Research Scholar Initiative alumni have joined PhD programs at top universities including Harvard University; University of Chicago; New York University; University of California, Berkeley; University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; University of Pennsylvania; and University of California, San Francisco. Read what some of them say about their experiences:
Eric Leron McLean
Graduate Student, University of Chicago
"When I first applied to graduate school, I focused on programs exclusively dedicated to immunology. During the graduate admissions interview process, I came to the realization that immunology was not the field of study I wanted to pursue. I decided to join Harvard's Research Scholar Initiative because of the flexibility that it provides to each scholar. My confidence as a scientist was greatly enhanced by my two years in the program. Being able to perform and discuss science at Harvard made me believe that I could be a competitive applicant to the top universities in the country. The RSI program provided excellent resources for applying to graduate school, including GRE preparation and mock interviews."
Janice M. Nieves-Bonilla
Graduate Student, Harvard University
"The RSI program has immensely influenced my career as a research scientist! I was fortunate enough to be part of a program that provided me a personalized plan and structure to prepare for graduate school, the reason for my choosing it. Coming from a small college with little experience in full-time research, I was able to gain the needed confidence to develop my own research project, whilst preparing for graduate school applications. Having access to great mentors and advisors, I had the opportunity to work and develop many skills I needed in order to be prepared for graduate school, such as reading and discussing scientific articles, networking, refining my presentation skills, communicating with advisors, and learning to develop research questions. The most significant part of my experience as a research scholar was that I got an early taste of what it is like to be a graduate student at one of the best research universities in the world. Now, as a graduate student at Harvard, I feel confident that I have chosen the right career path and program for me, that I will thrive as a graduate student, and that I will become a great research scientist; and all of that is due to my participation in this program. Thank you, RSI!"
Francheska López Rivera
Graduate Student, Harvard University
"The Research Scholar Initiative was my bridge from undergraduate study to graduate school. As an architecture major with a second concentration in biology, I felt I was not prepared to compete with top graduate school applicants who had multiple summers of scientific research experience. Having completed my undergraduate degree in Puerto Rico, I also knew that I needed more exposure to the English-speaking system. The Research Scholar Initiative gave me that and more. As a research scholar, I had an individualized plan that was tailored to my needs. I received two full years of research experiences in an awesome lab that focused on my field of interest. I also received a lot of mentoring from my advisor, the program director, and other faculty members. I was able to interact with current graduate students who gave me insight into life as a graduate student. During my time in RSI, I participated in two conferences for minority students and even won my first scientific research award! I also took a core course with my fellow research scholars, in which we discussed papers, presented data, and developed writing skills. RSI also provided me with funding for a GRE prep course, and I received a lot of advice while completing my graduate school applications. I even got the chance to practice for graduate school interviews with Harvard faculty. Finally, the Research Scholar Initiative gave me the chance to explore what Harvard has to offer, and I discovered that it is the perfect place for me to complete my graduate studies."
