COSMOS Student Profiles
COSMOS is a month-long residential program for California high school students who demonstrate high achievement in science and mathematics and are motivated to explore complex topics in depth. Participants attend classes and live in the residence halls at one of four UC campuses--Davis, Irvine, San Diego or Santa Cruz-- and have the opportunity to engage in social activities during the evening and field trips on weekends. Special events are designed to enhance students' personal, social and academic growth. Each COSMOS site offers different theme-based course clusters that reflect the unique resources and specialties of the campus.
STEVEN PHAM
Oakland Military Institute
Alameda County
UC Santa Cruz 2007
Participated in the Logic and Linear Algebra Cluster
I was a High School freshmen when my college counselor recommended COSMOS for my summer. I did not want to waste my summer doing nothing productive and COSMOS was my solution. COSMOS offered me a chance to experience what it would be like to live on my own, meet new people who loved what I loved, and attend challenging classes. All of this fueled my determination to be accepted. I was perfectionist when it came to the application. I made sure every sentence conveyed what I wanted to say, which meant reading everything over and over again, and in the end it paid off. I was accepted to the UCSC campus (Go Banana Slugs!) with Cluster 1: Logic and Linear Algebra as my course.
At COSMOS we bonded with each other and clusters became families. Everyone was friendly so making friends was easy. During COSMOS everyone had to create their final projects, usually about what they have learned, with partners. My partner and I had linear cryptosystems and Gödel’s Incompleteness theorems as topics to present. We agreed to split the project (I did linear cryptosystems while my partner did Gödel’s Incompleteness theorem) and teach each other after we finished. At the end of COSMOS we presented to our fellow clusters.
I wanted COSMOS to last for another month or two longer, but unfortunately even great things come to an end. Right off the bat, when I received my letter of acceptance I had a confidence boost and felt like I accomplished something great. I felt like I had an obligation to attend a University after finishing the program. With the help of COSMOS, I am finally committed to the major I want to pursue and the campus I want to attend (Computer Engineering @ UCB). COSMOS left me an unforgettable experience.