UPenn Biomedical Academy

<p>If anyone has ever been to this program, do you actually do your own research or do you just work under a professor.</p>

<p>Yes. You don’t really do your own research with a mentor or anything, but it’s more geared towards anatomy and basic biology lab procedures. It’s totally worth going to, though! It’s the dorm experience that I loved–not that I didn’t love the actual content of the program. I definitely recommend it.</p>

<p>Can you tell me a little more about the program? What does a typical day look like?</p>

<p>You first go to the morning Anatomy & Physiology lecture, which lasts about two hours (I don’t remember exactly), then have lunch, go to the lab workshops to conduct basic biomedical-related experiments (genetic recombination with plasmids, PCR, western blot, etc.) until about four, go to your journal group to read a scientific journal together with a group of about ten students (once a week), have dinner, then chill.</p>

<p>Hey! I went to the Upenn 4 week biomed academy last summer, and frankly it was a HUGE waste of time. I mean, ok, the campus was beautiful and the summer discovery people were great, but I feel that I really didn’t get a lot out of it, especially since it was 10k. A typical day was me waking up around 6, showering, eating breakfast with pals (they gave us meal cards, limited eating facilities and time), and then off to lecture. Lecture…ooh the memories. Very stupid and boring, completely JUST based on anatomy, and the teacher was JUST PLAIN BORING. I literally fell alseep 85% of the time, and really, there was nothing to be learned. Then, a lunch break, again, limited choices and the food was not that great. Then we had lab, great facilities, but I had already learned all of the lab techniques and had worked with the tools before, so it was very slow and boring. However, if you have never worked in a lab environment and want an introduction, I would suggest going here. The thing is, this program is sooo misunderstood. I, like others, believed that we would be performing some cutting-edge research in the field of biomedical science. I was quick to learn that no, all this was was an introduction to lab techniques and some basic hands-on activities. So, no, there is no “real research” to be experienced. That, you would have to find another lab or program, I’m afraid. The best part was probably the guest lecturers, when they weren’t boring as hell. These were some scientists briefing us about their research, and it was actually quite fascinating…when I wasn’t asleep. All in all, it’s totally not worth your time or money, especially if you want to conduct some serious research.
Cheers! & Good Luck!</p>

<p>OH yeah I forgot about journal club! Meet about twice a week, and you read JUST ONE PAPER and “present” it in front of the whole camp…pretty stupid</p>

<p>Does it help your resume?</p>

<p>Is the application process very competitive or moderately competitive or open?</p>

<p>It’s not that hard to get in but you’ll find a lot of students who are AMAZING at the sciences - it’s remarkable how intelligent they are. </p>

<p>I’m right now halfway into this program and I can say that I agree with sweetgirlie’s review more. The lecturer isn’t bad, but while I love my lab instructor the labs are boring if you have experience (I finish early all the time with my lab partner and sit with my laptop for like an hour). </p>

<p>Things I dislike:</p>

<p>a) The clickers. They’re supposed to measure how much you did the homework, but in all honesty it’s a stupid idea.<br>
b) Journal clubs. Boring.
c) The rules. The staff are really friendly but there are so many limits, it’s like you can’t even explore Philadelphia. Room times are ridiculously early, and you have to get lucky with dorms. I’m in a dorm that looks like a prison. The dorms on the other side of the Quadrangle are palaces. -_- </p>

<p>(although it’s pretty easy to sneak out… as long as you do nothing extreme :P) Truthfully, I wished I switched to Experimental Physics when I had the chance.</p>

<p>Yes, I just finished this program. I thought it was pretty cool, except that it’s more like biology class than actual lab research.</p>

<p>I’m not sure how much it helps your resume. It just gives you a letter of evaluation.</p>

<p>Bump. When do you get your letter of evaluation? On the last day?
By the way, I am a commuter and I did not go this morning for personal reasons. My journal club presentation was in the afternoon but I did not notice them in advance. Would this hurt me in any way? </p>