1) May I still apply if I'm less than three years from graduation?
The "requirement" is to have at least three years to participate in the program. If you have less than three years before graduation, you may still be able to complete the program if you have already engaged in activities that are aligned with the Grand Challenges Scholars Program (GCSP) curriculum. For example, if you have already made progress in a research project that can be justified as contributing to solving one of the grand challenges, then you would have a head start and have a chance of completing the program before graduating.
We encourage you to apply to the program. The application lets you explain how you may have already made progress on one or more of the activities of the GCSP curriculum.
2) Do all curriculum-required activities have to be focused on the same Grand Challenge?
Focusing on the same Grand Challenge, while allowed, is not mandatory.
3) How do I get started?
First, make a plan for how you will complete the program, including how to comply with the five components. As an example for the GCSP thesis, you can show how you integrated the other components of GCSP, such as interdisciplinary, entrepreneurship, global dimension and service learning. Then plan your curriculum so that you do activities or courses that complement the GCSP.
You, the student, are expected to establish these connections.
4) What if I already have a thesis?
You can reuse your thesis and explain how the research is related to the Grand Challenge and, optionally, the other components in the program.
5) Are there other expectations besides completing the program requirements?
At the end of each year, you are expected to complete a survey to give feedback on the program and document your progress towards meeting the GCSP requirements. You are also expected to participate in the GCSP activities, such as the annual GCSP summit. Also, the more senior students in the program are expected to help mentor the students behind them in the program and to serve as external ambassadors of the program.