<p>I am looking to apply for the Chemistry of Life cluster at UCD this summer. I'm not really familiar with COSMOS, so I was just wondering if anyone could shed some light on the program. If there are any alums that could help out prospective applicants, I would really appreciate it. I was curious about the ideal stats to get in, if the program is rewarding, if there is an opportunity to write research papers, etc. Also, I heard that this program is particularly good for increasing your chances of admission at UC's (not the reason I'm applying, just curious). I would really appreciate any insight on the program and I am sure a lot of others would as well.</p>
<p>I’d like to apply this year as well!!</p>
<p>What would you like to know? I was in the UCI program this summer.</p>
<p>As far as the application goes, they are looking for good grades, good essays, and an interest in math and science. Make that interest prominent. The prompts last year were something along the lines of why are you applying and what do you hope to gain from COSMOS and why are you applying to a specific cluster? Put care into these and have someone look them over.
It is best to have good ECs leadership positions as well, especially if they are math and science related, (I started an astronomy club at my school) and they will also ask you if you have received any awards. You also need one science and one math teacher recommendation, so be on good terms with them.
The benefits are awesome and yes, there is a specific item on the UC apps to click if you completed it. I met some AMAZING people there and got to know some really cool professors. There is some work involved but the downtime is a lot of fun. They really keep you busy and you don’t get homesick.
As far as research papers, you have to present a project on the closing day. You will likely replicate an experiment done by a scientist and write an abstract (I did mine on galaxy counts and the shape of the universe). The professors and TAs will help you out through the entire thing, of course.</p>
<p>I actually participated in Cluster 8 Chemistry of Life at UCD this summer! 
It was my first choice cluster and I’m so glad I was accepted and decided to attend the program! It was probably the best way I could possibly think of to spend my summer. The highlight would HAVE to be all the amazing friendships and connections I made while I was there. Living on a college campus for a month was a great experience! My only complaint was that it lasted too short of a time! haha</p>
<p>Cluster 8 specific information though… we did very complicated labs (many of which kept us from eating dinner with all the other clusters, who were always released from class way earlier than we were). I found these very valuable in the sense that they gave me quite a lot of lab experience. This would probably be the most valuable thing I gained from COSMOS this summer. The next thing would be the ability to understand the esoteric science journal publications that we accessed through the (expensive) databases they have at the university. There wasn’t much homework, but we worked the whole program on our final projects, for which we used the scientific journal databases. To be honest, though, the focus was mainly on these final projects and the information I got through the professors’ lectures stayed with me for a very short time. I still have a very indepth understanding of what I personally researched for my final project though.</p>
<p>For applications, I would say the weight is definitely on your essays. You have to show how extremely passionate you are for math and science! I can’t stress how important this is.</p>
<p>@cosmogony thanks for the reply! Since I’m interested in the cluster that you attended, I was wondering if you could help me out. So I think my GPA is ok, 4.0 unweighted and like 4.48 weighted. And in terms of scientific ECs, I’ve been interning in a biomechanics lab at UCD for the past 6 months and plan to right my essay about that. I am also president and co-founder of this club that uses technology to help the community. Unfortunately I’m kinda worried about my recommendations, I plan to get one from my 10th grade teacher who I believe is the teacher fellow for this cluster. But for math, I don’t have any teachers that would right something positive about me… So do you think that could ruin my application? Also for my essay, I had a traumatic experience that kinda got me interested in lab work and such, but idk if I should even talk about how it shaped my interest, because I feel like there isn’t really enough room to right about it, and I think that my lab work would be more important to talk about. Thanks for your awesome reply, and I hope that you have the time to respond to these questions (I know it’s a lot)! And @trpurdy thanks for your reply as well!</p>
<p>Do you go to Davis Sr. HS? Are you talking about David? (He tells us to call us David instead of Mr. van Muyden because it’s his summer job lol) But in terms of teacher recs, I don’t think they have too much weight. Since you’re asking for a rec, they’re definitely going to write something positive about you. And they’re not going to be writing a full letter either. I think the teacher rec for COSMOS is actually just a page where they have a list of traits and the teacher checks boxes ranking how well they correspond to you.</p>
<p>But your EC’s sound great! I think my GPA at the time was 4.0 UW and 4.3 weighted so you’re good to go on that too. The most important thing is the essay, and as long as you can write a good one, you’re gold! You’re definitely going to have to talk about how your experience shaped your interest though. I don’t think they change the prompts much, and last year the prompts for the main essay were “Describe a project or experience you worked on that furthered your interest in a specific math/science topic.” and the one I didn’t choose was something along the lines of “Why do you like math and science and why would you want to spend a month at COSMOS?” Most people chose the latter. It doesn’t matter which one you choose; you just have to write it well. For each cluster you apply to (max of 3) you have to write 100-250 words explaining why you want to attend that cluster. Again, show your passion for the subject.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for the reply! And ya, I was talking about Mr. van Muyden. Do you go to DHS? Anyways I feel like 250 words is kinda short, but I guess it will have to do! Did you put cluster 8 as your first choice? I’m kinda trying to decide whether I should put Biomed as my first choice or chemistry. Because, I know that for biomed they don’t consider you unless you put it for first choice, and I want to have something that I can do if I don’t get into chemistry (my actual first choice). Haha thanks a lot for your help.</p>
<p>No, I don’t go to DHS but I live about 20 minutes away from Davis so I have to go there for a lot of sports or band things my school does lol</p>
<p>I think you should fully take advantage of having the teacher fellow as your current teacher. I’m sure if you asked David about COSMOS, he would tell you all about it! You are so lucky you have him though. My chem teacher sophomore year was not a good teacher at all… David was such a great teacher fellow!</p>
<p>To be honest, people almost never get accepted to 2nd and 3rd choice clusters. I talked with the professors and I know for a fact that both the cluster 7 and 8 profs (who select the students for the program) didn’t look at any of the second choice essays and only accepted those who chose their cluster as their first choice. I would recommend you choose the cluster that interests you the most for your first choice. Don’t care about how selective you believe each cluster is. Choose by your own interests. I don’t know if you want a completely different experience from normal school though. If that’s the case, you should choose cluster 7 since you already have David as a normal teacher haha</p>
<p>Ya haha van Muyden is awesome, thanks a lot for your help!</p>
<p>No problem! If you need any further help, feel free to private message me. 
Hopefully I’ll be online to respond lol</p>
<p>I am planning applying to COSMOS this year. I’m not sure what campus/cluster I’m planning on applying to, but I’m really worried that my lack of ECs will ruin my chances. I literally have no ECs that relate to math or science. Any COSMOS alumni that got in without STEM ECs?</p>
<p>My roommate got into the most competitive cluster at UCD and she told me she only put down two EC’s and one of them didn’t have much relevance to math/science. It’s all in the essay and grades!</p>
<p>I got into 2 COSMOS programs from UCSD without major STEM ECs. However, my grades are very good. COSMOS was a backup plan in case I didn’t get into my first choice for summer program. In the end, I attended with a different program.</p>
<p>I went to cosmos at Davis this summer, cluster 7 biomedical sciences. It was so amazing and I strongly suggest you do it :)</p>
<p>For EC’s, the only science related one I had was that I’m a member of a medical club at my school. But I talked about my organization that I cofounded, which has raised $27,000 for freshwater wells.</p>
<p>I talked to the professor of cluster 7 (professors do admissions), and he told me that he looks to get diversity (ie not all from San Diego) but the biggest factor he looks at is the essay. He wants to be certain that you genuinely are passionate for science, and you aren’t just doing it to “look good” for college. </p>
<p>So I encourage you to apply! and start working on your essays :)</p>
<p>What about me. I have a 3.9 unweighted gpa about a 4.4 weighted, 219 PSAT, 2270 SAT, i play 3 different sports(Cross Country, Tennis, Swimming) and am in varsity in two of them(Tennis and Swimming). I also won Most improved in Tennis, and i have very good teacher recommendation letters, and decent essays. Also, up to now, i have about 700 volunteer hours from a variety of sources including temple volunteering, tutoring my dad’s friend’s son who is dyslexic, and library volunteering. </p>
<p>I am applying to the UCD Biomedical Cluster, so what do you think my chances are. I am in state, and i actually enjoy biomedical sciences, and i want to be a cardiologist when i grow up. </p>
<p>What do you think my chances are for getting in to UCD Biomed. cluster.</p>
<p>Sorry this is my first post on this website, im not sure what to do.</p>
<p>Hey isaialam! I attended COSMOS this past summer at UCD, in Cluster 8: Chemistry of Life.</p>
<p>It’s kind of hard to judge from stats alone if you’ll get in or not. I remember from last year’s COSMOS thread, how some people had amazing stats but weren’t accepted for reasons we’ll never know. However, judging from your list (which is quite impressive), I’m not sure that it screams an interest in science. To be fair, none of my ECs had anything to do with science; my only advice to you would be to write stellar essays that really communicate who you are as a person and explain your genuine interest in science/why you want to attend COSMOS.</p>
<p>Good luck to you- and everyone else who’s considering applying! I highly consider it. It was definitely an amazing summer. :)</p>
<p>hi missiris
thanks for the info. The problem is that i have been unable to do much medical internships because i have a really late bday, and i had to be at least 16 to do anything in hospitals or stuff like that in San Ramon.
However, I am in Science Bowl, which is like a jeopardy competition for science only, and i mentored in science alliance for a year, and I am taking hard science classes like honors physics, AP Biology, Ap Chemistry… Thanks soo much on the essays tip, i think i will focus my time on them.</p>
<p>The application was released today.</p>
<p>I’ve only recently become interested in medical biology, so I unfortunately do not have any extra-curriculars that show my interest. Furthermore, I’m taking physics this year instead of biology. My GPA is great though, 4.8UW and 4.0W.
Any chance of me still getting into a medical biology program?</p>