IRCS/CCN Undergraduate Summer Workshop FAQ

This web page contains answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about our Undergraduate Summer Workshop. If you have more questions, please contact us at: ircsconf@seas.upenn.edu

  • Are there any fees for participation in the Workshop?

    • No, and all admitted participants are provided with compensation for travel.

  • What about housing?

    • We provide housing for our participants in an on-campus dormitory. We also provide linens, including sheets, pillowcase, blanket, and towel, for each participant.

  • Are meals covered as part of the Workshop?

    • We provide breakfast, lunch, and dinner Monday-Friday for each of the 2 weeks of the Workshop, but participants must purchase their own meals over the weekend. There is a grocery store 1 block from the residence hall, and many great restaurants to try as well!

  • Is enrollment in the program limited?

    • Yes, and participant selection is based on the strength of the application.

  • Is prior cognitive science or cognitive neuroscience knowledge a prerequisite?

    • No prior knowledge of cognitive science or cognitive neuroscience is required.

  • Is the program open to freshmen, who will technically be sophomores when the program starts? What about seniors?

    • All undergraduates are welcome to apply, but current sophomores or juniors will be given priority.

  • Can non-U.S. citizens apply to the Workshop?

    • Yes.

  • What are you looking for in a recommendation letter?

    • Recommendation letters can come from a professor, T.A., or advisor, anyone who has supervised your academic work. Once the application process is underway, you will be instructed to direct your referees to our webpage of sample instructions for recommendation letters.

  • What is a typical day of the Workshop like?

    • We offer our participants a variety of lectures, labs, and discussions. In example, click here to see last year's schedule 2007 Workshop schedule

  • Are there program activities in the evenings? What about over the weekend?

    • There are several required evening sessions during the Workshop, as well as several optional social evenings. We do not schedule any required activities over the weekend.