<p>I'm already having reservations about the Vagelos program and I have a few questions. Basically, my concerns deal with it being too narrow.</p>
<p>1) If I drop the Vagelos right now am I going to have to sign up for Chem 053 (lab) and take the Chem and Physics lab at the same time?</p>
<p>2) Can you drop the Vagelos Seminar after the first semester?</p>
<p>3) If you drop Vagelos how easy is it to get the waiver for Chem 053? I got a 5 on the AP and I have my lab notebook here which is extremely neat and filled with tons of labs?</p>
<p>4) Besides reading Freakonomics, DNA: The Secret of Life, memorizing DNA bases & sugars, memorizing the amino acid structure, and reading the NYT Science and Science magazine everyweek what else is there to the course? It's already overwhelming and Dr. Lu is scary.</p>
<p>My last question doesn't really have to do with the Vagelos exclusively, but more with the major in general.</p>
<p>5) If you want to go to grad school (and a good one at that) is it necessary to spend your sophomore and junior summers conducting research? </p>
<p>I ask because I'm extremely homesick right now and the idea of having to spend summers away from my family is agonizing. </p>
<p>I'm also worrying that if indeed you DO have to conduct summer research and I DO end up dropping out of Vagelos, that I will not be able to find a lab to work in during the summer. </p>
<p>6) Is it difficult to find a lab to work in? Do they pay well enough that you can afford housing and food? </p>
<p>Thank you for ANY help anyone can give. Right now I'm just really overwhelmed and I think it's all being compounded by the fact that I am very homesick. Thank you again.</p>
<p>Go see your adviser or student adviser tomorrow. Or even try to get in touch with the student one right this minute. You need to talk this out. Don't make any decisions about all of this without talking to your adviser. Hang in there. Try to calm down & take a big breath & go for a walk or to a movie if you can.</p>
<p>I've talked to multiple people, my peer-advisor, and my parents. They've told me to take some deep breaths, calm down, and give it some time. </p>
<p>I'm taking their advice and it's getting a little easier. But I'm still seriously considering drop Vagelos. A handful of people already have dropped it. </p>
<p>I sent the person who deals with lab waivers an email, but he hasn't gotten back to me yet. I'm hoping he will get back soon so I can talk to him and relieve some of my angst.</p>
<p>If anyone has some specific answers to my problems that'd be wonderful.</p>
<p>Go see your adviser!! You are not the first person to have issues. Do not hesitate. If they accepted you they do not want to lose you & will try to work things out to make it better. They do not want to lose you. Perhaps you can make the program what you want it to be for your interests. You need to ask.</p>
<p>You can always drop out of vagelos. Don't rush into a decision now, you can drop out later if you really decide it's not for you.</p>
<p>Don't take Dr. Lu too seriously. He has a pretty well-known reputation on campus for needlessly being a jerk.</p>
<p>If you want to go to a good grad school in the physical sciences, you really ought to be doing research in the summers and/or during the school year. It's not too difficult to find a good lab that pays a little (it may cover housing and food, but not much more), and you may even find one near home. However, you don't have to do research after your freshman summer, as the other two summers will give you plenty of experiences.</p>
<p>Finally, trust in our advice that the homesickness is only temporary (and it happens to everyone). Before you know it, you'll come to think of Penn as home, and won't dream of ever going back to your old home for the summers.</p>
<p>Thank you too all. I've been so busy I haven't had time to check this board daily. One more question about Vagelos.</p>
<p>I know it's a long shot but I'm inquiring about the Vagelos Science Challenge Award. If I'm taking Chem 101 this semester, will I have taken the required number of credits to be considered sophomore year? </p>
<p>I think I remember someone say that you need to have taken Orgo your first semester. Also, how difficult is it to be in that 3.7 - 4.0 range that is needed. Is a 4.0 even attainable in Vagelos?</p>
<p>If they have 20 people who've the required credits and GPA what else do they look at.</p>
<p>Thank you very much! I will make sure to check back more regularly.</p>