Student Profiles

• Evan Fredericks, Connecticut - Physics Academy
• Jamie McCroskery, California - Biomedical Research Academy
• Elissa Wong, New York - Biomedical Research Academy

Evan Fredericks, Connecticut

Physics Academy

During my junior year my mom and I were working on my college search and looking at different summer programs. My dad said that the Penn program looked really nice and would give me a chance to explore my interest in physics. We met with Bill Berner, the program director, who explained that Penn's Summer Physics Academy is a hands-on program, that the students work on real problems with real lab equipment. I liked the idea of that, because you never know how interested you might be in physics when you're just learning theory.

Our days are divided into lectures and labs. One of the best labs took place during a trip to Dorney Park. We brought along a portable computer-based lab with sensors and measured the acceleration of the rides. Our final lab was on the speed of light. We spent two days doing circuitry, building a laser, and using special diodes to measure the speed of a beam of light we sent.

The coolest thing about physics for me is learning the explanation behind something you can actually see—being able to understand it and explain it. There are so many areas of physics. Some of them are really abstract and theoretical and based only on math and not on evidence or visuals. This summer I got to learn more about myself and my interests. I learned that I enjoy building circuits and using my hands, getting dirty with the mechanics of physics. And I started thinking that it might be great to end up as a high school physics teacher who comes back to Penn to teach in the Summer Physics Academy.

Jamie McCroskery, California

Biomedical Research Academy

I chose the Biomedical Academy for the lab experience I'd get. I also wanted more information about biology and its relation to medicine, because my high school doesn't offer that.

The great thing about this program is that people have the same interests as you, and you know that you're with people who are really smart and really into science. The very first day when people introduced themselves they were talking about loving biology or wanting to be a specific kind of doctor. By the end of that session everyone was applauding.

I really like the environment here. There's a wide variety of people I wouldn't normally be friends with. It's a great acculturating experience.

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Elissa Wong, New York

Biomedical Research Academy

I was looking for a program that would give me lab. The Biomedical Academy has been great. It teaches you a lot of fundamental techniques that can be applied to many different types of experiments.

Many of the people in this program have had AP biology. Some didn't, of course, but overall everyone is interested in biology and able to do relatively fine. It's not like you're getting tested on the material, but you are getting the exposure. Some of the kids consider it a review, but it's a good refresher because you can't remember everything and you need to apply what you're learning here in the labs.

But the instructors are there in the lab to guide you, and they make you feel comfortable. It's possible to make mistakes, of course. That happens to everyone because of lack of experience, but the lab instructors have infinite patience. They're here to teach you.

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