<p>I'm really hoping to be nominated as a presidential research scholar. It says there are up to 200 each year. Does that mean like 200/class, or like 50/class/200/all undergrads? Also, who gets these? I'm currently doing research at a medical/graduate school here in Dallas and am hoping to continue on researching in college, and this would be a phenomenal opportunity for me. Anyone know of anyone that's been given this award, and what it takes to get it?</p>
<p>I know a few people in all of the Commitment programs. The kids with Rawlings usually did significant research in high school, meaning pretty much every summer and every year. A lot of them submitted stuff to Intel, and other research based competitions.</p>
<p>Don't get your hopes up for being nominated for any of the Commitments, they are competitive, and not at all up to you, they are completely determined by the admissions committee.</p>
<p>You will automatically get selected for CPRS as a pre-frosh if you qualify. You don't need a nomination or special application. If you don't get it as a pre-frosh you can still be nominated in your freshman and sophomore years. But, getting CPRS as a Cornell student is extremely tough (I think they cap the number at 10).</p>
<p>The one nice thing is that the Tradition, which is a fellowship you can apply to after your freshmen year, can largely replace a lot of the perks of the Presidential Scholars. </p>
<p>I was in the Tradition, but then was nominated for the Presidential Scholars, but they wouldn't let me change programs seeing as how I was already in one and they weren't all that dissimilar for my purposes.</p>
<p>“The kids with Rawlings usually did significant research in high school, meaning pretty much every summer and every year. A lot of them submitted stuff to Intel, and other research based competitions.”</p>
<p>What exactly does this mean? I don’t understand the line “every summer and every year”.
I hope I can still qualify for the Presidential Scholars award! Basically, I am looking at 2 summers of research, and 2 years in HS doing research. Do you think that this is enough for the award as a pre-frosh?</p>
<p>^he means that the kids did research every summer each year of high school. </p>
<p>I’m in RCPRS. I got notified of it when I got an acceptance letter. Unlike you, I had no clue it existed and didn’t tailor my application towards research in any way–that might help you since you know what to emphasize. I really don’t know how they pick people or how you “qualify.” I think I probably got in because I did historical research for 4 years of high school and placed regionally, statewide, and nationally in NHD (history research competition). I didn’t focus on this on my application really, but I’m guessing it helped that I did it all four years, won awards, and definitely because history/social sciences is infinitely less popular research area than science/medical and they want a diverse group of interests represented by the scholars. Probably didn’t hurt that I’m 1 of like 20 fashion majors each year (I like being special?) and talked about wanting to explore fashion history and theory and not go to an art school. </p>
<p>There aren’t 200 or even 50 of us, maybe about 15-20 max in my year, more like 10-15 I think. But if you don’t get in as a pre-frosh you can still apply to get in sophomore year. Don’t like worry about it so much though. There’s really nothing you could do about it so there’s no point.</p>
<p>^Yeah, I’m also currently one. Tbh, though, it’s not all its cut out to be. There are a lot of kids who have done only one summer of research while there are a few others who been involved in research for a while. It’s a nice way to meet others who might have similar interests though, two out of the four people I live with now are also rcprs, so you might find some of your best friends in the program. And, the person in charge of the program is super nice and very approachable, so feel free to email or ask her questions you might have.</p>
<p>Wow, thanks for replying guys! Even though this thread is really old, I still kinda hoped that you guys would still reply, and you guys came through! As RCPRS students, how much work do you actually put into doing your research? Does it ever get in the way of social events and other things?</p>
<p>My D applied as a soph. It’s been fun for her. Presented research, exhibitions on campus, spent one summer in Ithaca, traveled abroad for research and now will have her fafsa loans paid off!</p>
<p>The first two years my research was mostly based on working 10 hrs/week in the Costume collection on campus. Then I did a summer of research making a sculpture for an exhibition I was funded for. Last year and this year I’ve been working on my thesis research, which is a lot of work. I don’t think it gets in the way of your social life at all, but it does add to your workload. You get credit for it though.</p>
<p>I’m in Tradition (member of Cornell Commitment with President’s Scholars) and I know that the latter picks people mostly from pre-frosh who had extensive research experience. It’s definitely not 200 per grade at Cornell… probably 200 total (although I thought it was less than that). Tradition has about 400 I think and it’s a lot bigger.</p>
<p>Also, with Tradition, you can apply for it as an undergrad and get it… aka you can get it after being enrolled at Cornell (that’s what happened to me). Best of luck!</p>
<p>Bump! I wonder if anyone else is willing to weigh in on this?</p>