Membership
Hunter R. Rawlings III Cornell Presidential Research Scholars (RCPRS) are members of a select group, representing less than two percent of the Cornell undergraduate population. First year students are selected for the program during the Cornell admissions process based on their academic excellence as well as expressed or demonstrated interest in research and academic inquiry. A limited number of students are selected as rising juniors through a highly-competitive application process.
Selection of Rawlings Scholars
High School Students
Members of the Undergraduate Admissions Office selection committee conduct a review of all undergraduate applications for consideration. There is no separate application for RCPRS memberships for prospective Cornellians. If you are a prospective student and you have questions about the program, please contact us at rcprs@cornell.edu.
Current Cornell Sophomores
Students may apply to join the RCPRS program in the second semester of their sophomore year only. The upper-class application can be found here. If you have any questions, please contact: rcprs@cornell.edu. The application is due in mid June.
For questions, contact rcprs@cornell.edu.
Additional Resources
Upperclass Admissions Application Process
Faculty members: Send letters of recommendation to rcprs@cornell.edu
Sophomores: If you wish to review a preview of the application, please send an email to rcprs@cornell.edu
Criteria
A student must:
- be a Cornell sophomore (or a 3rd year student in 5-year program);
- have at least one semester of research, scholarly study, or creative experience with a Cornell faculty mentor who is based on the Ithaca campus;
- have a 3.5 GPA or higher; and
- be enrolled as a full-time undergraduate at Cornell and be in Ithaca for at least 3 of their 4 remaining semesters. Students who plan to study abroad for a full academic year or graduate a year early are ineligible.
- Note: Students in the arts, architecture, design, and humanities are encouraged to apply. Please contact the RCPRS office if you have any questions.
Process
The process entails the following:
- The student must request a letter of recommendation on their behalf be submitted by a faculty member with whom they have conducted research with for at least one semester. Faculty can submit letters to rcprs@cornell.edu
- Student applications include a statement of interest and a research proposal. For instructions on how to write these for the RCPRS application, please contact rcprs@cornell.edu for an application preview
- After all of the materials are received, the committee makes its selections based on the number of openings the program has for the upcoming academic year.
- Students receive notice of their acceptance or denial over the summer.
Selected Students
A student who is selected:
- Will begin receiving program benefits and services in the fall semester of junior year;
- Must be engaged in research throughout their junior and senior years; and
- Will have access to up to $5,000 in a research support account.
- In addition, students receiving financial aid may receive up to $4,000 of their award from RCPRS each year.
Timing
- Early April: The application process for rising juniors begins
- June:
- Student applications due
- July:
- Selection decisions communicated