<p>I got invited to be in the Vagelos Scholars program, and getting a BA and MB in 4 years sounds very appealing to me. But i was wondering if any current Penn students could tell me the pros and cons of the program as opposed to just a BA in biochem or chem? For instance, time to take other electives? how if effects social life? etc?</p>
<p>i'm in the same situation. i'm leaning towards declining the invitation since i would really like to minor in creative writing and still need to take all pre-med courses. but i would like some advice, since this being part of this program would increase the financial aid package.</p>
<p>The Vagelos program is designed for hardcore engineering, research-oriented types, and has a rep for being maybe the toughest of all the undergrad programs at Penn, even moreso than M&T. I would strongly consider declining the invite if you're premed; your gpa probably won't be able to take it. That said, it is a very prestigious program that takes very few students per year, and if you're the hard science/engineering type, it's definately the way to go.</p>
<p>b u m p
I got invited too. Is anyone on the board in the program currently?</p>
<p>I'm invited too. The challenge sounds like fun, but I'm still worried that I won't be able to handle it as a premed. Plus, physics scares the crap out of me. I'm going to go meet a chem prof about the program during one of the Open Houses this week.</p>
<p>as a Vagelos scholar, you would also have to take the engineering physics, 150 & 151, as opposed to the standard premed physics 101 & 102. The former has a much rougher curve and is calculus-based, the latter is not.</p>
<p>This is a bit scary.</p>
<p>"The program is quick to accept new Scholars in the beginning of their Freshman year, but it is expected that more than fifty percent of original scholars will drop out. In 2005-2006, 39 scholars began in the program but it is expected that only 10-15 will last through their sophomore year." - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vagelos_Scholar%5B/url%5D">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vagelos_Scholar</a></p>
<p>Look in the Vagelos Scholars packet you got with your invitation. The nice thing is that apparently all 50 kids who managed to graduate out of the program in the last 4 years have been accepted by prestigious MD progs, MD/Ph.D. progs, etc...</p>
<p>So there is hope...sort of.</p>
<p>this sounds scary...i am hopefully meeting with someone about at penn preview, so hopefully that will help me make my decision</p>
<p>crashingwaves, give us some advice after the penn preview. i can't go, unfortunately.</p>