Burchard Scholars Program

Apply online to become a Burchard Scholar. Your application must include the following materials:

• Curriculum vitae or résumé.
• List of HASS classes you have taken at MIT.
• A letter of recommendation from a faculty member who has taught you in a HASS course.
• An unofficial MIT transcript.
• An essay of less than 500 words. You can choose from any of the following topics:
  • If you could require every incoming MIT student to read one book, or contemplate one work of art, or listen to one piece of music, what would it be and why?
  • SHASS’s mission is to advance human understanding. Applying what you’ve learned at MIT, how do you see yourself contributing to that mission in your career?
  • Write about an experience in which you encountered a tension between personal freedom and community standards. Discuss the experience and the underlying issues, how you dealt with the tension, and whether or not there was a satisfactory resolution.

A complete application must include a confidential letter of recommendation by the application deadline. Contact your recommender directly with your request, résumé, and a list of your HASS subjects.

If you have questions about the award or how to apply, email a member of the Burchard Committee for support.