olin), co-curriculars (fall 2013 list here: <a href=“http://star.olin.edu/docs/Records/Courses_Sched/FA13_Co-Curricular_Descriptions_&_Registration.pdf[/url]”>http://star.olin.edu/docs/Records/Courses_Sched/FA13_Co-Curricular_Descriptions_&_Registration.pdf</a>) and research, there is Olin’s idea of Passionate Pursuit. This allows the student to propose a project and get $200 from the university to pursue it. </p>
<p>Classes, co-curriculars, research for credit (research can also be for pay), and passionate pursuits are all documented on your transcript. Co-curriculars are transcripted, but not for credit. Passionate Pursuits have non-degree credit (which means that if they make you go over 20 hours per semester, you need to get special permission).</p>
<p>Certainly there are many opportunities to explore robotics at Olin with Olin professors. All they need to do is ask the professor, who may have a role for them to play on an existing research project, or if your student has an idea of something they’d like to pursue independently, that is also possible. As for Genomics, I’m not sure about Olin professors, but it is equally as easy to do research with a professor at Wellesley, which has a stellar science program–they just have to find the professor (presumably by taking classes there) and convince them–plenty have done it. Shuttles leave for Wellesley regularly on weekdays.</p>
<p>Olin professors have supported research in Bioengineering projects, and there have been some incredible Bioengineering/Medical technology projects done for SCOPE (the senior year capstone real-world project). </p>
<p>A student could also find a research project at Brandeis, but it is more difficult to get there (they may have to drive themselves, though if there were a handful of students going at the same time, it might be easier). I don’t know of students who have done research projects there (outside of SCOPE), but students do take classes there (less regularly than at Wellesley or Babson).</p>
<p>Olin is tremendously supportive of almost anything a student wishes to do in the general area of the curriculum. The size of the school allows for a lot of flexibility, and I have never heard a student complain that they were not allowed to do something. Having the time to pursue everything they want is another matter entirely!</p>
<p>If your son is OK with the small size and lack of grad school, encourage him to apply to Olin. Then if he gets invited to CW (Candidate Weekend) next February, he can learn more about their approach and also investigate the opportunities for his particular interest</p>