YIKES!!!! New twist in S's decision process...Jami?! Or anyone familiar with UPenn?

Parents Forum
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<p>Hey y'all,</p>

<p>Just when we thought we were almost at a decision, we have a new twist! My son received an additional packet from UPenn today. It seems that he is being invited to join a tiny and very exclusive program within the chemistry department. It is called the Vagelos Program in the Molecular Life Sciences.</p>

<p>According to the literature, this program leads to a double major in the natural sciences, one of which is Chemistry or Biochemistry. Another option is to opt for a major in one of the above with submatriculation, i.e., earn a master's degree with a B.A. in the four years at Penn.</p>

<p>Successful completion of this program will be reflected on the student's transcript.</p>

<p>Only about 20 students in the incoming freshman class are offered a spot in this program. The program includes two summers of paid research at Penn, after the sophomore and junior years. </p>

<p>The program is referred to as being "highly selective", and it is estimated that only about 10 of the 20 students will be receiving the summer stipends at the end of their sophomore years because there will be those who decide to leave the program or those whose grades may disqualify them.</p>

<p>One of the pieces of literature we received regarding this program alluded to the possibility of two years of tuition and fees being waived. I believe that this opportunity goes along with the submatriculation option.</p>

<p>All I can say is, WOW! My son is very intrigued by the possibility of coming out of four years at Penn with not only a bachelor's but a masters as well. And once again, he has been offered an honor of immense proportions.</p>

<p>What I want to ask is, has anyone heard of/had experience with this Vagelos Program? I am planning to call UPenn tomorrow, but now, just when we were leaning toward matriculation at JHU, this new opportunity presents itself!</p>

<p>I'm not complaining, mind you, but OMG, my brain is fried from all this contemplation.</p>

<p>My friends, once again I turn to you for opinions......</p>

<p>respectfully, ~berurah</p>

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<p>Congratulations yet again! Why not just put all three options in a hat and pull one? Just kidding. I would be certain to compare the bottom line of all of these offers in terms of actual money on the table.</p>

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<p>carolyn...have you anything about that program?? You are so familiar with tons of colleges!! ~b.</p>

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<p>Wow, and the hits just keep rolling in! More huge congrats to your son!</p>

<p>I'm sure by now you've found this: <a href="http://www.sas.upenn.edu/biochem/vspmls.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.sas.upenn.edu/biochem/vspmls.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>I don't see any mention there specifically of tuition waivers, but they do mention "financial aid based on need" and that there will be "no loan component"... whatever that means? Wow, more for you all to ponder! Don't get dizzy with all this spinning, now! :)</p>

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<p>Nope, sorry, I am not familiar with that program. Sounds like you have another college to add to your visit list. Maybe fly into Philadelphia, visit Penn, drive to Baltimore, visit JHU, then on to Duke and then home. Worth the investment in money for the trip, in my opinion.</p>

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<p>mootmom,</p>

<p>Thanks for the congrats! The tuition waiver part was in a letter that he received today. It says:</p>

<p>
[quote]
If you choose the submatriculation path, there is an opportunity to have tuition and fees waived for as much as two academic years, independent of financial aid.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>What is NOT clear is what that "opportunity" entails...whether it is something for which you must apply or whether it goes along with the submatriculation option. </p>

<p>At any rate, it certainly doesn't seem to involve the money of the Hodson Trust Scholarship.....</p>

<p>~b.</p>

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<p>berurah, I know nothing about this program but just wanted to say CONGRATS and MORE GOOD THINGS WERE JUST AROUND THE CORNER!
With best wishes, Tabby</p>

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<p>CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN (but I am no longer surprised at the recognition your son is receiving :) ) I have sent you an email with my thoughts on this, for whatever they may or may not be worth.</p>

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<p>WOW!!! This is incredible. If you can get two years of tuition and fees waived somehow, I think the college gods are sending you a very strong sign that you should not ignore. WOW.</p>

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<p>CONGRATS again!!!!</p>

<p>Wow, berurah! I thought that I had finished congratulating you and your S when I responded the the "Crickey" thread. So far your good news titles have been "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly", "Hey! Something Good WAS Around the Corner!!", "My Dear Friends, Omg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!", "Crikey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!", and now "YIKES!!!! New twist in S's decision process...Jami?! Or anyone familiar with UPenn?" Compared to the one negative thread in which you wrote
[quote]
As some of you may know, my son was rejected in the EA round at Yale on Wednesday. It was, without doubt, the biggest blow he's ever suffered. His reaction scared me, and now, though he is mostly back to his old strong, confident self, the scars remain.</p>

<p>And I feel like a flippin' failure. I've never felt like this before in all of my years of parenting six children. I guess I've pretty much gotten off easy prior to this...

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I guess that you don't feel like such a failure now, do you???? And I guess he feels better too!!! :D</p>

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<p>CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! </p>

<p>sorry...I couldn't resist!</p>

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<p>berurah - </p>

<p>I think I found the info:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.sas.upenn.edu/biochem/challenge.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.sas.upenn.edu/biochem/challenge.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>This will pay tuition and fees for the third and fourth year. It's open to those who submatriculate and 5 people per year are selected.</p>

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<p>Can this post be required reading for ALL CC parents whose kids apply EA or ED next year? Please?</p>

<p>No familiarity with the programme, but it sounds fantastic. Just watch out for "paid research," however; the school might only pay about $7/hour or so, which probably won't cover room and board. Internships would pay about twice that.</p>

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<p>yemaya~Girl, you do your HOMEWORK!!!!!!!!!!!!! <em>lol</em> You are so cute! And so supportive! So glad to have you on the team! And you have a bee-you-tee-ful way with COLOR!! love, ~berurah</p>

<p>P.S. And no, I don't feel like a failure anymore (except in the housekeeping department! <em>lol</em>). My son and I have been vindicated (and validated)!</p>

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<p>ariesathena,</p>

<p>The research is paid at the same rate as a PhD. The literature said that it would involve $5,000 per summer. Not sure what that comes to hourly...haven't done the math. ~b.</p>

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<p>tabbyzmom~I thank you once again for sharing your special angel, your grandma, with us. She has really been watching over my son! :)</p>

<p>MotherOfTwo~I sent you an email!</p>

<p>digmedia~Thanks for that link. Only five people per year? Sounds iffy....and then...what if my S gets two years into the program and we DON'T get that? At JHU the money is guaranteed for four years as long as the GPA is 3.0 or above. Hmmmmmmmm........</p>

<p>Thanks so much everyone!! ~berurah</p>

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<p>Mazel tov, yet again. Such an honor! </p>

<p>I know nothing about this program but wonder if your S is indeed ready to specialize this early. Didn't you say someplace that he was also interested in the law? What happens if his interests change a little, or a lot? I know he has been interested in infectious diseases since he was little, but will the Penn program allow room for him to develop or pursue other interests too? Just another thought to consider....</p>

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<p>wish,</p>

<p>Excellent point, and one that I thought of too when I looked at the curriculum for this strenuous program. Also, the program appears to be specially designed for those who intend to pursue graduate degrees in fields related to research medicine. This one may not be the right program for my son, but I'm going to call tomorrow with some questions! Thanks so much! ~b.</p>

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<p>Penn student here - I'm not a Vagelos person, but I have been in classes with some Vagelos people. It is a fantastic program in terms of the doors it opens. Obviously you come out at the end of it with a really solid education, but the research part of it is amazing too. Vagelos people all seem fairly close with each other (even the ones that can't handle the pace and drop out of the program!) and build amazing relationships with their professors. Of course you don't need to be in a special program at Penn (or anywhere else) to get those kind of experiences, but it's nice to have it all laid out for you.</p>

<p>The big problem is, of course, the intensity of the program. It's tough, and time consuming. Since your S has been leaning towards JHU, I'm guessing he's not put off by the idea of lots of hard work and a (potentially) reduced social life.</p>

<p>If you can do it, try and visit in the next couple of weeks, and make an appointment with the head of the program (Ponzy Lu, if memory serves correctly?) to discuss any questions and get a better feel for the program.</p>

<p>If your S is dead set on (bio)chemistry, and likes the idea of really intensive study at the expensive of some electives, definitely consider it.</p>

<p>Also, if money is an issue, NEGOTIATE! Penn definitely wants to increase its yield, so they should be more than willing to deal, especially for someone selected for a program like this. And (<em>touches every wooden thing in the room</em>) once you have financial support, it's not likely to be withdrawn if your circumstances remain the same. Of course, this view might change if I get saddled with enormous loans next year. Penn is also in the process of revamping its financial aid policies to make them more favourable to students, although I doubt that a fullscale implementation of the Princeton model will ever be feasible...</p>

<p>I'm going to put my red and blue pom-poms down now!</p>

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<p>berurah,
Missed seeing the Crikey!, so Yikes! will have to do! Wow, double Wow, triple Wow! Such wonderful opportunities for your S. Congrats again!</p>

<p>On a lighter side, which has been the most difficult......the application process, the waiting, or the deciding?!?!?!? LOL</p>

<p>By the way, I might have missed it in the other thread, but did the Duke financial aid come in, and was it favovable?</p>