Sophomore Residential Seminars

Selected students will live and study together in Drake Hall, then travel in an academic embedded experience related to the course. Find the course below and apply before the deadline for this truly immersive experience. Each spring, all students will continue the dialogue with a one-quarter-credit course with their professor.

Thanks in part to a $700,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation, Colgate has introduced a new series of intensive residential seminars that have the power to transform the sophomore year. Students who are selected will live and study together in Drake Hall, meet regularly with the seminar professors and guest speakers in the residence hall, and engage in an embedded academic travel experience related to the course at no extra charge. Each spring, all Mellon Residential Seminar students will continue the dialog with a one-quarter-credit course with their professor.

Apply

This program is open to all students in the Class of 2016, no matter what your extracurricular commitments or your intended major. The deadline for applications is 11:59 p.m. on February 8, 2013. Faculty teaching in the program will interview students on February 15 and offer spots to students beginning February 19. APPLY NOW

Information Sessions
January 28, 6:00 p.m. - ALANA Multiplurpose Room
January 28, 7:00 p.m. - West Hall
January 29, 8:00 p.m. - 105 Lawrence Hall
January 29, 9:00 p.m. - Curtis Hall

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What Students Are Saying About the Faculty

• "Amazing teacher, really passionate about the subject and makes you think way past the text"
• "Very interesting and brilliant"
• "Honestly one of the best professors I have had at this school"
• "Excellent professor. Intellectually stimulating and challenging. Open to new ideas and arguments."

Students Who Participate in Similar Programs Report:

• better academic performance;
• more socially and academically supportive environments;
• feeling more connected to their peers and to their program of study;
• greater satisfaction with their overall college experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I consider Sophomore Residential Seminars?

The seminars allow you to live and learn with other sophomores who share similar academic interests. The seminars also allow you to work closely with a Colgate professor over an entire year.

How do I become a member of a seminar?

Applications are available here and are due by 11:59pm February 8. Faculty teaching the Sophomore Residential Seminars will interview students on February 15 and offer spots to students beginning February 19. Scheduling an appointment is done after you have successfully submitted your application. Once you click SUBMIT, you will be routed to a Google calendar site where you can select an interview time that works best for you. You must be logged in to Gmail with your Colgate username. The assignment of rooms and roommates will come later.

How does the housing work?

Students in this program will live on the top two floors of Drake Hall, in doubles and suites. Your roommate(s) will also be in the same seminar as you. By participating in this program, you will not have to take part in the housing lottery and selection later this spring.

Does it cost anything to participate?

No. Your research trip to Jerusalem, Paris, or Costa Rica will be fully funded, as will field trips and other activities connected to the program.

Do the seminar courses fulfill any distribution requirements?

Yes – Jerusalem: City of Gods (RELG/JWST) and Existentialism (PHIL) will satisfy a "Human Thought and Expression" requirement, while Coffee and Cigarettes (HIST) will satisfy a "Social Relations, Institutions, and Agents" requirement.

I'm really interested in multiple classes in the program. Is it possible to interview with two professors to improve my chances of getting into the program?

There is no need to schedule multiple interviews. The professors will discuss their interviews in the processes of determining the final class lists. So while it's not possible to interview with more than one professor, you will still be considered for the seminars you list in order of your preference.

How important is my GPA in considering my application?

Your GPA is a factor, but it is far from the most important one. We realize that you've been at Colgate for only one semester, so it is a small sample size. If there are things you'd have us know about your first semester that put your GPA into perspective, please let us know about them in the application.

What are the travel dates for the seminars?

Many variables are considered when determining the specific travel dates of each program, such as cost of airfare and lodging, etc. Therefore, specific travel dates are currently not available. However, none of the trips will depart prior to January 2014 and families can anticipate trips taking place during the first two weeks in January. We want you to be home for the holidays and back with a bit of time to breathe before the semester begins.

Who can I talk to if I have more questions?

You can direct your questions to srs@colgate.edu