President's/Stamps Scholars Experience at Ga Tech

My daughter has a tough final decision to make this week. Is there anyone here who was a Tech President’s Scholar or Stamps Scholar? Apart from the obvious benefit of the full ride, was participating in the program positive for you? Was it what you expected?

My DD is not a Stamps Scholar, but she has friends who are and they all report it as being extremely positive experience. It has opened a lot of doors for them and they have had many unique experiences at GT because of it. As a parent I would find it really difficult for my child to turn it down. Yes the money is great, but is is a very exclusive opportunity and I think it would have many future benefits in comparison to attending a college where my child did not hold a similar position. Stamps is known nation-wide and your daughter would receive that added benefit.

My own child received full rides from other colleges as well as honors colleges acceptances, but she was accepted to a very unique program at Georgia Tech. This program has been an incredible educational opportunity for my DD and has provided her with many more opportunities than we could ever imagine. She has had much success both personally and professionally because of this program, she has had wonderful interaction with faculty because of this program, she has had great research opportunities because of this program. I think you get the picture, any time your child can be part of a select academic opportunity I think it is tough to turn it down.

Thank you for that perspective! My daughter would be doing Grand Challenges too, and it all sounds great, but we live OOS so our experience with people who have actually done these programs is limited. I appreciate the insight.

@GoodGrief16 Grand Challenges with Stamps is a clear winner. PM please and I can give more info. I am a bit busy today but can respond tomorrow. Let me know where else she is considering.

@GoodGrief16 I know this may be too late due to decisions needed by May 1. My daughter is currently a Stamp Presidential Scholar at GT from OOS. It has been a fantastic experience overall and provided her access to experiences she would not have had at GT. As you may know starting with the 2016-17 year the program is being upgraded as ALL awards will now be Stamps Scholars v. in the past being 80% Presidential Scholars (still a full ride) and the balance being Stamps (extra enrichment experience funding, books, laptop, etc). The benefactor believes in GT so much that they will be funding this difference. Additionally the biennial Stamps convention that was formerly held around the country every other year, will now be hosted/held by GT. This provides additional opportunities for the students to plan, involve themselves and engage with the national stamps scholars at least twice during their college experience starting the spring of 2017.

I do have to say that the students ultimately get out of the program what they choose to put into it. No one forces them to participate in the activities but it is encourages. If they choose to become involved, the extra mentorship, leadership, educational, and certainly networking opportunities available to them is positive.

My daughter (OOS) also preferred the Stamps over full ride at few other schools(UNC, chapel hill etc). She will also be in Grand challenges community. I have personally talked to parents of PSP (not Stamps) in past and they all (both female students) Have loved the program and are doing VERY well ( working for Baine, or doing MBA at Wharton etc).

@good grief, looks like from another post ur D preferred to go to princeton. now we r faced the same dilemma. gtech on stamps or Princeton( just got of wait list)??? pretty confused with two good option.let us know ur thoughts for and against each. thanks in advance.

@sinhamn My daughter chose Princeton, though we are still not sure it was the right choice! In the end, she concluded that she would have more options at Princeton if she decided to change majors. She thinks she wants engineering, but feels like that could change. Still though, feeling very sad about giving up Stamps.

@GoodGrief16 exactly the same story with my D. my D decided cs/engineering but cold change. It was tough call