President's Scholars at Stanford

Colleges and Universities A-Z Stanford University
1

<p>Hi prospective Stanford Class of 2009,</p>

<p>I know from the Stanford Homepage that in 1995 a program called "President's Scholars" was established at Stanford to honor the most academically outstanding admits of the incoming freshmen class by providing more generous financial aid and other benefits. The program should especially motivate these students to pursue independent research projects early in their undergraduate career. The program was partially disbanded in 2003 so that there were no more official nominations as "President's Scholars". However, I received a letter signed personally by the Director of Admission stating the following: "Dear X (...) When I read your application, I knew that you were able to pursue independent research from the very beginning of your Stanford career" (These are not the exact words, but very similar to the original).</p>

<p>Have you also received this kind of letter together with a bulletin about research opportunities at Stanford??</p>

<p>Thanks for any comments.</p>

2

<p>I got a booklet entitled "Undergraduate Research Programs at Stanford"...maybe they send it to everyone...</p>

3

<p>So is this a backdoor way to continue offering "merit based" scholarships, even after they said they didn't need to do it for yield-boosting purposes any more?</p>

<p>SEE: Daily Stanford - 2002</p>

<p>"Stanford’s President’s Scholars program will be placed on hold next year, a change that may become permanent. An effort to tighten the University’s budget, coupled with the notion that Stanford may have outgrown the program, has led the University to decide that the money might be better spent elsewhere.</p>

<p>The President’s Scholars program promises $3,000 grants to 200 admitted freshmen every year. It was initiated eight years ago by ex-University President Gerhard Casper and James Montoya, then-Dean of Admissions. The President’s Scholars program ... offered an incentive for some of the strongest admitted students to attend Stanford.</p>

<p>Since then, the situation has changed considerably. The University has enjoyed a steady climb into the ranks of its more established peers. More students are applying to Stanford, and the Admissions Office is becoming more selective. Dangling the President’s Scholar carrot is no longer necessary to attract the most qualified students."</p>

<p><a href="http://daily.stanford.edu/tempo?page=content&id=8960&repository=0001_article%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://daily.stanford.edu/tempo?page=content&id=8960&repository=0001_article&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

4

<p>dietberd, your letter does not indicate that you will receive a $3,000 grant, does it?</p>

5

<p>No it doesn't. It simply suggests that I should engage in research as soon as possible.</p>

6

<p>I e-mailed my admissions representative yesterday and asked him about the President's Scholar Program. He confirmed to me that the program was completely disbanded in 2004. Stanford does not award financial awards to the best admits. Instead, they make research funds available to all students.</p>

7

<p>That was what I had heard. There was some talk that the "research" stipends would not be offered to entering students prior to enrollment, but to any qualified current students. </p>

<p>It would be a step backward to hint to applicants, for recruiting purposes, that such a benefit was theirs for the asking if only they would enroll. Sort of a "likely letter" approach!</p>