Incoming freshman get a head start on fall classes

While most students are spending their last month of summer thinking about anything but school, class has already begun for the 86 students who are participating in this year's pre-freshman program. The program is designed to give selected incoming freshman a preview of the academic and social environment of the University and Philadelphia. Students are selected for the 11-year-old program by admissions officers based on an array of criteria. Pre-freshman program administrators said that some students were invited because they speak English as a second language or attended a small high school. Students who had 'inconsistent' scores on one part of their Scholastic Aptitude Tests and international students were invited as well. "We identify their strong and weak points and provide individual attention in order to improve their weaknesses," said Bernadine Abad, the Director of the Pre-freshmen Program. "[The program is structured] to give them all the tools needed to cope in a competitive academic environment like Penn's." "I'm glad that I'm here now and getting adjusted early," incoming College freshman Cathy Smith said. "With the pressure of real classes things could get really difficult." During the four-week program, the students are required to take three non-credit classes including an English and mathematics class. The students also enroll in one elective that is chosen based on their intended program of study. "In the past the program has not been as structured as in the last three years," Abad said. "This year the program has a stronger academic focus." The recently developed curriculum committee introduced new academic options including a physics "stretch" class that extends into December. Trips to Great Adventure, museums, concerts and last week's pre-freshman olympics allow the students to meet with each other and discover what Philadelphia has to offer. "Our goal is to provide students with friendships and social orientation with other freshman students," Abad said. Some students questioned the special restrictions attached to the program including requiring them to be in their High Rise North dormitory by midnight. But administrators explained that they are designed to teach them responsibility and help them gain insight into the issues of security. "We expect more well adjusted students both academicly and socially, with a strong sense of self as it relates to Penn," Abad said. "They know what their assets are and how they can contribute to Penn."

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