What Churchill Scholars say about their time in Cambridge, England

It was the best year of my life.”


The Churchill Scholar experience completely opened my eyes to new horizons in all aspects of life. Intellectually, I explored the application of mathematics to new and exciting areas. Personally, I reinvented myself, having moved to a new continent where I would find countless new friends. Culturally, it was my first opportunity to experience living in a new culture as a foreigner, which showed me new perspectives on my own culture as well as others. Socially, I was surrounded by brilliant scientists, doctors, lawyers, philosophers, mathematicians, engineers, and artists: many would become life-long friends. It is rare in one’s life to experience the kind of freedom the Churchill Scholars find at Churchill College. It is especially profound when coming straight from the high-pressure focus of undergraduate courses. With the time, energy, and free­dom characteristic of fellowship at the Churchill Middle Common Room, the historical perspective of the Churchill legacy, and the immersion in the academic community, the Churchill Scholars are in a unique position for personal reflection and advancement. Having embarked on such an unknown adventure and thoroughly loved it, I found a new confidence and appreciation for risk taking. It is an opportunity to get to know yourself and to grow in all areas of life.


There are many reasons why a scientist should study at the University of Cambridge. Intellectually there is much to be gained from having an in-depth scholarly experience within a foreign academic culture: I learned the value of carefully planning experiments and of continually pausing to reflect upon the results, and I became more confident about my ability to pursue independently the answer to a scientific question. And I found that I learned even more outside of the laboratory. The chance to join a truly international community of scholars and to encounter different viewpoints through casual conversations in the MCR, as well as more formal arenas, is truly invaluable. I cannot exaggerate how fortunate I feel to have been a Churchill Scholar. My year at Cambridge was without a doubt the best year of my life.


“The Churchill Scholar experience completely opened my eyes to new horizons in all aspects of life. Intellectually, I explored the application of mathematics to new and exciting areas. Personally, I reinvented myself, having moved to a new continent where I would find countless new friends. Culturally, it was my first opportunity to experience living in a new culture as a foreigner, which showed me new perspectives on my own culture as well as others. Socially, I was surrounded by brilliant scientists, doctors, lawyers, philosophers, mathematicians, engineers, and artists: many would become life-long friends. It is rare in one’s life to experience the kind of freedom the Churchill Scholars find at Churchill College. It is especially profound when coming straight from the high-pressure focus of undergraduate courses. With the time, energy and freedom characteristic of fellowship at the Churchill MCR, the historical perspective of the Churchill legacy and emersion in the academic community the Churchill Scholars are in a unique position for personal reflection and advancement. Having embarked on such an unknown adventure and thoroughly loved it, it give me a new confidence and appreciation for risk taking. It’s an opportunity of get to know yourself, and to grow in all areas of life.”


“There are many reasons why a scientist should study at the University of Cambridge. Intellectually, there is much to be gained from having an in-depth scholarly experience within a foreign academic culture: I learned the value of carefully planning experiments and of continually pausing to reflect upon the results, and I became more confident about my ability to pursue independently the answer to a scientific question. And I found that I learned even more outside of the laboratory. The chance to join a truly international community of scholars, to encounter different viewpoints through casual conversations in the MCR as well as more formal arenas, is truly invaluable. I cannot exaggerate how fortunate I feel to have been a Churchill Scholar. My year at Cambridge was without a doubt the best year of my life to date, and I know that the people I met there, and the experience that I gained, will continue to have a positive impact on my life far into the future.”


“I am very grateful to the Churchill Foundation for making this unforgettable year possible for me. I have had an incredible time here in Cambridge, have learned a great deal both inside the Chemistry Department and outside it, have forged new friendships, and stored up scores of great memories.”


“One of the biggest draws of Part III Mathematics is the sheer quantity of talented students one interacts with here, and I am sure these are people whose paths I will cross in the future.”


“To coin a geologic phrase, Cambridge literally rocked my world. I learned more about research, rowing, and myself than I thought possible in such a short amount of time. This experience was extremely beneficial to my academic career, because I learned cutting-edge techniques, and I was inspired by the intense curiosity with which my fellow researchers pursued scientific questions. I became friends with faculty and fellow students from all over the world who are or will soon be the leaders in our field.”


“Allow me to begin by waxing hyperbolic: my year at Churchill College was the best year of my life to date, without question. The people I met, the things I saw, and the many things I learned (mathematical and otherwise) will be a source of both inspiration and fond reflection for the rest of my days. There is a special place in my heart set aside now and forever for Churchill, for Cambridge, and for England, and I often find myself yearning for just one more math formal, one more May ball, one more bike ride to Grantchester.”


“It has been incredible to be able to start a research project and devote all of one’s time to it, delving much more deeply into topics I have previously studied, running my own experiments, and developing conclusions as I obtain results… The year that I have spent at Cambridge has been invaluable in teaching me how to do research”


“I learned a great deal this year as a scientist, a student, and an individual. It has been very inspiring to be around so many other scientists from different fields and different countries, and to be studying with some of the best researchers in the world. Definitely a life-changing experience!”


“In some ways, this year was a test to my commitment to the scientific process. Despite not having someone to report to or feeling any pressure to get results, I fully embraced my project. To me, the ability to test the bounds of my creativity and to produce meaningful work became a sense of grounding amidst the chaos of the outside world. The project I worked on is a success, for not only do I have several manuscripts in the process of preparation and a thesis I am extremely proud of, I am also confidant in my abilities a scientist to design and execute elegant experiments to tackle complex problems. It is for this reason that I would refute the notion that a top young American scientist spending a year at Cambridge is a “break from their real studies.” While I agree the United States education and training programs might be unmatched, having the chance to test the bounds of one’s own limits is invaluable and is in no sense a “break” from real work. Despite a different approach to conducting research, the same standard to produce meaningful work persists. A crucial step in the development of a scientist is to be able to discover your own scientific query and then develop the means to probe that question. Cambridge has been an ideal training ground and I am more grateful then I can state for this opportunity.”


“Overall, I had a superb, full year, both personally and academically… I am very honored to have been a Churchill Scholar, joining the other passionate young scientists in my cohort and the distinguished individuals from years past… Frankly, I think I will look back on my experience as a Churchill Scholar as the one which catalyzed my life. ”


“My academic course in Engineering… opened my eyes to the world’s major problems and helped me understand how people from other cultures views issues regarding climate change, energy, and development.”


“While incredibly varied in interests and in personalities, all the Churchill Scholars seem to share the unique combination of being exceptionally intelligent yet refreshingly down to earth and unassuming.”


“Truly, the scholarship provides an amazing experience… Six years ago I was attending a public high school in rural Michigan. I then attended a public university. During that time I went from being a basketball player to a scientist. I worked hard in the lab… but never imagined it would land me where I am today. If you had told me I would be here when I was in high school, I would have fainted.”


“The past year was a defining year for me, a chance for me to figure out who I am and who I want to be. Not only do I feel a sense of confidence as I continue my scientific career, but I am also empowered with a knowledge and strength that defies borders, and I am eager to embrace whatever lies before me”


“I am very grateful to the Foundation for making this all possible. My year at Cambridge has been valuable in many ways, and it has helped me to grow as a scientist and a citizen of the world. I do think that studying abroad and meeting inspiring people from around the world helps a young person to become a leader in life and an expert in his field, and spending an “extra” year to complete an MPhil has certainly been worthwhile for me. … I’m glad to see that Sir Winston’s vision of excellence in science education is being realized.”


“By experiencing a completely different educational environment at Cambridge, I have though deeply about my educational ideas and have a better sense of how I am going to be a professor.”


“The Churchill Scholarship will go down as one of the most interesting, scientifically stimulating and socially engaging experience in my memory. I owe tremendous gratitude to the Churchill Foundation.”


“The cultural understanding I have gained at Cambridge is simply unattainable in the United States. The people I have met hold scores of deeply held cultural and political that have made me seriously consider why we do the things we do at home. For someone like me who has never spent serious time in a foreign country before, I believe this is the most important aspect of the program.”


“My expectations have been challenged, my limits have been tested, and my sense of personal and cultural identity has been transformed…. I encountered new ideas and new research and met students and professors with whom I shall continue to work for the rest of my career.”


“It was an extraordinary experience. It was a year in which I matured and gained insight into who I am and how I want to progress both personally and professionally.”


“I have thrived in the intellectual atmosphere, developed many meaningful relationships, and thoroughly enjoyed myself… I believe that this year will have immeasurable positive effect on my academic and personal life.”


“The year at Cambridge was an amazing experience…academically and athletically, culturally and socially. It gave me the opportunity to broaden not only my knowledge of computer science, but more importantly my view of the world.”


“I had a phenomenal time at Churchill College….I managed to get something valuable from my experience, academically, socially, personally and politically.”


“The cultural understanding I have gained at Cambridge is simply unattainable in the United States. The people I have met hold scores of deeply held cultural and political that have made me seriously consider why we do the things we do at home. For someone like me who has never spent serious time in a foreign country before, I believe this is the most important aspect of the program.”


“The year was life-changing!”