<p>I got an e-mail inviting me to apply for this program. Will this hinder my plans to dual-degree at all in the future? I realize it's an honor, so it can only be good, but how visible is the distinction in everyday life at Penn? Also, is everyone invited to apply?</p>
<p>I just got the email too. I want to do the Vagelos MLS program, and it says that students in that are ineligible to apply to BFS/IS, so I guess I won’t apply for it. It seems like it’s better to go for the dual degree than the scholars program, since Penn has additional honors programs (UScholars and others) for students already at Penn. You can still take the BFS seminars even if you don’t do the program if you want anyway.</p>
<p>so is there any upside to applying for the integrated studies program? just got the email too, just wondering.</p>
<p>I also received the email. Seems like its a new program starting with the class of 2015… any ideas on how its going to be like?</p>
<p>Are the emails being sent to ED accepted students or RD applicants?</p>
<p>This isn’t a new program–it’s just getting a revamp. Starting with the class of 2015, all the BF Scholars will live in one dorm (Riepe), etc. It’s been around for a while in one form or another.</p>
<p>Does anyone happen to know if we’re supposed to do anything immediate about this email? Let them know we’re interested, etc?</p>
<p>From what I’ve read, those extremely interested should fill out the application online as soon as possible. </p>
<p>Because 1. I want to double major and 2. I don’t want to live in Riepe and 3. You can transfer in, I don’t think I will apply right now. </p>
<p>I also read an article published in February saying that all single-major Penn students received an invitation.</p>
<p>You can double major, you just can’t be part of a coordinated dual-degree - It’s only for single-degree students in the college. You can’t transfer in to Integrated Studies, but you can to BFS. Integrated Studies is the freshman-year experience of taking the Integrated Studies courses your freshman year, living in Reipe and working with faculty your freshman year. BFS are seminars offered thoughout all four years - to be BFS you take 3 seminars over the course of 4 years.</p>
<p>Can I apply for BFS but not IS as an incoming College freshman? Or do I have to be a part of IS? Also, if I do decide to do Integrated Studies, can I pursue dual-degree (not the coordinated programs)? </p>
<p>To me, it sounds like this new IS program is Penn’s tactic to keep College students in the College to keep internal transfer rates lower.</p>
<p>Is it possible to be a BFS without IS? I don’t want to live in Reipe, and I want to get a (not coordinated) dual degree, but the idea of BFS seminars and research opportunities appeals to me. If so, do I apply, or am I just told eventually if I’m selected. I assume the invitation email was sent to everyone and has no bearing on whether or not you’ll get in to BFS, correct?</p>
<p>I know this is a revamped program so some might not know much about it, but I’m really interested in applying… but I’m hesitant about living in Riepe. Can anyone maybe elaborate on the kind of people who are in the BFS program? It seems like it’s limiting as far as the amount of classes you can take, and you also live with the people who are in the program, and the classes seem pretty intense so you’re pretty much integrated studies 24/7. Not that this is a bad thing, but I’m worried that it will a certain type of person in the program that I won’t get along with.</p>
<p>
Blatant backdoor Wharton applicant…</p>
<p>
That’s ridiculous. </p>
<p>Personally I’m still waiting for an RD decision, so I’m trying not to get my hopes up, but when my sister was home from Penn on spring break I read an article about the new BFS/IS program in the DP. Essentially there’s a new director of BFS and he wants to make the program better for the kids who will use it and change the focus from recruiting overall desirable applicants who may or may not be the best people for BFS once at Penn.</p>
<p>[Integrated</a> Studies Program to house freshman scholars | The Daily Pennsylvanian](<a href=“http://www.dailypennsylvanian.com/article/integrated-studies-program-house-freshman-scholars]Integrated”>http://www.dailypennsylvanian.com/article/integrated-studies-program-house-freshman-scholars)</p>
<p>Believe it or not, there are plenty of people who frankly don’t want to be involved in Wharton at all. They just pursue what they’re interested in.</p>
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</p>
<p>How…? The description on the website says it’s designed for those who want to pursue a more extensive liberal arts education. I don’t see why College students can’t do that as it is without this new integrated studies labelling. That’s why I said it seemed like a tactic. Maybe I’m wrong (and I have no problem admitting it), but so are you to conclude that I’m a blatant backdoor Wharton applicant. But actually, just for fun…who cares if I am? For the books, I AM a blatant backdoor dual-degree applicant, because I think the opportunity to immerse yourself in both schools is invaluable and should be taken advantage of.</p>
<p>I understand that my guess may be far-fetched, but I don’t think it’s “ridiculous.” I’ve heard that Penn has been trying to discourage internal transfers to try to preserve the integrity of each school, which I respect and understand. I was simply trying to make a correlation between what I’ve been hearing from current Penn students regarding Penn’s efforts to keep internal transfers low and this new program that seems to require more liberal arts courses.</p>
<p>Integrated Studies is in no way intended to decrease the number of internal transfers. It’s easy to transfer to CAS/SEAS/Nursing. It just takes a 3.0 but most people don’t do it. </p>
<p>Wharton requires about a 3.8, and there is a huge demand for transfer. There are several applicants for every spot in Wharton that frees up. Many students enter Penn hoping to transfer to Wharton. Even if IS were meant to discourage transfers, and ended up cutting the Wharton transfer pool by half, every free spot in Wharton would still fill up. Just maybe with a 3.6 gpa minimum.</p>
<p>Anyone have any info on the many questions asked on this thread? Not everything is about Wharton.</p>
<p>WWJR, that makes sense. Thanks for pointing that out. </p>
<p>Staller, I think it is possible to be a BFS without doing IS. I’m not sure if you can be BFS as a freshman without doing IS.</p>
<p>Hmm, what makes you say that you can’t be a BFS w/o IS as a Frosh, but can BFS after Freshman year?</p>
<p>And I assume everyone got the BFS email, right? It sheds no bearing on the likeliness of being accepted to the program</p>
<p>Because IS is a freshman program, yet the website says you can apply for BFS after freshman year. And I never said you can’t…I’m not sure.</p>