UC Merced to host elite STEM summer program for high school students
High school students with a proclivity for STEM studies will have an opportunity to join an elite program in the Central Valley next year.
UC Merced announced it has joined a group of University of California campuses hosting COSMOS — the California State Summer School for Math and Science.
STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math.
According to a UC Merced article published Thursday, the program gives top students in California the chance to work with UC faculty, researchers and graduate and undergraduate students.
Merced joins UC schools in Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, San Diego and Santa Cruz in hosting the program.
COSMOS attracts top high school students
COSMOS is among the most competitive pre-college programs in the state, the article said, with nearly 9,000 applications for about 1,000 spots each year.
According to the COSMOS website, online applications will open Jan. 7, with a deadline of Feb. 6. UC Merced’s first session will start in early July.
According to the UC Merced article, the university’s COSMOS program will be led by Professor Michele “Nish” Nishiguchi, a molecular and cell biology faculty member. Bobbi Henderson will serve as assistant director.
In COSMOS, students live on campus for four weeks during the summer.
According to the UC Merced article, the program’s cost is $6,000 to $7,000, which covers tuition, housing and meals. Financial aid is available to ensure that all admitted students can participate, regardless of family income, the article said. Acceptance is based solely on academics, Nishiguchi said.
For more information, visit the COSMOS website.
