Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is the Roy & Diana Vagelos Scholars Program in the Molecular Life Sciences (MLS)?
The Vagelos Scholars Program in the Molecular Life Sciences is for students intending to become research scientists. Most students have interests in the fields of biochemistry, biophysical chemistry, biotechnology, computational biology, gene therapy, genetic engineering, genomics, molecular biology, molecular genetics, molecular medicine, neurobiology, nanotechnology, structural biology, or systems biology. Many graduates, however, have also gone on to pursue advanced study in chemistry, astronomy, astrophysics, and physics. The program emphasizes introductory course work across the natural sciences to aid students in refining their areas of interest and to reveal the frontiers that arise where multiple disciplines intersect.
The MLS program has several special features.
- Students major in Biochemistry, Biophysics, Chemistry, or Physics
- Students pursue a second major in a natural science or submatriculate to earn a masters degree. Which option is best will depend upon a students long-term plans for after graduation.
- Students carry out mentored research with a Penn research laboratory in the summers after the second (sophomore) and third (junior) years while receiving a stipend.
- Five credit units per term leading to a minimum of forty course units after four years are required.
The program is based in the Department of Chemistry of the School of Arts and Sciences. Students join the program as first-years (freshmen) and are invited to join the program in April upon admission, before their first September at Penn.
The School of Arts and Sciences joint program with the Wharton school, the Roy and Diana Vagelos Program in Life Sciences and Management (LSM) and the Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research (VIPER) program are different programs.
2. Is it possible to do everything in only four years?
All students have completed the program in four academic years or less. Furthermore, the typical student who embarks on the Vagelos MLS Program will most likely have multiple Advanced Placement credits or university-level course work, allowing placement into intermediate level courses and flexibility.
This program has been called “accelerated.” This is not accurate. The required science and mathematics courses are also taken as part of the chemistry, mathematics or physics programs by students outside of the Vagelos Molecular Life Sciences Program. The courses and their sequence, are rigorous but not extreme. MLS Program students approach their academic work with intensity and focus, but this is a result of internally generated interest and commitment. The program does require five credit units per semester beginning with the first semester, which is more work academically that that expected of most students in the College.
Entering students who opt to try the Vagelos MLS program are expected to have taken at least a year each of chemistry, physics, and calculus course work prior to starting at Penn.
3. Will I be able to take courses in a broad range of subjects?
Students in the Vagelos MLS Program complete all of the general (breadth) requirements of the College of Arts & Sciences, including foundational, sector, cross-cultural, foreign language, and writing requirements. Those who are interested in more breadth will do a dual major, while those interested in more depth will pursue graduate-level course work in the four years they are at Penn. Students may pursue some of the majors in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences as a student in the College of Arts and Sciences. Depending on student background and interests, additional majors are possible. For example, Vagelos MLS students have majored in economics, south asian studies, hispanic studies, music, and sociology. Several students each year choose to do a third non-sciences major. The program emphasizes building a solid foundation in math and the natural sciences in the first two years, which prepares students for majors in the physical sciences and allows flexibility for exploring a breadth of interests and/or focused study in years three and four.
The commitment to participate in the Vagelos MLS Program can be reversed at any time.
4. Should I take Advanced Placement courses? What effect do they have?
Students in this program, regardless of the number of Advanced Placement units, are expected to complete forty course units at the University of Pennsylvania. Advanced Placement credits will allow you to start in intermediate level courses. Advanced Placement language credits may allow you an opportunity to fulfill the foreign language requirement and to explore further in either science or non-science courses. We recommend that students take AP exams, as AP scores may be used for placement purposes, particularly in first-year courses. We expect a typical Vagelos MLS Program student to have taken all the advanced science and mathematics courses (and their associated exams) offered by their high school. More information may be found at the College site regarding Advanced Placement Equivalence.
5. What will be my major? Can I select any major?
Vagelos Scholars Program students will major in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biophysics, or Physics and a second science major chosen from Biochemistry, Biology, Neuroscience, Biophysics, Chemistry, Environmental Sciences, Earth Science, Linquistics, Mathematics, Physics, or Psychology.
Select majors in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences are available to students in the College of Arts and Sciences. Majors centered in the natural sciences and their application are appropriate for Vagelos MLS students, e.g., Materials Science & Engineering. The second major must be approved by Vagelos MLS Program co-directors.
6. Is a dual degree possible?
Nearly all Vagelos MLS students fulfill the requirements for multiple majors. In addition to a B.A., some Vagelos MLS students have chosen to earn a master’s degree in Chemistry, Physics, or an engineering field. Although an M.S. degree is a second degree, Penn’s use of “dual” usually means two bachelor’s degrees from two different Schools.
7. How much choice is there for the summer research participation requirement?
Penn is unique in that the Schools of Arts and Sciences, Engineering and Applied Sciences, Medicine, Dental Medicine, and Veterinary Medicine are on one contiguous campus. In addition, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (Penn Pediatrics), Monell Chemical Senses Center, the University City Science Center, a Veterans Administration hospital, and The Wistar Institute for Anatomy and Biology are on adjacent city blocks. Together there are in excess of 1000 faculty-led laboratories to choose from.
8. What kinds of careers do Vagelos Program students pursue?
Vagelos MLS graduates pursue careers in basic and applied research and a wide variety of other fields. See the “Graduates” menu item on this site.
9. I want to attend medical school after college. Will this program help?
A science major is not required for a successful application to medical school. The extra science requirements for the Vagelos MLS Scholars Program represent serious interest in the molecular approach to medical science and the intention to participate on the frontiers of science that are relevant to medicine.
The majority of medical schools recommend the equivalent of 15 Penn credit units of mathematics and sciences. At Penn these are usually the first two semesters of calculus (2 c.u.), first-year, organic, and biological chemistry (7 c.u. including labs), two semesters of biology (3 c.u. including lab), as well as two semesters of physics (3 c.u. including lab). Two semesters of English or Comparative Literature are also usually required. A semester of behavioral science is also usually recommended.
The Vagelos Scholars Program with the College writing and sector requirements covers all of these recommended courses. Laboratory experiences in the context of a research group are recommended and/or recognized by most M.D. programs. Students are also referred to Medical School Admissions Requirements, published by the Association of American Medical Colleges, which issues a new edition every April. This is available online.
10. I am interested in neural sciences and brain function. Is this program useful?
Current projects to map function and all cellular connections in the brain and its associated networks depend on the interrogation of the quantum mechanical state and location of atomic nuclei (MRI) or the use of excited electronic states of molecules (fluorescence and “optogenetics”). This is all based on the physics and chemistry emphasized within the program.
11. Will I be too busy to be involved in activities beyond the course work and the laboratory?
Students in the Vagelos Molecular Scholars Program participate in the full range of student athletic, social, or performance activities, although some compromises will have to be made. The experience of over 300 graduates includes several who graduated a semester early and one a year early, all with 40 or more credit units taken at Penn. In addition, five students were able to spend at least one semester abroad (Argentina, Botswana, Italy, Kenya and Spain). MLS students have been involved with the fencing, track & field, and cross-country teams. At least three students have had significant roles with the Daily Pennsylvanian as editorial staff, columnists, reporters, photographers and cartoonists. Students headed to medical school are all able to spend time in some aspect of health care participation because of the five hospitals that are on or adjacent to campus.
12. How do I apply for the Vagelos Scholars Scholars Program?
There are multiple ways to indicate interest in the program. (a) All students admitted to the University of Pennsylvania who indicate an interest in the program—usually after indicating interest in one of the following majors in Biochemistry, Biophysics, Chemistry, or Physics—will be reviewed. Please see the portal for students who have accepted Penn’s offer of admission to the College of Arts & Sciences. (b) Any student who receives admission to the College of Arts & Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania and enrolls in May may request a review of their eligibility any time up to the start of the first Fall term. (c) Students may contact the Program Coordinator or Co-directors directly to express their interest at any time after receiving an offer of admission. Please send inquiries to vs-mol@sas.upenn.edu
13. Can I apply Early Decision?
Students who apply Early Decision will be reviewed at the same time as regular decision students. Should they qualify, they will be informed at the same time as regular decision students. Admitted early decision students can also contact the program to request that their application information be reviewed. The policies above under “12. How do I apply for the Vagelos Scholars Scholars Program?” apply to early decision as well as regular decision students.
14. What are the criteria for consideration?
We are looking for outstanding students with strong verbal and mathematical skills. Students are expected to have a strong interest in the physical sciences (physics, chemistry, biochemistry, and biophysics) and their applications. Ideally, the student should have taken all the Advanced Placement courses in science and mathematics offered by his/her high school and, if possible, submit scores for SAT-II subject tests in mathematics, chemistry, and physics. Some students will have taken university-level course work as well. Focused effort on one or two activities outside the classroom is more favorably viewed than superficial participation in many.
15. How many students will be accepted into the Program?
Each fall, approximately 50 students from the first-year class opt to try the Vagelos Seminar course, CHEM 0250, and MLS course plan. Recently, there have been 18-30 from each class who continue with the program and received summer stipends after their respective second (sophomore) and third (junior) years.
16. How does the Vagelos Scholars Program affect financial aid?
The program has no impact on the financial aid received from Penn or elsewhere. Summer stipends will be given to all Scholars regardless of need, during the summers after second and third years. Summer stipends may be reduced for students not carrying our research activities on the Penn campus. If a student submatriculates and is registered for more than 50% course work directed toward a graduate part of the transcript, financial aid may be affected; in such cases, students should consult with the program directors and their financial aid contact at Penn.
17. Can I transfer into the Vagelos Scholars Program?
The Program does not accept transfer students. Students should feel free to contact the program to discuss options at Penn for a challenging academic path that aligns with the students (tentative) scholarly interests and career plans.