Minority College Experience and Women in Science and Engineering Programs

Overview

Minority College Experience and Women in Science and Engineering are FREE summer programs offered by Penn State Behrend. Both programs are designed for academically-talented students from the Erie County, Pennsylvania area. The non-residential nature of this program does not typically enable students from other areas to participate. The programs give local students, who qualify, a chance to enroll in a university credit course with regularly-enrolled college students the summer before their senior year in high school. Both programs provide plenty of direct, hands-on experience through field trips, workshops, and lectures conducted by professionals in local businesses and organizations.

View the PDF brochure

Schedule

The academic schedule will determine when students are on campus. Class schedules will be set during the Orientation, Advising and Registration session. Courses open to students in MCE and WISE are scheduled between 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. These classes meet on a three-day, four-day, or five day schedule. All students in both programs are required to participate in workshops every Tuesday from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Optional workshops are offered throughout the week. In addition, optional field trips are offered on Thursday afternoons. The program runs from June 26 through August 10.

Program Benefits

There is no tuition charge for the MCE or WISE programs. In addition, students receive textbooks, parking permits or bus passes for commuting to and from campus, and a stipend for lunch when on campus. The only cost to the participants may be admission costs for selected optional field trips.

Students who complete the MCE or WISE summer course with a grade-point average of 3.0 or better will be assured admission to Penn State Behrend following high school graduation and completion of the Penn State application process.

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What is Minority College Experience?

The Minority College Experience program offers students of color or economically disadvantaged students the opportunity to explore their options in higher education and examine possible career -paths. If you’re African American, Asian American, Hispanic, or Native American male or female – you may be able to enroll in a free college credit course related to any of Penn State Behrend’s thirty-four majors. This program is also available to economically disadvantaged students from any ethnic background. The program offers you the opportunity to interact with college students, professors, administrators and professionals through a variety of workshops and field trips. mcewise4

What is Women in Science and Engineering?

Women in Science and Engineering encourages female high school students of all backgrounds to explore career opportunities they may not have considered previously. Science, engineering, environmental studies, information technology, psychology, health professions – all these career options are open to talented women. If you’re a highly motivated student interested in math and science, you may qualify for free enrollment in this program.

What are the Academic Requirements?

Students applying for the program should:

Be a high school junior
Have a cumulative grade-point average of 2.75 or above
Have earned an SAT score of 1350 or PSAT score of 135 or better

Placement Testing and Advising

Students who are accepted into one of these programs will be required to take an online placement test to measure their mathematical knowledge. Students will also take part in an orientation, academic advising, and course registration program held several days prior to the beginning of classes. Academic advisors will use the test results to make appropriate course placements during the registration portion of the program.

Important Dates

MCE/WISE Information Session: Thursday, April 19, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. in the Reed Auditorium

Application deadline: Friday, April 27, 2012

Scheduling and Orientation: Thursday, June 7, 2012

Programs begin: Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Classes begin: Wednesday, June 27, 2012

No classes: Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Last Day of Class: Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Final Exams: Thursday, August 9 or Friday, August 10, 2012

Contact Information

Mary-Ellen Madigan
Director of Admissions and Financial Aid
4701 College Drive
Erie, PA 16563
(814) 898-6100
mea1@psu.edu

Application

To the student:

Applicants must be high school juniors during the 2011-2012 school year.
The deadline to apply for the Summer 2012 MCE/WISE program is April 27, 2012.
Prior to starting the application, please print the counselor recommendation form.
Only completed applications will be considered for admission.
Apply online now.