Surprises in Undergrad Schools Producing Doctorates: Punching Above Their Weight

[ChangeTheGame]

@AustenNut

It’s great that they’ve obviously had some research studying the results of their effectiveness. I know that there is another oft-quoted study around here where it indicates that students who are accepted to Big Name schools but choose to go elsewhere tend to be as successful as they would have been otherwise (apart from students from low income families). But that 5.3 time as likely number seems to show a definite impact on the students. And the grad schools they’re attending and a number of the institutions where they’re teaching definitely seem without reproach. Thanks so much for putting this on our radar!

The program at UMBC has had many research papers written and data published reviewing its successes and challenges and has been revolutionary. The Meyerhoff Scholars Program has now been modeled or adapted into programs at Penn St (Millennium Scholars Program), UNC Chapel Hill (Chancellor’s Science Scholars), Howard University (Karsh STEM Scholars Program), UPitt (Strive Program), UC San Diego (PATHS Program), and UC Berkeley (Seed Scholars Honors Program) in the last 10+ years. The program’s level of funding has changed over the years (it used to be a full ride cost of attendance scholarship, but today is a significantly funded scholarship that is normally “stacked” with other scholarships for top scholars. The Meyerhoff program has produced an US surgeon general, a researcher crucial to the development of the Moderna vaccine, and other scientists and policy makers (like my siblings) at research universities, government agencies and private industry all over the US. The program’s funding and student outcomes were so significant that my siblings turned down 10 schools in the top 20 ranked USNWR schools (including 4 Ivys) to attend UMBC and have never once regretted that decision.