How to Apply for GCSP

Eligibility/ Requirements

The GCSP is a multi-year program and is offered to freshman and sophomore students in engineering. The GCSP is promoted through ongoing recruitment and outreach efforts; the Honors Program; and first-year experience activities such as introductory engineering courses, academic advising, engineering learning communities, engineering activities, and more.

Selection is based primarily on interest in the Grand Challenges, not solely on prior academic performance. Admission into the program is open to undergraduates who are currently enrolled in engineering at USU. This may include qualified transfer students. All student applicants are required to be in good standing with the College of Engineering.

How to Apply

To apply, students must submit the GCSP online Application Form, which includes a selection of the Grand Challenge they wish to pursue, an essay explaining their motivation for that challenge, and other required supplemental material. Applications will be reviewed by the GCSP program committee.

The GCSP is supported by engineering staff and faculty in all six college departments, and is supported by the recruitment office, advising office, undergraduate research, and graduation services. The GCSP program committee consists of College of Engineering administration, and faculty who oversee the program’s development, implementation, and operation.

This program is funded using college resources and/or scholarship funds.

Application and Selection

Students interested in participating in the GCSP should apply to the program after their first semester, but no later than their fourth semester. Interested students submit an application that includes a short essay about which Grand Challenge they want to address and why, as well as a preliminary plan for how they will complete the required competencies of the program. It is essential that the GS Scholars have and maintain good standing in their home engineering programs and keep a grade point average (GPA) above 3.0. The program committee assess applications at a fixed time each semester based on the application materials.

Criteria for Selection

Criteria for selection includes a commitment to the elements of the GCSP. Specifically, the student must meet the following:

  1. Be a freshmen, sophomore, or transfer student, enrolled in the College of Engineering in “good standing.”
  2. Submit an application to the GCSP. The application will consist of:

1) Personal Essay

Applicants must prepare a personal essay (300 – 500 words) addressing all of the following:

  • Explain how your Grand Challenge relates to your research interest at Utah State University.
  • Illustrate what entrepreneurship opportunities, including scholarly or commercial gaps or innovations, would be addressed in your selected Grand Challenge work.
  • Explain how multiple disciplines are involved in effective solutions for your selected Grand Challenge work.
  • Demonstrate how your selected Grand Challenge impacts multiple cultures, both marginalized and privileged.
  • Describe what is needed to help ensure that solutions for your selected Grand Challenge are conscious of social impacts.

Formatting of the essay should follow these guidelines:

  • 12 point, Calibri font
  • Single-spaced
  • File Name (Last Name GCSP Admissions Essay)
  • Submitted as a Word or PDF document

Grammar, clarity, and organization are considered when evaluating applications since your essay serves as an example of your ability to synthesize ideas in a professional manner.

2) GCSP Plan & Timeline

A proposed GC plan that:

  1. Outlines how the student plans to fulfill each of the five components (multidisciplinary, research/creative, entrepreneurship, multicultural, and social consciousness) for their plan of study. Any subsequent changes to this plan will require approval from the faculty advisor and program committee.
  2. A timeline showing the feasibility of completing the program in the time remaining prior to the student’s graduation (no less than 3 semesters). Include a semester-by-semester illustration of activities.

3) Faculty Advisor

  • A faculty advisor has been identified

4) Transcript

  • A copy of your current transcript has been uploaded

5) One-page resume

  • A one-page resume is uploaded

Application Approval Process

GC Scholar applications are assessed by the program committee. The following steps will be followed:

  1. Program committee receives GCSP On-line Application.
  2. Each committee member uses the Application Approval Form rubric to rate the applicant on a point system.
  3. Once the committee makes their recommendations to approve specific applicants, students that have been accepted, and those that were not selected, will be notified by the program committee. Students that apply for the GCSP, and not accepted, will receive feedback from the program committee, with suggestions for improvement.