<p>When do ED admits find out if they are accepted into this program? Would it have come with the admissions letter or do we have to wait for regular decisions?
What are some of the credentials for students who have been accepted in the past?
How difficult is it to get into the program if you don't get invited as a freshman?</p>
<p>Any answers would be much appreciated.</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>I heard that it's mainly for RD because it helps attract students.</p>
<p>What do you need to get it and is there $$ involved?</p>
<p>No, there's no money involved...it's a pointless novelty and probably only for people who intend to do their PhD eventually.</p>
<p>My daughter was accepted ED two years ago and was offered BFS and Joseph Wharton Scholar after the RD letters where sent out. So I think it's inaccurate to say it's only to entice RD applicants. She has really enjoyed and benefited from the honors classes, research opportunities and the outstanding advising offered to her. I believe they take the top 5% of accepted students into the program. Not sure how they determine that, but her stats where right up there. Good luck to everyone. Penn is an awesome place!</p>
<p>All of the above is true, and if invited you'll probably find out mid-april, in a separate mailing.</p>
<p>It is nowhere advertised as the top 5%. It's just an interesting series of seminars to help attract students that the administration might perceive as "on the edge."</p>
<p>mp,</p>
<p>the administrators of the program claim it is the top 5-10%. (of course, they offer no metric to back up this claim).</p>
<p>Precisely.</p>
<p>Can someone clarify how University Scholar is different from BFS or J. Wharton Scholar? and also explain the benefits and obligations associated?</p>
<p>I got an invitation to apply for University Scholar and I have no clue why. I'm clearly a borderline candidate, as all my stats was significantly lower than everyone from my school who got into Penn in the past many years (I'm Asian, so not URM). Yet none of them have it. I'm curious why.</p>
<p>U Scholars (as it is known) is research focused. You were identified because someone in admissions thought you would be a strong candidate to perform successful undergraduate research, and eventually go on to get a PhD. UScholars students can take the BFS or JWS courses (BFS = JWS, basically), get advising, and have a special research community and funding. UScholars is entirely dependent on doing research - if you do not undertake a project, you are not a uscholars member. BFS and JWS are more focused around courses.</p>
<p>I got into BFS/J. Wharton, is it actually worth it? I don't know if I'll be able to visit by April 13th or whenever to get more info on it.</p>
<p>yes, worth it.</p>
<p>my name goes on the list of students you can contact to ask questions, and every year i sit around with other current students and talk about the prospective freshmen. we laugh when people ask if it's worth it. it's an honor; of course it's worth it.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I got an invitation to apply for University Scholar and I have no clue why. I'm clearly a borderline candidate, as all my stats was significantly lower than everyone from my school who got into Penn in the past many years (I'm Asian, so not URM). Yet none of them have it. I'm curious why.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Just to point out that it's not only the top 5%.</p>
<p>
[quote]
** What are the Requirements for the BFS Program and Certificate?
[/quote]
**
Benjamin Franklin Scholars are expected to take challenging courses that extend beyond their major and distributional requirements. Scholars must have taken and passed at least one BFS seminar by the end of their freshman year, two by the end of the sophomore year, three by the end of the junior year, and four by the end of the senior year. Students admitted to the program in their freshman or sophomore years must take at least one BFS seminar per semester until they have reached the benchmarks described above. All courses must be taken for a grade. BENF 099 Independent Study does not count as a Benjamin Franklin Seminar.
Scholars must meet in person with their BFS advisor at least once per semester during their first two semesters in the program. This requirement applies even to students who have been assigned a school or departmental advisor.
Scholars must maintain superior grades, graduating cum laude with a Grade Point Average of 3.40 or better.
** Scholars are expected to behave in a mature, collegial manner. ** How'd that get in there?
To receive a BFS certificate, students must successfully complete seven BFS courses and a senior thesis or capstone project. Successful completion is defined as a 3.0 average in those seven credits, with no pass/fail. BENF 099 Independent Study may count for at most one of these seven courses. The senior project could be a departmental honors thesis, one or more semesters of BENF 099 resulting in a thesis, an independent studies 399 or 499 course resulting in a senior thesis and/or public presentation, or some other independent research project as approved by the BFS director.</p>
<p>@mp: That's UScholars, not BFS/JWS. BFS/JWS is top 5-10%, mostly by stats, Uscholars is people who aren't otherwise outstanding on stats, but that the admissions people think will go on to be top researchers (ie, the people who will let their GPA tank in order to publish papers)</p>
<p>Fair enough. This quote strikes me as the funniest in the BFS description:
[quote]
Scholars are expected to behave in a mature, collegial manner.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Was there one year that the BFS's all held a huge orgy on the College Green, or something?</p>
<p>Also, they set their standards pretty low: a 3.4? My GPA is in Summa range, and I don't work very hard. Most kids here are pretty smart, and most smart kids can pull at least Magna...</p>
<p>Yeah, I was wondering what the benefits are, exactly, beyond the ‘honor’. Since I won’t be able to go to this April 13th session, and wasn’t exactly illuminated by the website, could someone enrolled in the program please give us a clear explanation of what you are getting out of it? Thanks.</p>
<p>…Is it seriously for the top 5-10%? Because I got the letter in the mail and no way am I in the top percentile… I was rejected from Yale >.></p>
<p>Shoot, just when I start leaning towards Cornell, UPenn reels me back in. -_-</p>
<p>NJBkitty - when did you get the letter in the mail? Was there anything on portal about this honor? Does the letter basically inform you that you have been awarded BFS status?</p>
<p>mattwonder - is there still hope for an ED accepted student to get this in the mail? </p>
<p>Thanks so much!</p>