Student Guidelines for students considering an application to the Benjamin Franklin Scholars Program
This page provides information for students considering an application to the Benjamin Franklin Scholars Program.
What is the Benjamin Franklin Scholars Program?
The BFS Program provides undergraduates with special access to the academic resources of the University. The principal advantage is direct admission to Benjamin Franklin Seminars. In addition, students receive special academic advising through the BFS office and are encouraged to pursue research projects (as early as freshman year, if possible) to help them decide on a major, explore an interest outside of their major, or investigate graduate faculties.
Who are the Benjamin Franklin Scholars?
Each year approximately 100 incoming freshmen are designated BFS. Students not selected at entrance may apply after one semester at Penn and no later than the end of the sophomore year. On-campus applicants are strongly encouraged to enroll in a BFS course or participate in a seminar course prior to application.
What are the Requirements for the BFS Program and Certificate?
- Benjamin Franklin Scholars are expected to take challenging courses that extend beyond their major and distributional requirements. Scholars must have taken and passed at least one BFS seminar by the end of their freshman year, two by the end of the sophomore year, three by the end of the junior year, and four by the end of the senior year. Students admitted to the program in their freshman or sophomore years must take at least one BFS seminar per semester until they have reached the benchmarks described above. All courses must be taken for a grade. BENF 099 Independent Study does not count as a Benjamin Franklin Seminar.
- Scholars must meet in person with their BFS advisor at least once per semester during their first two semesters in the program. This requirement applies even to students who have been assigned a school or departmental advisor.
- Scholars must maintain superior grades, graduating cum laude with a Grade Point Average of 3.40 or better.
- Scholars are expected to behave in a mature, collegial manner.
- To receive a BFS certificate, students must successfully complete seven BFS courses and a senior thesis or capstone project. Successful completion is defined as a 3.0 average in those seven credits, with no pass/fail. BENF 099 Independent Study may count for at most one of these seven courses. The senior project could be a departmental honors thesis, one or more semesters of BENF 099 resulting in a thesis, an independent studies 399 or 499 course resulting in a senior thesis and/or public presentation, or some other independent research project as approved by the BFS director.
What are we looking for in BFS applicants?
We are looking for students who are intellectually creative and actively seeking challenges beyond the regular curriculum. This generally includes taking challenging courses (BFS seminars and others) that provide an intellectual “stretch,” going beyond the students’s more narrowly focused intellectual and major interests. Students who would have difficulty meeting the minimum seminar requirement (due, for example, to multiple majors, research activities, travel abroad, etc.) are not encouraged to apply to the program.
Application Process
The application requires two brief, thoughtful essays, two faculty recommendations, and copies of college and high school transcripts. Candidates may submit applications at any time; they will be read by the Faculty Admissions Committee three times yearly (Oct 15, Feb 1, June 1).
For more information, call CURF at 215-746-6488, email , or see Linda Wiedmann in the CURF office, the ARCH, 3601 Locust Walk, 2nd floor. Appointments are recommended, especially at the beginning of semesters and during registration periods.