Engineering Institute students receive an Introduction to Engineering Coursework and Academic/Professional Opportunities

Students in the 5-week Engineering Institute, a new summer program designed to expose incoming freshmen to engineering skills, have lunch with their faculty mentors.

This summer, nearly 70 incoming and admitted Jacobs School students are participating in the IDEA Student Center’s Freshmen Summer Engineering Institute – a 5-week academic, summer residential program for admitted engineering students whose high school did not provide all of the opportunities and skills needed for successful engineering college experience. In addition to first year engineering coursework, students are exposed to a variety of programs that the college has to offer. The following is a recap of a seminar by the Academic Enrichment Programs office.

The Academic Enrichment Programs at UC San Diego help students get hands-on research experience and prepare for a medical degree, Ph.D., or other advanced degree. They also provide avenues for faculty and student interaction, such as research mentor and can attend faculty-moderated roundtables at research conferences, or appear at informal gatherings such as Coffee and Conversation with Faculty. 

Here’s a summary of some of the programs offered:

The California Louis Stokes Alliance Minority Participation (CAMP) in Science, Engineering and Mathematics programat UC San Diego provides support and advancement opportunities to students defined as underrepresented by the National Science Foundation (African American, Mexican American, Latino/Hispanic, American Indian, Alaskan Native, or Native Pacific Islander) who are seeking bachelor's degrees in chemistry, physics, cognitive science, biology, other sciences, mathematics, engineering and technology. Students must also be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

The Faculty Mentor Program is open to all students with a GPA of 2.7 or higher. Students serve as assistants to UC San Diego faculty.

The Health and Medical Professions PreparationProgram (HMP3) provides undergraduates with enriching experiences that will enhance their preparation for admission into professional school in the medical and other health professions. Students are paired with a mentor in the field and attend pre-professional seminars.

UC LEADS is a two-year program with a stipend that prepares students for their Ph.D. They spend one summer doing research at UC San Diego and another at a different UC School.

The McNair Program is funded in honor of Dr. Ronald McNair, an astronaut killed in the Challenger crash. The McNair Program is a prep program for low-income AND first generation to college (or underrepresented AND 3.0 GPA) students interested in pursuing a Ph.D.

The AEP Summer Research Program is one of the only programs that provides both a stipend and academic credit. During the summer, students complete 30 hours of research and 10 hours of seminars and GRE prep for 10 weeks.

The Undergraduate Research Scholarship provides up to $5,000 for summer research.