FAQs

1. What is COSMOS?
2. Who may attend COSMOS?
3. Where and when is it held?
4. How much does it cost to attend COSMOS?
5. Is financial aid available?
6. How do I apply to COSMOS?
7. When is the COSMOS application deadline?
8. When will I be notified about whether or not I have been accepted into the program?
9. Are there prerequisites for the courses?
10. What about Teacher Recommendations? How does it work?
11. Is there a minimum GPA that I need to be accepted into COSMOS?
12. What is a typical day at COSMOS like?
13. How many students will attend the program at UC San Diego?
14. How are the housing accommodations set up?
15. Do I absolutely need to complete the swim waiver/test?
16. In regards to the swim test certification form, may I send in a copy of my lifeguard card?
17. Who are the COSMOS faculty and staff?
18. Can I get high school or college credit for COSMOS attendance?
19. May I attend COSMOS more than once?
20. Where can I find out more information about San Diego?
21. What do I do if I have more questions?

Q: What is COSMOS?

A: The California State Summer School in Mathematics and Science (COSMOS) at UC San Diego is a rigorous, four week residential program for talented and motivated students entering grade 9* through grade 12. COSMOS students enroll in short courses that are designed to introduce students to subjects not traditionally offered in high school.

Q: Who may attend COSMOS?

A: California students completing grades eight* through twelve by the summer in which they wish to participate may apply to COSMOS. Parents are encouraged to discuss with their child his or her maturity and readiness to participate in a month-long residential program on a public research university campus. Participants are selected in the spring on the basis of their academic performance, test scores, essay responses, extracurricular math and science achievements, and recommendations. A limited number of students from outside the state are considered each year. However, these students must pay out-of-state tuition.

* COSMOS invites applications from outstanding high school students who excel in mathematics and science. Only graduating 8th graders achieving academic excellence in mathematics or science courses beyond the typical 8th grade level will be considered for admission, and must be mature enough to participate in a one-month residential program away from home. A small percentage of applying 8th graders are admitted to COSMOS each year.

Q: Where and when is it held?

A: COSMOS is hosted at four UC campuses: UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC San Diego and UC Santa Cruz. The 2008 COSMOS at UCSD will run from Sunday, July 6th through Saturday, August 2nd, 2008. Please note that other sites may have different program dates.

Q: How much does it cost to attend COSMOS?

A: Tuition for COSMOS 2007 is $2,310.00.  The actual estimated cost per student for the full four-week program is $6,200. Out-of-state residents are required to pay the full tuition of $6,500.  Tuition includes room and board, classroom materials, academic field trips, and transportation while on campus.

Q: Is financial aid available?

A: Yes. California residents may be eligible for further tuition assistance based on family income. Everyone is encouraged to consider applying for financial aid.

To apply for financial aid applicants must write a brief statement about their situation, submit a copy of the 2007 tax documents, and complete the one-page Financial Aid Form during the application period.

Q: How do I apply to COSMOS?

A: Simply complete the on-line application that will be available at this website on February 1st, 2008 and mail all of the supplementary application materials prior to the COSMOS Office before the March 15th deadline.

Q: When is the COSMOS application deadline?

A: Applications and supplementary materials for students wishing to be considered for COSMOS 2008 must be received or postmarked by March 15th, 2008.

Q: When will I be notified about whether or not I have been accepted into the program?

A: E-mail is the primary form of communication for the COSMOS office. An e-mail message will be sent to applicants prompting them to check their WeTeach web account by the end of April. Admission will not be shared to anyone over the phone.

Q: Are there prerequisites for the courses?

A: Some of the courses require prerequisites. Please check the cluster description section for courses marked with an asterisk. Students who select a cluster that they do not meet the requirement cannot be considered for that said cluster.

Q: What about Teacher Recommendations? How does it work?

A: For your convenience, COSMOS is implementing an on-line recommendation submission method. During the course of the application students will be asked to enter the names and e-mail addresses of two of their teachers/instructors. Once the student has completely finished and submitted his/her application an automatic e-mail message will be sent to the teachers. Within that e-mail message there will be a link to the WeTeach website asking them to respond to a questionnaire.

It is the student's responsibility to solicit a recommendation from their science, math, or computer science teachers. The student should check with his/her teacher periodically to see if the e-mail message was received and completed. It is important to note that the Recommendation Request will not be sent out until the student has finished their application. In the event that the teacher did not receive the e-mailed Recommendation Request the student can log into their own WeTeach account and resend the teacher the request.

Q: Is there a minimum GPA that I need to be accepted into COSMOS?

A : To be considered for admission to COSMOS, students must have achieved academic excellence in science and/or mathematics. While grades are one of the elements reviewed, achievement can also be documented through the following: competition in science fairs or other programs, completion of special projects, or high performance on standardized tests. Students who are motivated and have achieved academic excellence in one or more of these areas are encouraged to apply. Our average GPA for 2008 applicants was above 3.5.

Q: What is a typical day at COSMOS like?

A: Each student's COSMOS schedule is built around a cluster consisting of a science and/or mathematics related course, and a science writing/communications course. On a typical day, COSMOS students attend special lectures, take courses, or participate in labs or course-related field trips. Recreation and study groups are built into the evening and weekend schedules. Special activities and supervised field trips are planned for the weekends. Social and cultural events and friendly competitions, including dorm Olympics, have been popular in the past. Evening activities such as COSMOS Jeopardy, karaoke, and a student-organized talent show are highlights as well. Click here for a look at a typical week in COSMOS.

Q: How many students will attend the program at UC San Diego?

A: COSMOS at UC San Diego is expecting to accommodate a maximum of 150 students in the summer of 2008.

Q: How are the housing accommodations set up?

A: COSMOS has acquired the use of two buildings in the newest Residential Halls at UC San Diego in the Eleanor Roosevelt College area. They are located on the northwest portion of the La Jolla campus. Specifically the Latin America and North America Halls, which are regularly assigned to first year ERC undergraduates. COSMOS participants will be separated by gender, and assigned to a building of the same gender and will be under the supervision of Residential Advisors who will also reside with the students in each suite.

Q: Do I absolutely need to complete the swim waiver/test?

A: All students participating in Cluster 3 are required to show proof of swimming comprehension due to the nature of the Living Oceans and the Impacts of Climate Change Cluster. All other COSMOS participants are encouraged to acquire certification as they may wish to participate in Beach Day or other water-based activities.

The Swim Test Certification Form will be available to accepted COSMOS students. It can be taken to a local Municipal Pool, a certified lifeguard, a community college recreation facility, or to UCSD Canyon View Pool prior to Opening Day on July 6th, 2008. Our requirements are that a person can do 200 yards of continuous swimming and a 5 minute treading of water. The purpose of this requirement is to ensure the safety of all students, however you can opt-out of activities that are water-based and merely decline at the bottom of the provided form.

Q: In regards to the swim test certification form, may I send in a copy of my lifeguard card?

A: Yes, if the student is a certified lifeguard or has a valid Red Cross Water Safety certification card, he/she can submit a photo copy and attach it. Please complete the Swim Test Certification Form.

Q: Who are the COSMOS faculty and staff?

A: COSMOS faculty are accomplished practicing scientists, mathematicians, researchers, and teachers. Most are university instructors. The student-teacher ratio is roughly twelve-to-one. The COSMOS staff includes a program director, program manager, program specialist, program assistant, residential dean, a senior residential advisor, and trained undergraduate live-in residential assistants (RAs).

Q: Can I get high school or college credit for COSMOS attendance?

A: COSMOS is an academic enrichment program. It is not meant to replace high school or college course work, and does not grant academic credit. COSMOS participation helps students demonstrate their academic excellence and provides a distinctive opportunity to develop integrated skills for success in a college-like residential learning community. Students applying to the University of California may reference their participation in the program under "Special Program Participation" directly on the UC application. COSMOS also gives students a unique opportunity to work closely with university faculty who may be helpful with recommendations to college.

Q: May I attend COSMOS more than once?

A: (New in 2006) COSMOS alumni may only apply to a COSMOS site they have not previously attended.  A student may only attend a total of two COSMOS sessions, as we seek to broaden the number of participants who have never attended COSMOS before.  As the number of applications continues to rise, first year applicants deemed qualified to participate, and submitting a completed application prior to the deadline, will be given priority.  Previous alumni applicants who are qualified may be placed on a waiting list, and enrolled only on a space available basis.  Returning students are required to identify the COSMOS campus and course cluster previously attended. References will be requested from that site's faculty to aid in evaluating each application.

Q: Where can I find out more information about San Diego?

A: Online you can visit http://www.sandiego.org/.
(Note: this site is not maintained nor endorsed by COSMOS.)

For information regarding UC San Diego campus crime statistics, visit: www.police.ucsd.edu.

Q: What do I do if I have more questions?

A: Contact COSMOS via e-mail at cosmos@ucsd.edu, or call us at (858) 822-4361.