Residential Programs at Penn?

<p>So I was recently accepted into Penn. One thing that really interested me while I was looking at Penn was the residential programs, specifically the Women in Science program at Ware College House. I was just wondering when I would apply to such a program, would it be before or after I choose housing?</p>

<p>At the same time. It’s all part of the same process.</p>

<p>To expand on what 45 Percenter said: you’ll get a mailing sometime in March detailing the housing process. There will be a link on your admissions portal to a housing application, which will have the normal housing application and the residential program applications (which will pop up as an option when you start completing the form). On a side note, I’m currently in the Study of Infectious Disease program, which shares a hall, an RA, and a faculty mentor with the Women in Science program (since both programs are relatively small), so if you have any questions about it you can feel free to ask me.</p>

<p>penn2017,</p>

<p>if you’re in a residential program like yours, does that mean that your hall only has the people in that residential program? so for example of the women in science program is one hall next year, would the whole hall only be women? Do the faculty members live in the hall also? How does this affect socializing and partying? How much work is entailed in the infectious disease, women in science, or other residential programs? Would you say that things are more strict on these halls? Will being in a residential program affect the typical freshman dorming experience?</p>

<p>Yes, the hall only has people from that residential program. Women in Science and Study of Infectious diseases are both under Dr. Helen Davies, though, so the sizes and location will likely remain the same. That means you’ll have both men and women in the hall (although slightly more women than men). Dr. Davies lives in the hall, but on one very far end of it, so she doesn’t really effect any partying or anything. There’s not much work involved - it’s mostly what you make of it. Most of our events have been free food (dinner/lunch with our RA etc.) or a free trip to a museum. Nothing has been required. As a sidenote, being on SID/WIS means that you get access to both’s events as well. Things aren’t any more strict on res program halls than other “normal” halls - it’s just that these halls have events themed around the residential program. I think the only effect your choice of residential program will have on your freshman experience is a) where you end up living and b) what types of events your hall has. Everything else is completely normal.</p>

<p>Thank you Penn2017, your responses are really informative!</p>