On the contrary, the Chesick Scholars Program is designed to challenge students who are already strong to become even more successful. Many Chesick Scholars engage in research with faculty in their freshman year and beyond, some with publishable results. The program seeks to amplify, through intense mentoring, the natural talent and grit the scholars already possess.

Chesick Scholars have been awarded prestigious Fulbright and Beckman fellowships, obtained research internships from the Center for Peace and Global Citizenship and Hurford Humanities Center, become Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellows,  and obtained many other academic honors and prizes commensurate with their amazing potential.

Yes! The Chesick Scholars Program has an Academic Year component that is not optional. Scholars meet their mentors every week, and also meet regularly as a cohort and in social and academic programming to facilitate their continued development as academic leaders. They also attend three academic events (lectures, concerts, films) of their choosing each semester and engage in ongoing academic, social, and professional / career development activities, including support in applying for internships and other opportunities. Finally, Scholars write a letter annually to the sponsor of the program.

Like cheese-ik, with a long "e" and short "i"

A deceased long-time Chemistry Professor at Haverford, who is remembered for his high expectations and mentorship of students.

Read John Chesick's article "A Global Experiment: CFC's and the Ozone Crisis" from the Winter 1992 issue of Haverford magazine.

No. The five week summer experience is a critical part of the entire mentoring program.

No, only students invited to apply are eligible.

Chesick Scholars are especially interested in focused study and research in their areas of scholarly interest, and in working with mentors and like-minded peers to build a supportive academic community. In addition, Chesick Scholars are students from a variety of backgrounds, including coming from a background historically underrepresented in academia, coming from a family with neither parent finishing college, growing up in a low-income setting, and/or having had limited access to previous mentoring experiences.  

A committee reviews the applications and selects the students who express a particular scholarly focus, an interest in building a strong mentoring relationship with a faculty member, and enthusiasm for working with peers to support each others' academic pursuits. We also try to balance the cohort's interests in Natural Sciences, Humanities and Social Science.

Nothing. The summer program will cover all costs for textbooks and supplies, and will help with costs for additional equipment if you need to add/improve internet connectivity at home.

Approximate costs are $10,000 per student.

A generous donation from the San Francisco Foundation has provided seed funding for the first five years of the program. Continuation of the program is made possible by additional generous donors.