<p>Are they supposed to notify us by today? Has anyone heard anything? Also, does anyone know how they tell us, or how they did in past years (mail, email)? Thanks</p>
<p>When I applied, they said that we would be notified wtihin 2 weeks of the March 28th deadline. I still haven't heard back yet.</p>
<p>ME NEITHER! I thought the letter / email would come today!??</p>
<p>if you are talking about freshman honors program, my D received her acceptance today</p>
<p>Do you live near LA?</p>
<p>i live in chicago, and yes i got it today! ACCEPTED =]</p>
<p>i'm in texas, and i just got my acceptance letter today. ^_________^
it was postmarked on the 8th.</p>
<p>yeah I got my letter today and I'm from Oregon.</p>
<p>Ok I got the letter yesterday too...
Can any former/current FSHP students give any insight into the program? Is it as useful/interesting as the glossy brochures make it sound? What kinds of events went on the year you participated in it?</p>
<p>Also, what kind of chemistry backing is recommended prior to entering? I heard that AP chem is expected... well I took honors chem, and it was a complete joke because of the teacher I had and so I learned pretty much nothing. Will I be at a big disadvantage, or will I have time to learn all of the material and catch up with everyone else?</p>
<p>I was curious too, so I emailed Judy Haw and this is the WONDERFUL response she gave me:</p>
<p>The FSH program is built around an honors version of two introductory science classes: CHEM 115a/b and BISC 121/221. There will be 60 students enrolled in both classes with another 10-15 enrolled only in CHEM 115a. This is because a number of majors do not require biology (EX: physics and chemistry) and we do open some spots for a few chemical engineering majors. There will be 3 sections of general chemistry taught in the fall, currently these are capped at 127, 161, and 273. There will also be 3 sections of general biology in the fall and these are currently capped at 310, 230 and 250.</p>
<p>In honors bio, the labs are capped at 12...in general bio, the labs are capped at 20. </p>
<p>The enrollment in the chem labs is a bit more flexible based on timing, so the honors chem labs are capped between 15-17 while the general chem labs enroll about 24.</p>
<p>SPECIAL EVENTS
Over the past two years, some of the events we have offered the FSH students include:</p>
<pre><code>* small lunches with the course profs (5-6 students with the professor)
* small lunches with the course SI leader
* trip to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena to tour their museum (small) and attend a lecture
* day trip to Catalina for Marine biology
* day trip to local tide pools (also associated with the marine biology section of BISC 121)
* day trip to Santa Cruz island (with a group from Environmental Studies)
* speakers: Nicolas deTorrente (Exec Director Doctors Without Borders) and Peter Hillary (son of Sir Edmond Hillary). This was part of the Distinguished Lecture Series in Pasadena.
* Winter Break book salons. Past books included Complications: A Surgeon’s Notes on an Imperfect Science by Atul Gawande, The Wild Trees by Richard Preston, The Science of Harry Potter by Roger Highfield and :An Inconvenient Truth by Al Gore.
* Trip to Keck Medical School....brief tour and then dinner with 1-2 third year med students.
* Dinner with Doctors....this year it was 3 female doctors to discuss with students the challenges of being a physician, a mom and a wife. The students attending this – while not limited to females – did end up being all female.
* trip to California Science Center to see the Body Worlds exhibit.
* A symposium on undergraduate research presented by 4-5 upperclassmen describing the process of getting a research position at USC. This is also open to the students in the general chem and bio sections.
</code></pre>
<p>I do not have the schedule for next year planned.....with one exception. The Body Worlds exhibit will be in LA until September 14. We will tour it on Thursday, September 11. (second week of classes).</p>
<p>RESEARCH
I am not certain what you mean by special research opportunities....but let me see if I can get close to what you are asking. For the most part, doing research in a lab is something that starts in your second year or third year. Your first year is for getting adjusted to college and for gaining lab skills (which you will do in your chem and bio labs). The honors versions of both labs are more challenging than in the general classes. I do not find research opportunities for you....although I have on occasion passed along info for professors looking for help. Getting research requires research. Doing research is a personal decision based on a personal interest and a personal connection with the faculty member. Faculty members invest time and resources in undergraduates working in their labs...they are not interested in having a student who simply wants to fulfill a “pre-med” requirement. These are the topics we discuss in the undergraduate research symposium I listed above. There is an interesting web sight that lists faculty by their research topics......it is called PIBBS: Programs in Biomedical & Biological Sciences and is located:</p>
<p>POST FRESHMAN
Your application lists Biology as your major. Typically, a sophomore in biology will take organic chemistry (2 semesters: fall and spring), molecular biology (1 semester, fall) and then either do one semester (out of two required) of physics in the spring or take biochemistry. You will have the opportunity to meet with you advisor before registering each semester. After the freshman year, there is no honors/general divide in the lectures. Each major, however, does then offer an option to do – individually – an honors thesis which is based on research.</p>
<p>ADVANTAGES
I decided to let a couple of current upperclassmen who work for me answer this question:</p>
<p>The first is from Brenda who is a pre-med Junior. She is the SI leader who currently works with the FSH bio students:
And then Rupesh who is a junior chemical eng major:</p>
<pre><code>hey judy,
hmm some thoughts:
- great connection with other students going through what you will be going through (not just classes, but extracurric's and other campus related stuff, and not to mention probably similar plans for the future)...i still feel really close to the people i met in those classes, and 2 of my best friends i met in those classes: we study together and go through the same types of academic experiences together
- the opportunities: body worlds, catalina, etc. --> these are academic opportunities found outside the classroom that are provided to FSH students at no cost
- connections to profs: smaller classes --> better interaction with these profs, who are not only great to talk to during office hours, but can also hook you up with research opportunities in the future (in their own lab or with other labs)
that's all i have for now! i'll let you know if i come up with anything else!
brenda
</code></pre>
<p>And then Rupesh who is a junior chemical eng major:</p>
<pre><code>FSH is a great place to make effective study groups to last through
your upper division classes like OChem. The caliber of student is
other highly motivated individuals. The class size is smaller,
therefore it is easier to meet people, build lasting friendships/
highly motivated study partners (compared to a daunting room of 300
students). It was a great program during my Freshman year.
Hope this helps
Rupesh
</code></pre>
<p>I think what you read from this is the ease of making connections....with other students and with your faculty. This is a huge benefit.</p>
<p>So.....how did I do? Questions answered? If not email me again....or call, 213-740-5295!</p>
<p>Judy</p>
<p>Wow, thanks for doing all of that! That was extremely helpful.</p>
<p>I know, I really feel like they should put all of that information on the website so that more people are informed about what really goes on in the program. Reading through it made me really excited though - it sounds amazing!</p>
<p>i was also accepted into this program; however after visiting usc this weekend i don't think i will end up attending :(</p>
<p>Dukebluedevils:
May I ask why you are not going to USC? Are you going to Duke instead?
You can PM if you wish</p>
<p>here is a link to a student discussing her experience with FSH: </p>