Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long is the UCSP?
A: The UCSP is 9 weeks in duration. For the summer of 2022, the program started on June 3rd, and ended on July 28th.
Q: May I have the transcript faxed to you?
A: No, as a faxed copy is an unofficial transcript. The USCP application requires an official transcript.
Q: Can I email a copy of my official transcript?
A: In order to be considered an official transcript, a transcript must come from the Registrar's Office. Some universities offer an option to directly email transcripts to ucsppenn@gmail.com or ucsp@pennmedicine.upenn.edu. Transcripts sent through email will be accepted as the official transcript provided that it comes directly from a university. Transcripts sent as PDF files from individual applicants will not be accepted. Other acceptable means of submitting your official transcript include having your Registrar's Office directly mail the transcript to our mailing address or receiving a sealed and signed envelope from the Registrar's Office and mailing it to our address.
Q: I have attended multiple colleges/universities; do I need to send a transcript from each school or just the one I am currently attending?
A: We must receive an official transcript from each college and/or university you have attended in addition to the one(s) you are currently attending. If you took college courses as a high school student through a dual-enrollment program, we require an official transcript from that college as well.
Q: Do I have to send the different components of the application materials separately, or is it acceptable if I mail them all in one envelope?
A: Application materials other than the transcript and letter of recommendation must be submitted directly through the program website. You may mail the supporting application materials separately or in one envelope. If you elect to send all the supporting components of the application at the same time, each transcript and letter of recommendation must be in separate, sealed envelopes. Additionally, letters of recommendation should be signed across the seal by the person writing the letter.
Q: How many letters of recommendation do I need to send?
A: A minimum of one letter of recommendation written by a dean or professor from your college is required. If you have prior research experience, you must also include at least one letter from a prior research mentor.
Q: Will you accept applications that arrive after the deadline but are postmarked beforehand?
A: As long as the application has been submitted via the program website prior to the deadline, all supporting materials will be accepted if postmarked by or on the deadline.
Q: How will I know when all of my application materials are received?
A: Once your application is completed, you will be sent a confirmation email. Reminder notifications will be sent out one week prior to the deadline to let students know of partial applications. Please realize that in order to be contacted about a partial application, a student must have at least submitted an application a week before the deadline in order to receive the notification.
Q: If my application is not accepted this year, may I apply again next year?
A: Absolutely; we encourage all students to re-apply the following year if they were not successful in the current year.
Q: When will I hear about an interview?
A: Notifications about interviews are typically sent out in early February. Depending on the number of applications and the results of the interviews, this time frame may be extended.
Q: Can I pick the research mentor with whom I will work and/or the project I will work on?
A: Unfortunately, we cannot allow students to select their mentor and/or project. Once selected to participate in the program, students are sent a mentor list with descriptions of possible research projects and are asked to submit their top few choices. Matches are then made between mentors and students to maximize the number of students who match with one of their preferred mentors. If you have a specific area of interest, we suggest you highlight this in your application, and we will make every effort to address this in your assignment. The specific research project assigned will be determined by the student’s research mentor.
Q: Would I be able to continue working with my research mentor after the summer is over?
A: We encourage students to discuss continued involvement with their research mentor after program completion.
Q: Is housing and food provided for students?
A: Students are required to find housing on their own. The program is happy to provide assistance with this if necessary. In past years, participants have often found housing together or used Pennlets (pennlets.com), a website where current UPenn students leaving for the summer sublease their apartments. Students are provided with a stipend which can be used for food, but meals will also be provided at every lecture.
Q: When are students provided the stipend?
A: Students are paid bi-monthly from mid-June to the end of August. If additional assistance is required before the end of June, please contact the program administrator.
Q: Are students guaranteed publication of their research projects once completed?
A: Publications are not guaranteed but both program administrators and mentors are highly motivated to work with students who are seeking publication.
Q: What does the structure of classes look like?
A: Students will receive lectures in biostatistics, epidemiology, and STATA statistical software in order to build the knowledge foundation for clinical research. The class schedule is subject to change, typically starting at noon with a total duration of two to four hours. The rest of the time is flexible for students to work with their assigned mentor individually and participate in other activities.
A: The UCSP is 9 weeks in duration. For the summer of 2022, the program started on June 3rd, and ended on July 28th.
Q: May I have the transcript faxed to you?
A: No, as a faxed copy is an unofficial transcript. The USCP application requires an official transcript.
Q: Can I email a copy of my official transcript?
A: In order to be considered an official transcript, a transcript must come from the Registrar's Office. Some universities offer an option to directly email transcripts to ucsppenn@gmail.com or ucsp@pennmedicine.upenn.edu. Transcripts sent through email will be accepted as the official transcript provided that it comes directly from a university. Transcripts sent as PDF files from individual applicants will not be accepted. Other acceptable means of submitting your official transcript include having your Registrar's Office directly mail the transcript to our mailing address or receiving a sealed and signed envelope from the Registrar's Office and mailing it to our address.
Q: I have attended multiple colleges/universities; do I need to send a transcript from each school or just the one I am currently attending?
A: We must receive an official transcript from each college and/or university you have attended in addition to the one(s) you are currently attending. If you took college courses as a high school student through a dual-enrollment program, we require an official transcript from that college as well.
Q: Do I have to send the different components of the application materials separately, or is it acceptable if I mail them all in one envelope?
A: Application materials other than the transcript and letter of recommendation must be submitted directly through the program website. You may mail the supporting application materials separately or in one envelope. If you elect to send all the supporting components of the application at the same time, each transcript and letter of recommendation must be in separate, sealed envelopes. Additionally, letters of recommendation should be signed across the seal by the person writing the letter.
Q: How many letters of recommendation do I need to send?
A: A minimum of one letter of recommendation written by a dean or professor from your college is required. If you have prior research experience, you must also include at least one letter from a prior research mentor.
Q: Will you accept applications that arrive after the deadline but are postmarked beforehand?
A: As long as the application has been submitted via the program website prior to the deadline, all supporting materials will be accepted if postmarked by or on the deadline.
Q: How will I know when all of my application materials are received?
A: Once your application is completed, you will be sent a confirmation email. Reminder notifications will be sent out one week prior to the deadline to let students know of partial applications. Please realize that in order to be contacted about a partial application, a student must have at least submitted an application a week before the deadline in order to receive the notification.
Q: If my application is not accepted this year, may I apply again next year?
A: Absolutely; we encourage all students to re-apply the following year if they were not successful in the current year.
Q: When will I hear about an interview?
A: Notifications about interviews are typically sent out in early February. Depending on the number of applications and the results of the interviews, this time frame may be extended.
Q: Can I pick the research mentor with whom I will work and/or the project I will work on?
A: Unfortunately, we cannot allow students to select their mentor and/or project. Once selected to participate in the program, students are sent a mentor list with descriptions of possible research projects and are asked to submit their top few choices. Matches are then made between mentors and students to maximize the number of students who match with one of their preferred mentors. If you have a specific area of interest, we suggest you highlight this in your application, and we will make every effort to address this in your assignment. The specific research project assigned will be determined by the student’s research mentor.
Q: Would I be able to continue working with my research mentor after the summer is over?
A: We encourage students to discuss continued involvement with their research mentor after program completion.
Q: Is housing and food provided for students?
A: Students are required to find housing on their own. The program is happy to provide assistance with this if necessary. In past years, participants have often found housing together or used Pennlets (pennlets.com), a website where current UPenn students leaving for the summer sublease their apartments. Students are provided with a stipend which can be used for food, but meals will also be provided at every lecture.
Q: When are students provided the stipend?
A: Students are paid bi-monthly from mid-June to the end of August. If additional assistance is required before the end of June, please contact the program administrator.
Q: Are students guaranteed publication of their research projects once completed?
A: Publications are not guaranteed but both program administrators and mentors are highly motivated to work with students who are seeking publication.
Q: What does the structure of classes look like?
A: Students will receive lectures in biostatistics, epidemiology, and STATA statistical software in order to build the knowledge foundation for clinical research. The class schedule is subject to change, typically starting at noon with a total duration of two to four hours. The rest of the time is flexible for students to work with their assigned mentor individually and participate in other activities.