Summer Preparatory Program
Program Description:
The Summer Preparatory Program in chemistry and calculus involves intensive academic support during the summer prior to students' freshman year. The purpose of the program is to strengthen and articulate the foundation of course content necessary to excel in future "gatekeeper" courses within a science curriculum. This responds to the identified need to offer academic support in these areas, demonstrated by the difficulties experienced by past and current students participating in other support programs. Students who participate receive an introduction to chemistry and calculus course taught at a college pace. They gain invaluable classroom experience, thus obtaining the strengths needed to avoid performance failures once they are in college, particularly in science courses.
Program benefits include:
- Free chemistry and calculus textbooks.
- Two college credits upon successful completion of the program.
- Housing at Rockoff Hall apartments, Rutgers' newest housing unit.
- Site visits to various health professional schools, including Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, University of Pennsylvania Medical School, New Jersey Medical School, New York University Medical School, and Jefferson Medical School.
- Experience the various campuses of New Brunswick, thus ensuring a smooth transition into college life upon entry in the fall. All facilities will be indicated, including dormitories, classroom buildings, library and multimedia services, dining halls, and transportation.
- As an added bonus, students who participate in this program are automatically enrolled into the "OS" section of General Chemistry in the Fall term, wherein 18% of their final grade is generated from the work performed within the office.
Eligibility:
You must be a freshman accepted to, and entering, Rutgers University-New Brunswick in the subsequent fall term. You must also have taken your Rutgers placement exams by the first weekend of June and be placed into at least Pre-Calculus 115 (640:115) and Basic Composition (355:100).
Success:
The program has been in existence for three years and the 60 previous participants have amassed a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or above. Additionally, each student has proceeded to pass General Chemistry 161 & 162. Currently, 12 of the original 20 students have a cumulative GPA over 3.5 and are scoring competitively on their MCATs.
