BFS Prospective Students

ADMISSION

Every spring, approximately 100 incoming freshmen are named Benjamin Franklin Scholars. Selection is based on high school records, overall excellence of the Penn application and other signs of serious academic interests. No separate application is required for these students. Students who were not selected on admission to Penn may apply to the program after one semester at Penn and as late as the end of their sophomore year.

The application for second semester freshmen and sophomores requires two brief, thoughtful essays, two faculty recommendations, and copies of college and high school transcripts. Please click the links below for the application forms.

Application Form
Student Guidelines
Faculty Guidelines

Students are strongly encouraged to take one or two Benjamin Franklin Seminars before applying, especially if they have not taken any other small classes or courses which emphasize writing. Applications to the program are evaluated based on intellectual interest and ability as demonstrated by the essays, coursework, faculty recommendations, and reasons for wanting to join the Benjamin Franklin Scholars Program. For more information, email curf@pobox.upenn.edu or call 215-746-6488 Candidates may submit applications at any time; they will be read by the Faculty Admissions Committee three times yearly (October 15, February 1, and June 1). The performance of each Benjamin Franklin Scholar is reviewed each year to ensure the academic quality of the program. 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 the 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. Applicants who plan to spend a semester or year abroad should include their plan for satisfying the seminar requirement. BFS Sccholars are expected to maintain superior grades (that is, graduate cum laude with a 3.40 GPA) and to behave in a mature, collegial manner. Students who fail to meet these standards will lose their BFS designation. Please note: BFS is strictly an academic program. Financial aid is not affected by BFS designation.

ASPECTS OF THE PROGRAM

Benjamin Franklin Seminars

The Benjamin Franklin Scholars program offers approximately fifty courses a year, which are open to both BFS and non-BFS students. Although most courses are at the introductory level, you may take them any time during your four years. Many departments in the College offer Benjamin Franklin Seminars; the other schools (Wharton, Medicine, Dental, Law, Annenberg) offer a few. Before Advance Regitration, the BFS office prints detailed course descriptions; check http://www.upenn.edu/curf/bfs/courses.html or ask us for a copy. Many BFS courses fulfill distributional and major requirements. Benjamin Franklin Scholars are required to take at least one Benjamin Franklin Seminar each year. Completion of at least 7 BF seminars with a 3.0 average, together with a senior capstone project, will earn you a BFS certificate at graduation (see details). There is no upper limit on the number of BFS courses you may take, either in total or in any semester. BENF 099 Independent Study does not count as a Benjamin Franklin Seminar.

Research

A directory of research opportunities published by the Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships (CURF), has hundreds of listings of faculty members who offer research positions for undergraduates. This is not to be considered a job book. Benjamin Franklin Scholars are encouraged to undertake research as undergraduates. Students may begin research any time, even during your freshman year. BFS may receive academic credit for research through BENF 099. BENF 099 will not count as a Benjamin Franklin Seminar. (Non-BFS students may receive credit for research through a Department 099 or College 099 course.) Students eligible for work-study may use their grants for many of these positions.

Advising

The BFS office staff provides advice on scheduling, courses, majors, requirements, and on non-academic issues as well. Call 215-746-6488 for an appointment, or stop by the CURF Main office on the 2nd floor of the ARCH Building, 3601 Locust Walk. Students must meet in person with their BFS advisor at least once per semester during their first two semesters in the program.

Last updated on October 3, 2005



	\| Benjamin Franklin Scholars: current students, prospective students, alumni \|
	BFS Prospective Students ADMISSION Every spring, approximately 100 incoming freshmen are named Benjamin Franklin Scholars. Selection is based on high school records, overall excellence of the Penn application and other signs of serious academic interests. No separate application is required for these students. Students who were not selected on admission to Penn may apply to the program after one semester at Penn and as late as the end of their sophomore year. The application for second semester freshmen and sophomores requires two brief, thoughtful essays, two faculty recommendations, and copies of college and high school transcripts. Please click the links below for the application forms. Application Form Student Guidelines Faculty Guidelines Students are strongly encouraged to take one or two Benjamin Franklin Seminars before applying, especially if they have not taken any other small classes or courses which emphasize writing. Applications to the program are evaluated based on intellectual interest and ability as demonstrated by the essays, coursework, faculty recommendations, and reasons for wanting to join the Benjamin Franklin Scholars Program. For more information, email curf@pobox.upenn.edu or call 215-746-6488 Candidates may submit applications at any time; they will be read by the Faculty Admissions Committee three times yearly (October 15, February 1, and June 1). The performance of each Benjamin Franklin Scholar is reviewed each year to ensure the academic quality of the program. 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 the 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. Applicants who plan to spend a semester or year abroad should include their plan for satisfying the seminar requirement. BFS Sccholars are expected to maintain superior grades (that is, graduate cum laude with a 3.40 GPA) and to behave in a mature, collegial manner. Students who fail to meet these standards will lose their BFS designation. Please note: BFS is strictly an academic program. Financial aid is not affected by BFS designation. ASPECTS OF THE PROGRAM Benjamin Franklin Seminars The Benjamin Franklin Scholars program offers approximately fifty courses a year, which are open to both BFS and non-BFS students. Although most courses are at the introductory level, you may take them any time during your four years. Many departments in the College offer Benjamin Franklin Seminars; the other schools (Wharton, Medicine, Dental, Law, Annenberg) offer a few. Before Advance Regitration, the BFS office prints detailed course descriptions; check http://www.upenn.edu/curf/bfs/courses.html or ask us for a copy. Many BFS courses fulfill distributional and major requirements. Benjamin Franklin Scholars are required to take at least one Benjamin Franklin Seminar each year. Completion of at least 7 BF seminars with a 3.0 average, together with a senior capstone project, will earn you a BFS certificate at graduation (see details). There is no upper limit on the number of BFS courses you may take, either in total or in any semester. BENF 099 Independent Study does not count as a Benjamin Franklin Seminar. Research A directory of research opportunities published by the Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships (CURF), has hundreds of listings of faculty members who offer research positions for undergraduates. This is not to be considered a job book. Benjamin Franklin Scholars are encouraged to undertake research as undergraduates. Students may begin research any time, even during your freshman year. BFS may receive academic credit for research through BENF 099. BENF 099 will not count as a Benjamin Franklin Seminar. (Non-BFS students may receive credit for research through a Department 099 or College 099 course.) Students eligible for work-study may use their grants for many of these positions. Advising The BFS office staff provides advice on scheduling, courses, majors, requirements, and on non-academic issues as well. Call 215-746-6488 for an appointment, or stop by the CURF Main office on the 2nd floor of the ARCH Building, 3601 Locust Walk. Students must meet in person with their BFS advisor at least once per semester during their first two semesters in the program. Last updated on October 3, 2005