The Burchard Scholars Program 
Expand your horizons at dinner seminars with distinguished MIT faculty
 

Students, you can apply here.
Program open to MIT sophomores and juniors.
Application deadline October 31, 2019
 

Expand Your Horizons at Dinner Seminars with Distinguished Faculty

The Burchard Scholars Program brings together distinguished members of the faculty and promising MIT sophomores and juniors who have demonstrated excellence in some aspect of the humanities, arts, or social sciences. About 35 MIT undergraduates are selected each year for the competitive program. Each cohort of "Burchards" participates for one calendar year, from February through December.

The format is a series of dinner seminars that reflect the vast range of inquiry and research in the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Science. The Burchard Program consists of nine events throughout a calendar year — a large reception at the beginning of spring term, seven dinner-seminars, and one cultural event in the fall. Seminars are held monthly, on Wednesday evenings from 5-7pm, during the school year.

Application Information

The Burchard Scholars 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 essay on one of three essay topics in less than 500 words:
  • If you could require every incoming MIT student to read one book, what would it be and why?
  • "Great ideas change the world.” In your essay, personalize the SHASS motto by addressing the following question: How have one or two “great ideas” changed you and your views of “the world”?
  • 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.

Students submit applications online here. You are expected to contact your HASS faculty/lecturer referee directly no later than the application deadline to make arrangements for them to supply a recommendation directly to burchard-scholars@mit.edu no later than one full week after the application deadline. You should supply them copies of your résumé and your list of HASS subjects. Please allow your referees time to do their job!

Applications are due on October 31, 2019 for the 2020 Burchard Program.

Please note:

A Burchard Scholar can be a major in any department of the Institute; no preference is given to HASS majors. All sophomores and juniors in good standing are eligible to apply. If you have a question about the Program or how to apply, please email burchard-scholars@mit.edu.
 

Information on the Burchard Program

Burchard Events
Past Burchard Scholars

Congratulations to the 2018 Burchard Scholars!