UC Davis Young Scholars Program - Page 2

coureur · 05-01-2006, 09:18 AM

I don't know anything about SAAST, but speaking in general I would guess that YSP might help more simply because your kid will get more research done in six weeks vs. three. D had a nice paper that she wrote from her YSP work, but even at six weeks the research she did was rushed and somewhat incomplete. If you are looking to have a manuscript to submit with apps to science-minded colleges, you'll probably do better with a six week program over a three week one.

mstee · 05-01-2006, 09:23 AM

Let's see--Davis is a longer program, and cheaper. On the other hand, at Penn your D would experience the East Coast, meet more kids from outside CA and get a concrete idea of what it might be like to be a student at Penn. As far as the science goes, I would think one would likely get more out of a six week program than a three week one, so would tend to lean toward Davis as far as that goes. Guess it depends on what your D wants to get out of the experience, how important it is to get out of state for part of the summer.

Also, how many students in the Penn program? 40 students in the Davis program makes it sound pretty intense, and very likely for a participant to form strong bonds with the other students and excellent relationships with the profs in a small program like that.

Perhaps some other parents could weigh in on this?

Edit: I see Coureur already did weigh in!

My daughter has decided to go to COSMOS. I'm so happy! She applied two years ago and did not get in, so am thrilled she gets this chance to go!

elka · 05-03-2006, 12:41 AM

Thanks very much for your advise.

chig400 · 05-06-2006, 01:34 AM

i have also been accepted to the davis program. i am afraid that im not experienced enough with laboratory work. can you inform me about how difficult the research and lab work is?

Earl · 04-19-2007, 02:31 AM

bump

I got accepted and it sounds totally awesome. Is anyone else going?

ambrino123 · 05-03-2007, 01:20 AM

I'm going too. I'm excited, I don't know anyone else who has gone, so I'm also a little nervous, I'm not sure what to expect.

dfinch · 12-21-2007, 10:23 PM

Hi,I'm a junior thinking about applying for this program. Just wondering if anyone could share their experiences with doing YSP. Is it worth the money?

Also, how difficult is it to get in to this program? I've only taken normal chem and bio classes so far (I'm currently in AP Physics) but am planning to take AP Bio and AP Chem next year. Since this internship is focused on biology/chemistry type stuff, I'm worried they won't accept me if I haven't had that much background in labs yet and am taking bio/chem APs senior year. Thx

travel family · 04-17-2008, 10:14 AM

I have a question for people who attend this program last year or so....how was it? Is it really selective or as someone said a in 3 get in?

Do you think it helped you get into the college you really wanted to go to? I am trying to figure out if I should do a job in a company locally or go to YSP for 6 weeks. The expenses are quite high! $4500.

Any opinion will be greatly appreciated.

ellemenope · 04-17-2008, 02:17 PM

>>can you inform me about how difficult the research and lab work is?<<

The type of research done will determine what kind of lab skills will be required. Not to worry--you'll be taught what you need to know. What with the repetitive nature of lab work, you'll be an expert in your task in 3 days!

I think it helped my daughter get into college. She had a research paper to give to schools who were interested in looking at such things. She got an extra recommendation for college. It gave her something to write about in one of her essays...able to show that elusive "passion."

Don't know what kind of job you are talking about so can't compare to YSP.

coureur · 04-17-2008, 04:57 PM

I once mentioned YSP to an MIT adcom and she was very familiar with it - knew all about it. And they must have thought highly of it, since MIT accepted my daughter. YSP is unique to the Davis campus and has been around for many decades - longer than other programs such as COSMOS.

The price used to be $3K, but they boosted it to $4.5K a few years ago so that they could offer spots to disadvantaged kids who otherwise could not afford to attend.