I was accepted into Bucknell and was lucky enough to receive the Presidential Fellowship. It seems like a great opportunity and I’ve read up about it, but I was wondering if someone with knowledge of or experience in the program could answer a few questions I had about it.
-Is the research/internship for four years all paid?
-What kind of research will be conducted early on when I don’t really know what I’m doing yet?
-I see a lot of the examples involve aiding professors with research on campus. Does the program also include internships with companies and such?
-What exactly can the $1500 grant be used for?
-Are there any other benefits that aren’t initially mentioned? (I know of the scholarship money, grant money, research opporunities, and guest dinners)
I’d appreciate any input, since this is a huge part of my decision between NC State and Bucknell (I have a separate thread on that which I’ve linked below if anyone feels they can give some advice) Thanks!
Hopefully I can answer some of your questions as my son has a Presidential Fellowship.
You get 4 years of the $20,000 scholarship ($10,000 off your bill each semester). This is paid even if you decide to study abroad and are not on campus.
The research that you are doing will depend on what you and your professor decide on. You have input in which professor / project you are matched up with as you get to submit your top choices out of all of the options. There is opportunity to email the professors with any questions you might have before you choose a project. You are also not stuck with the same project for 4 years. You can switch if you want. The professors know that you don't know what you are doing. The first semester, my son ended up taking a class with his mentor professor that taught him the statistical software that he would need to be using. So basically he was getting paid for the hours he put in taking that class. Last summer my son ended up working with bats (not for his fellowship, but just as an extra research project over the summer). He had no experience catching bats, caring for them, or analyzing samples before the summer. They taught him what he needed to know. It's a college. They are there to teach you and help you.
As far as I know, the program is solely about aiding professors with research on campus and does not include internships with companies. However, you will be developing close relationships with professors who have connections and can help you get those internships ...
The $1500 is the amount they are paying you to work. It's like work study, except that instead of having to wash dishes in the dining center or something like that - you get paid for the hours you put in doing your research. Obviously, if you study abroad, you do not get this work money when you are not actually working on campus.
Can't think of any other specific benefits, except that it is such a great opportunity to develop that mentor relationship with a professor. My son's fellowship has led to his being able to present papers at two conferences and he is going to have two papers published. And he is only a junior.
I hope this helped. Please feel free to ask me any other questions you may have about the program. It’s really an amazing opportunity you have been given. Congratulations!
Thank you so much for your help! It’s playing a huge part in my decision. I think it’s really fantastic that your son has already published papers and such.