University of California
San Diego
Charles Tu, Ph.D., COSMOS Director/Associate Dean, UCSD Jacobs School of Engineering
Becky Hames, COSMOS Assistant Director
Adam Petersen, COSMOS Program Specialist
Diane Lantz, Program Assistant
Student Pipeline
Issue
in the US
The “Gathering Storm” in the U.S.

The U.S. ranks 48th in quality of mathematics and
science education. (World Economic Forum)

In 2000, the number of foreign students studying the
physical sciences and engineering in U.S. graduate
schools for the first time surpassed the number of
U.S. students.

The U.S. ranks 27th among developed nations in the
proportion of college students receiving
undergraduate degrees in science or engineering.

The U.S. graduates more visual and performing arts
majors than engineers.

78 percent of high school graduates did not meet the
readiness benchmark levels for one or more entrylevel college courses in mathematics, science,
reading and English. (ACT College Readiness Report)
SOURCE: Rising Above The Gathering Storm, Revisited: Rapidly Approaching
Category 5, National Academies Press (2010)
Bachelor's degrees conferred by degree-granting institutions
in selected fields of study: 1997–98, 2002–03, and 2007–08
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National
Center for Education Statistics, 1997–98, 2002–03, and
2007–08 Integrated Postsecondary Education Data
System, "Completions Survey" (IPEDS-C:97–98), and
Fall 2003 and Fall 2008.
Goals of COSMOS
 Motivate talented high school
students
 Excite students about math
and science
 Challenges beyond a regular
classroom setting
 Encourage students to
continue in STEM (Science,
Technology, Engineering & Math)
majors in college
 Enhance the academic
experience by participating in
team projects and presentations
 Experience the college
environment
 Learn about the UC experience
About COSMOS
 Four COSMOS Sites
 UC San Diego
 UC Santa Cruz
 UC Irvine
 UC Davis
 Program Information
 Four-week residential program
 UCSD, UCSC, UCD program dates: July 10 – August 6, 2011
 UCI: June 26 – July 23, 2011
 Tuition: $2,675 ($6,500 value)
 Every CA student receives a $3,800+ scholarship
 Financial assistance is available
 Our students:
 ~165 talented & motivated students
 Rising 8th – 12th graders
 Average overall unweighted cumulative GPA: 3.8
Academics
 Curriculum beyond the typical high school experience
 Work side-by-side with university faculty and researchers
 “Hands-on” activities and work in university labs
 Work in teams on Final Project
 Field trips
 College and Research Competition Information Sessions
UCSD topics (or “clusters”) include:
1. Computers in Everyday Life
2. Engineering Design & Control of Kinetic Sculptures
3. Living Oceans & Global Climate Change
4. Earthquakes in Action
5. Bright Ideas: Light at Work
6. Exploring the Cosmos
7. Bioeng/Mechanical Eng: The Amazing Red Blood Cell
8. The Molecular Biology Revolution
Discovery Lecture Series
 Renowned scientists and engineers present on a
wide range of research topics.
 Focus on current research in the speaker's field
 Designed to introduce students to a broad spectrum
of subjects, expanding their learning outside of their
cluster topics.
 Presentations are held each Tuesday during the
COSMOS program and are supported by the
California Institute for Telecommunications and
Information Technology (Calit2).
 Webcasts of presentations are archived on the
Calit2 website.
Scientific Communication Course
Taught by COSMOS “Teacher Fellows” (local high
school teachers who are recruited and hired by
UCSD COSMOS)
Provides:

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
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Improved study skills
Critical reading skills
Critical thinking skills
Effective writing skills
Successful presentation skills
Assistance in producing final project
Awards and Opportunities
•Extra UC application points
•Gordon Leadership Awards
• Awarded to one student from each cluster
for recognition of outstanding leadership
skills during the COSMOS program month.
•Paid Summer Internships
•Nobel Laureate Event
2010 UCSD COSMOS
Gordon Leadership
Awardees
California Nobel Laureate Event
COSMOS Students Present at the California Nobel Laureates’ Annual
Reception & Dinner
Residential Life
Activities include:
 Weekend Field Trips
 COSMOlympics
 Talent Show
 Sports
 Music
 Quizmos
 Movies
 Crafts
 Dances
 Karaoke
 And more!
Daily Schedule
Sample Weekly Schedule
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
7:45am-8:30am
Breakfast
8:40am-8:50am
Morning Updates
9:00am-11:45am
Cluster
Instruction
Course #1
Discovery Lecture
9:00am-9:45am
Scientific
Communication
10:00am-11:45am
FRIDAY
Cluster Info Sessions/
Scientific
Communication/Prep
for Final Project
9:00am-11:45am
Cluster
Instruction
Course #1
Academic Enrichment/
Review Sessions
Cluster
Instruction
Course #2
Lunch
12:00-1:00pm
1:00pm-4:00pm
Cluster Instruction
Course #1
THURSDAY
Cluster
Instruction
Course #2
Open Field or
Lab Work
Cluster Instruction
Course #2
4:00-5:30pm
Students return to Residential Halls - Free Time
5:30-6:15pm
Dinner
6:15-8:00pm
Study Time / Academic Enrichment Presentations
8:00-10:00pm
Recreational Activities
10:00-10:30pm
All COSMOS Students must be in Residential Hall Floor
10:30-11:00pm
All COSMOS Students must be in rooms
11:00pm
Lights Out
Application Process
 Applications are available online from
February 1 – March 15, 2011 at
http://www.ucop.edu/ or
http://cosmos.ucsd.edu/
 Application fee: $30 (non-refundable)
 Prerequisite requirements
 Admission is competitive
 Be thorough when writing your essays
 You may apply only to one campus,
but you can, and should, choose your
top 3 clusters
 Attending COSMOS provides you with
extra consideration on your UC college
application, but does not guarantee
admission to a UC
1:1 Meeting Notes
Application Tips
 Submit ALL of your materials by March 15th deadline
 Invest time & effort into your essays. Most applicants
are fantastic students. Tell us why you should be
admitted. What specifically sets you apart?
 Teacher recommendations are very important. Give
your teachers enough time to complete & submit.
 For each cluster: Elaborate on why you would like to
attend that cluster (100-250 words per cluster)
 Short essays- answer ONE of the following in 200-300
words:
• “What excites you about math/science, and why
would you want to spend a month in COSMOS?”
• “Describe a project or experience you worked on
that furthered your interest in a specific
math/science topic.”
 Please take a look at our FAQ page on our website
(http://cosmos.ucsd.edu/) for a better understanding
of our program.
COSMOS Statewide Coordinator
Melina Duarte
COSMOS Summer Staff
• Mitchelle Greenlee
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COSMOS Resident Dean
UCSD Marshall College Assistant Dean
• Shirley Miranda
•
•
•
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COSMOS 2007-2010 Teacher Fellow and
Science Communication Curriculum Consultant
COSMOS Statewide Advisory Board Member
Morse High School Teacher
Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair
Director
Questions?
Contact Information
(858) 822-4361
cosmos@ucsd.edu
http://cosmos.ucsd.edu/