The Presidential Scholars Program (PSP) connects students with faculty, postdoctoral, graduate and peer mentors, who are committed to promoting a community that fosters opportunities that support scholars' academic, personal, and professional goals. Throughout their undergraduate careers, Presidential Scholars will engage in various activities that include individual and group advising- seminar series, study sessions, professional development workshops, and access to other programs and university resources pertinent to their success.
Presidential Scholars Program
Program Benefits
Freshmen Year
- First year scholars receive semester stipends during the academic year.
- Scholars meet regularly with a PSP Faculty Advisor and have access to upperclassmen peer mentors.
- Throughout the fall, freshmen meet for weekly dinners with faculty to discuss research.
- Regular social and celebratory events bring together PSP cohorts throughout the year.
- PSP Content Area Peer Advisors offer scholars academic support throughout the year.
- Scholars are eligible to receive funding for two summers to pursue full-time research.
When I arrived at Brown, I was having difficulty deciding on an academic path. The Presidential Scholars Faculty Seminar offered lectures from brilliant professors from around the country. One of these visiting speakers, a glaciologist from the University of Alaska, inspired me to pursue studies in geology-biology and a future career in environmental science.
Presidential Scholar
Sophomore Year
- PSP supports sophomore scholars in securing a research practicum during the academic year.
- Scholars continue to meet with a PSP Faculty Advisor and have access to peer mentors.
- Workshops offer scholars support on topics such as applying to graduate school, fellowships, and internships.
- Sophomore scholars continue to receive semester stipends during the academic year.
- Sophomore scholars gain public speaking skills at the annual PSP Sophomore Symposium.
- Scholars are eligible to receive funding for two summers to pursue full-time research.
The support with finding and securing research allowed me to explore all of the options available to me here at Brown. My first research practicum was in a completely different department than the one I ended up majoring in, but it was a valuable experience that ultimately led me to research that I loved.
Presidential Scholar
Junior & Senior Years
- All PSP Scholars gain exclusive access to a dedicated space in the Brown Sciences Library.
- Networking events help to connect PSP scholars to alumni working across all professional industries.
- Continued academic and professional support is available upon request.
- Upperclassmen are invited to PSP social events such as the annual Welcome Brunch at the beginning of the academic year and Senior Brunch.
- All PSP Scholars are eligible to apply for travel funding to attend academic conferences to present research.
Meeting with my advisor and peer mentor has been so helpful in choosing what courses I'm going to take, navigating research, and helping to adjust to the Brown community. I think that it is one of the best parts of PSP because it is so rare to have that mentor/mentee relationship be so strong and ongoing throughout the entire year, but in PSP it is the standard. Having PSP activities is such a great way to connect with your cohort and I have made genuine friends out of it.
Presidential Scholar