Getting started

From GCSP

If you're new to the program, you might want to check out the Overview.

Contents 1 Scholars 1.1 Are you eligible? 1.2 Timeline 1.3 Next steps 2 Mentors

Scholars

Are you eligible?

Right now, there's only one question you have to ask: Am I a current Olin student? If you are, you're eligible to become a Scholar. If not, you aren't - but please consider becoming a Mentor instead, and read on - we may be working on making it possible for you to become a Scholar as well!

There are neither admissions nor acceptance criteria for an Olin student to participate in the program. It is not a privilege obtained only by a select group; rather, it is a symbol of an Olin community member’s decision to emphasize the skills determined by the National Academy of Engineering and the fourteen Grand Challenges’ solutions to be driver of his/her academic and personal development.

True to the spirit of lifelong learning and the importance of creating an active community of learners, we anticipate that the definition of who becomes a Grand Challenge Scholar will expand to include Olin faculty, staff, alumni, trustees, and other members of the Olin community.

Timeline

Aside from fulfilling the Requirements before graduation for those wishing to become Scholars, there is no mandatory timeline for participation in the program.

However, it is strongly recommended that a plan of study towards their goal of becoming a Grand Challenge Scholar be created by fourth semester of matriculation at Olin. We also recommend students become matched to a Challenge Group by this time.

The purpose of the plan of study is for the Program Board to initiate discussion with the applying scholar about the requirements of the program, an appropriate and feasible timeline, and preliminary ideas for how to complete the open‐ended requirements. This gives interested students time to gauge their interest in the program while also providing them with enough time for plan of study iterations, especially in the context of the three different program areas: curriculum, community and portfolio.

Next steps

1. Create an account on this site.
2. Create your profile.
3. Find a Mentor to work with. You may have more than one mentor.
4. Work with your mentors to fulfill the program Requirements.

Mentors

1. Create an account on this site.
2. Create your profile.
3. Find a Scholar to work with. You may work with more than one Scholar.
4. Advise your Scholar on their projects and how they can fulfill the program Requirements.