Molecular Research Academy
The Chemistry Research Academy at UPenn is a three-week intensive summer course in which student learn about the fundamentals of cutting edge chemistry research. Students also choose a capstone research project of their own that becomes the culmination of their summer experience. It may appeal to you that the capstone project is intended to leave you with a research plan to carry out after the summer program ends. This will give you an excellent roadmap if you intended to enter one of the national science fairs (think: Regeneron Science Talent Search)! Note that Philadelphia-area students may be able to attend the Molecular Research Academy for free!
“Penn Chemistry is a leading center for molecular research and instruction, whose researchers are at the frontier of modern chemistry, tackling a wide variety of important societal challenges. The Chemistry Research Academy provides students with the foundational knowledge to understand the chemistry of cutting-edge research projects in the chemical sciences while offering an opportunity to interact with the scientists performing this research.”
How do I get started? Check out the website for the Penn Chemistry Summer Program.
How do I expand this narrative arc? If you are interested in studying medicine or research science there are a number of excellent and prestigious summer programs at some of the top research institutions in the country:
Test drive “life at the bench” in this intensive four-week RIBS lab research program at U. Chicago.
Zuckerman Institute Brain Research Internship
Cancer Research Internship at Fred Hutch
Children’s Health Research Internship at Colorado Children’s Hospital
Want to take your summer research further? As noted above, your capstone project provides you with a blueprint for moving forward with a serious science project. Enlist a teacher supervisor and enter into one of the many prestigious national science fair competitions like the Regeneron Science Talent Search.
IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT SUMMER PROGRAMS: College admissions officers are very adept at identifying “resume padders”: expensive, one-off programs paid for by your parents which do not mesh with your narrative arc. Therefore, make sure any summer program or course you consider falls into one (or more) of these four buckets:
Highly selective/competitive
Totally unique + linked to your narrative arc
Evidence of adulthood (long hours, multi-year commitment or simply hard work)
A jumping off point or expansion for an authentic narrative arc.
If none of the above apply, a program could still have value to you if it allows you to test a potential interest. However, if it does not end up being a jumping off point for further interests, then you may not want to mention it in your high school resume