Admission to the Program

The Science Research Fellows Program at DePauw is a competitive Honors Program with a limited number of students admitted each year. The program is designed to attract outstanding students who are interested in science and undergraduate, collaborative science research with professors. Of the five honors programs at DePauw, SRF is the only one that requires certain majors be declared by the end of your sophomore year. This program is designed specifically for the student who will choose to major in one of the sciences (Biology, Chemistry/Biochemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics/Astronomy, Psychology, Geosciences) offered at DePauw.

Information for current First Year DePauw Students interested in lateral entry into the program: The application process for lateral entry is held during spring semester. You will complete steps 2 and 3. Additionally, you will submit fall grade transcripts and a letter of recommendation (or two) from a science professor(s) you had during fall semester or will have during sping semester. Deadline for submitting your application is the Friday following spring break (April 4th). Please contact Tavia Pigg, Asst. Director, 282 Julian, to let her know of your intent to apply to the program as a lateral entry student.

Current High School Seniors who plan to graduate in May, 2008: This page is for YOU!

Love science? Want to learn how to conduct scientific research and get the opportunity work individually with professors? Have you already given some thought to the possibility of attending graduate school following college? This program may be JUST what you are looking for!

Students entering DePauw in August, 2008 will find the application process listed below. The application deadline is Feb. 1, 2008.

In order for the Science Research Fellows Committee to consider your eligibility for the program, the following items are needed:

Step 1:

Submit an Application for Admission to DePauw University

Step 2:

Statement of Interest Include information such as:

  • What interests you about the Science Research Fellows program? What makes you unique? What strengths would you bring to the program? What are your goals during and beyond college? What are your personal interests?

Email your Statement of Interest to scifellows@depauw.edu Make sure to use the subject line of your email as: "Interest Statement from (insert your name here)"

Step 3:

Science Research Fellows Essay Please submit a separate response (approx. 2 pg.) to the following:

Identify a scientific problem that interests you.  State the problem, describe its significance, and outline a
  scientific approach to solving it. Describe the methods* you plan to use and the reasons for choosing those methods. Finally, discuss possible outcomes of your proposal.

  *Methods you might consider, depending on the discipline or project chosen, include laboratory or field-based experiments, mathematical investigations or computer programming strategies.

                                          rev. 9/26/2006

Notes for Step 3: We have many questions regarding how to answer Step 3. Some guidelines: 1.Keep your focus narrow. e.g. attempting to cure cancer in two pages is unreasonable. 2. This essay is giving you the opportunity to think through the scientific process. Your essay can be an ice-breaker during your interview and helps makes your interview more comfortable for you. 3. Many students have asked if this essay is going to be used as a proposal for research they will do while at DePauw. No, it will not. The expertise of our professors is used to design projects for summer research from which students select.

Email your Essay to scifellows@depauw.edu Make sure to use the subject line of your email as: "Essay from (insert your name here)"

BE SURE TO PUT YOUR NAME ON ALL PAGES OF YOUR ATTACHMENTS.

We will reply via email to confirm that your application materials have been received. You should contact us if you haven't heard back within two days of sending your application.