From independent research projects to interdisciplinary seminars, Penn\u2019s scholars programs offer students the opportunity to enhance the traditional undergraduate curriculum.<\/p>\n
Programs are hosted University-wide and at a school-specific scale \u2014 each combining research, coursework, and community in different ways. Many of these initiatives admit current Penn students, but some are offered solely to incoming first years before they arrive on campus.<\/p>\n
There are currently four<\/a> University-wide academic scholars programs \u2014 University Scholars, Benjamin Franklin Scholars, Civic Scholars, and the SNF Paideia Fellows Program.<\/p>\n University Scholars, commonly referred to as UScholars,\u00a0encourages members to explore particular fields of study in depth through research. The program admits 20 to 30 incoming first-year students, but sophomores and juniors can also join through an on-campus application process.\u00a0<\/p>\n The program\u2019s central requirement is an independent research project conducted with the support of a Penn faculty member. UScholars are expected to identify and select their own faculty mentor, although help is available from the program\u2019s Faculty Council.<\/p>\n Get the DP delivered straight to your inbox.<\/p>\n Sign Up<\/a><\/p>\n College junior Megan Xie researches neuroblastoma and cell culture as a UScholar, and described the program\u2019s faculty as \u201cvery supportive.\u201d To fulfill the research requirement, she joined a lab where she is able to participate without a graduate-level education.<\/p>\n UScholars also allows students to share their work by presenting at the Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships <\/a>exposition, held once each semester.<\/p>\n