Cosmo Summer Camp is a 4-week summer academic camp for high schoolers who’ve shown an aptitude for STEM subjects. If you want to explore more academic and professional paths in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, Cosmo will be for you. Hosted by UC Davis, you’ll learn from elite scientists in their state-of-the-art facilities, gaining knowledge and experience that goes beyond what high school teaches. Because of its challenging curricula, both academically intensive and hands-on lab experience, the Cosmo program acceptance rate is very competitive with only one-third of applicants welcomed.
If you’re a talented and motivated high school student, we provide you with important tips to prepare you for the selective application process.
- Make sure you meet all the eligibility requirements for Cosmo Summer Camp.
Before you can compete for a spot, you first need to know if you are eligible to apply. You must meet all these criteria to qualify:
- Will you be physically present in California during the month when the Cosmo activities are held?
- Are you currently enrolled in Grades 8-12?
- Do you have a strong academic record in STEM courses? You need a 3.0 minimum GPA with a heavy science/math concentration. Most of those accepted in Cosmo have a GPA of 3.5 or above.
- Can you demonstrate your interest and passion in the STEM fields?
If you’ve answered yes to all these conditions, then you should apply for Cosmo Summer Camp.
- What if your resume doesn’t have the best STEM engagement, like competitions and extracurriculars?
The good news is you still have a chance to get accepted into Cosmo Summer Camp even if you don’t live and breathe STEM. You can make up for it in your essays. It’s a key component of the application that deserves its own section. Remember to explain how the non-STEM activities and competitions you were involved in, like creative writing, foreign language, and geography, benefited you too. For example, learning a foreign language requires patience while writing helps you better express yourself. While a majority of Cosmo attendees have strong STEM backgrounds, they also want folks with different backgrounds.
- Ask for strong letters of recommendation from your STEM subject instructors.
To secure an effective letter of recommendation from your science/math teachers, make sure you reach out before you make the request. Discussing your interest in Cosmo Summer Camp demonstrates how important it is to you. This will guide them in thinking about what to write in your recommendation. You should first ask teachers who know you well so their letter will be more sincere when they communicate your strengths, skills, and passion for science/math. When done right, imparting your passion for STEM via their eyes will stand out to admissions officers. Finally, don’t forget to follow up with a thank-you letter in handwritten form, not email. It shows you’re truly grateful.
- Since you’re competing to join a selected cluster, understand what the Cosmo summer program cluster is.
Students compete in a unique cluster at Cosmo Summer Camp. A cluster addresses a specific advanced STEM field. It includes traditional topics like mathematics, various engineering disciplines, computer science, physics, astronomy, and ecology, among many others. There are also diverse subjects like game theory and robotics. Before you put more effort, including essays, to participate in a cluster, understand what it involves. To illustrate, the marine biology cluster involves numerous field trips while the sustainable energy cluster is classroom-heavy. Do you want to be out on the field or in the lecture hall for the month?
- Write a unique essay for each of your two top cluster choices.
Cosmo Summer Camp requires a 250-word personal statement, an essay about yourself. It offers the starting prompt to tell them what you want them to know about you. Is it as simple as that? We recommend you write a unique essay, specially tailored per cluster choice, which you’ve hopefully researched. Therefore, you will need to provide solid evidence of why you’re drawn to that topic. You should also show a lot of ambition by telling them how you plan to make your mark in the field. Use your imagination to see yourself in a future role in whatever cluster you choose. Tell them your story.
If you’re a talented and ambitious STEM-devoted high schooler, the challenging adventure of getting into Cosmo Summer Camp will be especially rewarding. You won’t know unless you try. Because Cosmo Summer Camp is highly competitive, you shouldn’t miss out on other STEM summer programs if you aren’t accepted. It’ll help get your college application the attention it deserves. For other ways, talk to an Enrollment Counselor at Empowerly.
