<p>Anybody have comment on doing the research versus getting the Masters degree.</p>
<p>You can do both, it just might take you longer. It helps if you have AP credits. You were planning on a Masters in 4 years? You may have to go to 5.</p>
<p>Otherwise, you have to take more credits during the semester or add semesters to your plan. You can also do coop and get a Masters in 5 years; those people do 3 coops (the minimum) vs 5.</p>
<p>Some students overload on credits every semester. I talked to one student who was taking 21 credits so he could keep on schedule. It depends on how motivated you are.</p>
<p>Thanks- My D has a lot of AP credits coming in but will be playing a sport also. Just trying to figure out how she will balance it all especially in summer. She def wants coop so 5 years probably good call. Also she is going BME -wasn’t sure if masters as important as research in real world setting.</p>
<p>If she wants coop and wants to be done in 5 years, she would probably do 3 coop rotations. Then either research or a Masters. It will be tough with a sport. </p>
<p>We went to an open house/tour recently and people were saying that there is very little down time if you play a sport, with swimming being the most difficult because it is more than one season.</p>
<p>If she is organized and manages her time well, she should do fine. If she tries co op and it is too much, she doesn’t have to continue; she can just get internships during the summer.</p>
<p>btw she could do 5 coop rotations & Masters and go for 6 years, but I don’t think many students want to do that. She could also get her Masters in 4 years, but she wouldn’t have enough time for coop.</p>
<p>bump as someone just asked a new question about Scholars on another thread.</p>
<p>I am curious, how many Scholars do they start out with? Is there a certain number?
Do they all get the same scholarship?</p>
<p>A counselor at Stevens told me that they invite the top 10% of admissions to Scholars. The freshman class averages about 600 students, so I assume that means ~60 people. If you get a 3.8 GPA your first semester at Stevens, you can request to join the Scholars program. My older son knows someone who did this.</p>
<p>I think the amounts vary, depending on merit and need. If you look at some of the links I posted in the Financial Aid forum, you will see that there are many scholarships offered beyond the 6 or so listed on the Stevens scholarship page. Some are very specific, some based on need, some just merit, some a composition. So I don’t think you can predict the package someone will get based on Scholars acceptance.</p>
<p>The value of Scholars is that you get priority class registration, research opportunities with either free summer housing or a stipend, or the ability to take up to 4 classes during the summers for free. This allows you to graduate with a dual degree or masters for the same cost as a 4 year degree. You may also participate in coop. If you do 5 coops you will probably graduate in 6 years; you can do 3 coop experiences and graduate in 5 years.</p>
<p>The only requirement for Scholars (besides maintaining a minimum GPA) is that you take some honors seminars and intro to research classes (I think there are 4-5) that are graded pass/fail.</p>
<p>A quick question about the research/scholars program. Do you know how many students choose the research over the coop? You mention a stipend for research or free housing. I thought it was both? Do you know how long the summer research is? Does it start as soon as school ends and go until fall semester? How many years did your son do the research, and did he find himself doing meaningful work? Thanks for any input.</p>
<p>Hi Oliver,
As my son just received his letter, I can only answer one question. You are correct, it is both, a $4000. stipend AND free housing for summer research.
They do not mention coop in the letter. All that is mentioned is that you can choose between the summer research and the four year dual major or combined Bachelors/Masters in four years.</p>
<p>My bad. When you do the free classes, you don’t get free housing for the summer. You can take up to 4 classes and there are 2 summer sessions.</p>
<p>My son so far has done the free classes, not the research. You can get an idea about what they do here [Undergraduate</a> Research | Stevens Schaefer School of Engineering and Science](<a href=“http://www.stevens.edu/ses/research/undergraduate.html]Undergraduate”>http://www.stevens.edu/ses/research/undergraduate.html) They show someone who is doing Scholars research and someone who is doing summer research. As far as I know, the research lasts about 10 weeks, and you can work out the schedule with your research director.</p>
<p>You do not have to choose between coop and research or dual degree/combined Masters. You will just go to school longer, because you will have to fit the coop experiences in your schedule. So if you want the ‘4 year Masters plus coop’ you can choose to do 3 coop rotations and graduate in 5 years. If you want to do the full 5 coop rotations, it will probably take you 6 years. </p>
<p>Some students can cut time off if they overload on classes (21-24 credits per semester) or if they have a lot of AP credits. </p>
<p>You are only paying tuition for the time you are in class. You will make a salary during coop so that can help offset housing costs and other ‘fees’. Coop questions were the most frequent questions I heard at the accepted students day.</p>
<p>ps I think there was one woman student we met who did research, coop, and accelerated Masters and was going on to graduate study at an ivy. I don’t know how she did it all.</p>
<p>Rualum-great info-is your son happy with his choice to do the free classes? Also do the students live off campus for the summer classes?</p>
<p>dratr yes he was happy with the classes. He said it’s actually easier because you only have 2 classes at a time. You can get housing off campus if you want (people will sublet in the summer) or you can live on campus. You have a choice of Jonas (dorm) or River (apartments, more money) but the dining hall is not open during the summer so food is on your own. But there are dozens of takeout places a block away so it’s not a problem.</p>
<p>What kind of stats are needed to get into the scholars program?</p>
<p>jibler I was told top 10% of admissions so it can vary. If you get a 3.8 GPA your first semester at Stevens, you can request to join Scholars program.</p>
<p>Thanks Rualum-I am also parent-My D accepted to scholars, great merit package, and sport, so hello Hoboken .</p>
<p>Thank you Rualum for all you input. I hadn’t ad a chance to come on this site in a long while and I do appreciate your insight.</p>
<p>Has anyone done the research option during the summer? I was wondering how it was.</p>