<p>I was wondering if anyone could tell me more about this program? I am very interested, but my physics background is limited to the high school level. I could compensate that by taking summer courses if I had to because this opportunity sounds amazing! What is it REALLY like--how intensive? Any thoughts?</p>
<p>I’m a current Vagelos scholar and if you want a good run-through, I suggest taking a look at the website:</p>
<p>[Vagelos</a> Scholars Program in Molecular Life Sciences](<a href=“Biochemistry | Penn Arts & Sciences”>Vagelos Molecular Life Sciences Program | Penn Arts & Sciences)</p>
<p>Just as a general idea, the Vagelos program is run through the biochemistry department at Penn. The idea is that you get this Biochemistry BA and either double major in another scientific field or submatriculate into the Chemistry MS program and get your masters.</p>
<p>It’s pretty science research-focused. As a Vag, you have to stay at Penn during the summer before your Junior and Senior years doing research at a lab on campus. During any given semester, most, if not all, your classes will be in the sciences (unless you’re fulfilling gen. ed. req).</p>
<p>In terms of intensity, you’re required to take 5 c.u. a semester (basically figures out to 5 classes) and that’s generally more than you would take if you were just a regular college person taking 4 or 4.5 cu. However, it’s definitely doable and lots of people have done it. It’s more of a question of how much you enjoy science as opposed to difficulty.</p>
<p>Hope this helps!</p>
<p>Awesome! That is exactly what I was looking to hear–the desire to do science versus the impossibility of the material. Is there a limit to how many students may enter this program and how do you apply? I was accepted ED just into CAS.</p>
<p>Haha I’m glad you like science…I’m actually probably headed out of Vagelos (differing interests), but to answer your question…</p>
<p>If you applied Chemistry, Biochem, and I think any science as your desired major, you should be looked at as a possible candidate. I applied RD to Penn not knowing anything about Vagelos until they sent me a letter in the spring after I was admitted. Not sure when they do this selection, but I’m pretty sure they look at everyone at once during the spring…so you should get a notification then…</p>
<p>However, if you’re really interested, I would suggest getting in contact with the director of the program, Ponzy Lu. I think his email’s on the page I linked earlier.</p>
<p>I’m not in Vagelos but I know a lot of kids who are from my physics and math classes and one of my TAs graduated as a Vagelos Scholar. I’ll probably be seeing a lot of them as I’m a physics/chemistry person. It seems from what people say that it is a very flexible program, a lot of the kids I have met in Vagelos are actually more oriented towards physics (not as much biochemistry) than one may expect. So while some do the standard biochemistry route, many seem to major in physics and then submatriculate in physics or chemistry. A lot of them also seem to be interested in condensed matter physics. As freshman, the Vagelos students I know are all taking Chem (they get the lab waived), Math, Physics, and the Vagelos seminar. This is pretty similar to what engineers take their first semester. However, because most Vagelos students have taken the corresponding APs, a lot of them choose to take honors or go up a level. I think the most common classes I’ve heard of them taking are Honors Chem, Honors Physics, Organic, and for math all the kids I know have credit for Calc BC, so they take either Math 114 (multivariable), Honors Math, or Math 240 (the class after 114).
I don’t know of any ED kids who received the letter, but I do know one or two who requested to be in the program. They just talked to the director and confirmed their interest. I hear it’s a pretty intense program but it gives you a lot of opportunities. However, you don’t have to be a Vagelos scholar to submatriculate, you just have to plan your schedule accordingly.</p>
<p>Very true. I do know of some upper classmen who are majoring in physics instead of biochem. I’m not sure if you also have to take all of the biochem major requirements as delineated by Vagelos (see curriculum on website), but there is a lot of leeway in terms of what kind of science you want to do.</p>