STUDENT REFLECTION:
BPS senior Sofia Scott details her summer experience at pre-college programs

This past summer, Sofia was accepted into two prestigious academic programs; the University of Chicago's Voltage Scholars Enrichment Program and the University of Michigan’s Health Sciences Pre-college Exposure Academy. Each program provided campers with university housing and exposure to authentic college experiences. The first camp she attended was hosted by the University of Chicago’s School of Economics. She was one of the 44 students from across the country. It is a three-day residential camp for sophomores from diverse backgrounds with a passion for economics. The program includes lectures to study the concepts of macro and microeconomics taught by distinguished professor John List. Attendees also received a copy of his bestselling book, the Voltage Effect which talks about scaling good ideas into great ideas while creating a widespread impact in society. The lectures were imparted alongside college students from the Becker Friedman Institute. She enjoyed this camp because of how much freedom it gave the students. She made new friends from other parts of the country and participate in building activities that featured a tour of downtown Chicago.

In July, she participated in the University of Michigan Health Sciences Pre-College camp, a hybrid four-week program for high school students to learn about the university and medical professions. The first couple of weeks included SAT preparation from The Princeton Review which proved to be extremely helpful. There were daily online workshops designed to gain exposure to healthcare professions and foster bonding among students. The last week included a four-day residential stay, participating in anatomy and physiology lectures integrated with various lab activities. She had the opportunity to dissect a fetal pig which was her first “surgical” experience. Attendees researched the struggles of minorities pursuing higher education among other factors such as health disparities. At the end of the week, campers delivered presentations to family members, instructors and program participants. She experienced a lot of fun activities and spent time to hanging out with friends. She also made very special connections with the other students that will last forever.  

Economics and Health Science are two different areas she found fascinating. Sofia was able to learn about the various career paths and if they were suitable. Her favorite part was the on-campus experience as she was treated like an actual college student while only being 15 years old. These outstanding programs have helped enhance her leadership skills and be more independent. She's grateful to counselors and teachers for providing instruction and recommendations. She encourages all students to apply if they're interested in learning more about select career fields.