Pre-Collegiate Training
Brandeis Science Posse Scholars participate in an eight-month, pre-collegiate training program, which takes place weekly from January through August of their senior year of high school. The program includes four science workshops conducted by Brandeis faculty, and emphasizes team building, leadership development and problem-solving skills.
In July, the Scholars come to campus for a 12-day Summer Science Immersion Program. Introducing students to the rigors of studying science at an elite institution, the program includes lectures, laboratories, problem sets and exams, and a poster session at which students present their research on a scientific topic. Scholars meet with science faculty, academic and nonacademic support staff and become familiar with Brandeis, Waltham and Boston.
Activities
Below is a summary of pre-collegiate activities. All are mandatory unless noted otherwise.
Weekly Pre-Collegiate Training (PCT) with Posse staff, emphasizing leadership and communication skills; 2 hours/week
Four STEM workshops within PCT are devoted to science: 1 chemistry, 2 biology, 1 math; 2 hours/workshop
Summer Science Immersion Program (12 days). The Summer Science Immersion Program is designed to give students an understanding of the excitement and challenges of studying science within a research university. Rather than focusing on mastery of specific course content, the Summer Science Immersion Program helps students understand the intensity of college-level science classes, the rigor of university lab assignments, grading on a curve, and time-management. The program culminates with a poster presentation open to the entire Brandeis community on a research area of the scholar's choice.
Weekly group meetings of the scholars emphasizing leadership skills and the transition to college; 2 hours/week
Individual meetings with the Science Posse Mentor; 1 hour every other week
Research Lab Experience; time commitment varies; optional