The Burchard Scholars Program
Expand your horizons at dinner seminars with distinguished MIT faculty
The Student Application deadline is November 29, 2022.
Program open to MIT sophomores and juniors.
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 eight events throughout a calendar year. 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 (to be submitted no later than the application deadline)
- 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, or contemplate one work of art, or listen to one piece of music, 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 referee and submit their letter of reference via the application form. You should supply them copies of your résumé and your list of HASS subjects. Please allow your referees time to do their job!
If you have a question about the program or how to apply, please email natalian@mit.edu.
Information on the Burchard Program
Burchard Events
Past Burchard Scholars
Congratulations to the 2021 Burchard Scholars!
Hillary Diane Andales, sophomore
Physics
Gabriella Aponte, sophomore
Chemistry and Biology
Prosser Cathey, junior
Mathematical Economics + Political Science
Alana Chandler, junior
Materials Science and Engineering
Curtis Chen, sophomore
Computation and Cognition
Laura Chen, junior
Biological Engineering
Maggie Chen, junior
Brain and Cognitive Sciences
Claire Cheng, junior
Computer Science and Engineering + Music and Theater Arts
Zachary Chin, junior
Chemistry + Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Pedro Colon, sophomore
Chemistry and Biology
Ryan Conti, sophomore
Mathematics
Amelia Dogan, sophomore
Urban Science and Planning with Computer Science + Humanities: American Studies
Rujul Gandhi, junior
Linguistics and Philosophy + Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Swapnil Garg, junior
Mathematics
Stacy Godfreey-Igwe, junior
Engineering + Humanities: African & African Diaspora Studies
Ananya Gurumurthy, sophomore
Economics
Emily Huang, junior
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science + Political Science
Ibuki Iwasaki, junior
Art and Design
Sahithi Madireddy, sophomore
Biology
Naomi Michael, junior
Engineering
Isha Mehrotra, junior
Biology
Karna Morey, junior
Physics
Rajiv Movva, junior
Computer Science and Engineering
Atharv Oak, sophomore
Computer Science and Molecular Biology
Vaishnavi Phadnis, junior
Biology
David Spicer, sophomore
Political Science + Philosophy
Kathryn Tso, junior
Materials Science and Engineering
Max Williamson, junior
Computer Science and Engineering
Kelly Wu, junior
Chemical Engineering
Westley Wu, sophomore
Chemistry and Biology
Megan Xu, junior
Biological Engineering
Jeffery Yu, junior
Mathematics + Physics
Daniel Zhang, junior
Biology
Diane Zhang, sophomore
Computer Science and Molecular Biology
Julian Zulueta, sophomore
Biological Engineering