Ben Franklin Scholar

<p>how many Uscholars are chosen each year out of how many?</p>

<p>it's a smaller number, I think like 60 or so, but the number that actively participates varies a lot. For example, there were only about 20 in my year, just because many of those offered spots chose to go elsewhere</p>

<p>i saw this person who is both Uscholars and BFS.. is it better to do both (like being able to get research funds more easily or something)?</p>

<p>there's no real reason to do both, as their essentially the same thing, just with slightly different requirements. In order to do both you'd have to have applied for at least one of them after you'd gotten to Penn already, people only get invites as incoming freshman to one or the other, and that seems like a pointless thing to do.</p>

<p>so what exactly are the perks of being a Benjamin Franklin Scholar? Got an invitation to be one in the mail today but still a bit hazy on why I should consider accepting it..?</p>

<p>refer to post 12</p>

<p>My favorite thing about BFS is that we get the best advisors in the school - mine (Linda Wiedmann) is absolutely amazing, and I'm always able to get into ANY class I want. Unlike others, she's high enough on the computer and administration system to be able to override everything from courses that are listed as "full" to even time conflicts. She uses the experience of generations of highly successful BFS students as well as her relations with faculty members to help her current advisees select and enroll in the best courses.</p>

<p>By the way, don't think of a BFS course as an "extra" requirement that needs to be fulfilled - I've always used my BFS course to double-count for another requirement such as writing course, sector I course, etc. And the courses aren't harder at all... if anything, students tend to get better grades in BFS classes :-) And of course, anything with "Honors" looks great on a transcript or resume for future jobs, grad school, med school, etc.</p>

<p>Special courses taught by special professionals. I think this is an added attractrive offering of BFS.</p>

<p>I was a BFS. hazmat's answer (directly above) is the correct one. The very best academic professors often teach BFS courses.</p>

<p>im sorry i havent had the time to read everything in detail, but i get the basic outline of BFS...but still unsure about a few things</p>

<p>does anyone know what the Joseph Wharton Scholars program is?...</p>

<p>and..im also an MnT student...does anyone think this is too much to handle or do certain courses in MnT cover BFS or vice versa?</p>

<p>thanks</p>

<p>are the courses we take in addition to the 4 each semester?</p>

<p>You can take BFS to meet any requirement of your particular degree. I have as have many other students taken more than 4 courses per term. You don't have to however. You will be required to take writing for example: use a BFS for that.</p>

<p>"Two Benjamin Franklin Seminars or one Benjamin Franklin Seminar and one Freshman Seminar may be used in the Sector Requirement."</p>

<p>Is the sector require. separate from major requirement? can we use more than one (2, 3, or 4) bfs course to satisfy a major requirement?</p>

<p>You don't need to take a Frosh Seminar.......what is the major you are asking about? Think of this as requirements to complete the degree. Start with that thought..</p>

<p>Just in general... if you've been accepted into the BFS program, definitely sign up for it and take advantage of everything it has to offer. It's certainly possible to drop out, but only people who can't maintain their GPA actually do that because you really have nothing to lose as part of BFS (I've always used my BFS seminars to fulfill other requirements).</p>

<p>How hard is it for non-BF Scholars to get into BF Scholar seminars? With so many Penn undergrads, it would seem like it would be hard to get a spot. Or don't many kids try for them?</p>