
COSMOS is a four-week summer residential Pre-College Program for high school students who have exhibited a strong interest in academic and professional careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Students in grades 8-12 who are talented and motivated have the chance to engage with famous academics, researchers, and scientists in cutting-edge facilities while investigating advanced STEM topics that go well beyond what is typically given in California high schools. COSMOS encourages students’ interests, talents, and understanding of educational and professional opportunities in STEM subjects by providing rigorous courses that are both hands-on and lab-intensive.
Students apply to ONE of the four COSMOS campuses of the University of California: UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC San Diego, and UC Santa Cruz. While each institution applies best practices in STEM education, each program’s curriculum draws on the faculty and host campus’s unique teaching and research experience. Each campus has a maximum capacity of 160-200 persons. The selection process is competitive. The average COSMOS student has a GPA of 3.5 or above. Furthermore, pupils must have demonstrated academic distinction.