Bootcamp Participant Information

We are excited that you are interested in Bootcamp this year. This website will give you all of the information that you'll need about the program. We're looking forward to your application! Bootcamp will start on Sunday, 18 August 2019 and will end on Friday, 23 August 2019.

Are you eligible for Bootcamp?

To participate in Biology Bootcamp, you must be a freshman enrolled in BISC160 and BISC161 (Introductory Biology for Science Majors and the Lab). You do not need to be a Biology Major.

How do I apply to Bootcamp?

You can apply during your Freshman Orientation session. You can click on the Application link on the left to see if the application link is availabe for this year.

I've been accepted, now what?

After you have applied for Biology Bootcamp, you will receive an email that will include your status: accepted or waitlisted. The email will also include instructions on how to proceed, so please read this email carefully.

Payment

If you are accepted, you will pay for the program by check or money order. You will also need to print and sign the acceptance form. Then mail the form and check (or money order) to the address on the form.

Financial Aid

Scholarships are available based on need. To be eligible for a need-based scholarship, you must submit an application to FAFSA through the office of Financial Aid. You must also indicate whether you need a scholarship on the online application form. You will receive an email that explains the status of your scholarship.

Housing

If you are living on campus in the fall, you will be able to move in to your dorm early with no charge for early move-in. You'll receive information about where you will be living from the Office of Student Housing. Please address all of your housing questions to their office.

Food

During Bootcamp, you are eligible for a special one-week on-campus mean plan that will cost approximately $50. You will be provided information when you are accepted to Bootcamp.

What happens during Bootcamp?

During Bootcamp, you'll attend lectures, take exams and participate in some activities and workshops that are designed to help you transition to University-level coursework. Lectures are taught by faculty from the UM Department of Biology that are also teaching your BISC160 course. Lectures will cover some of the material that you will see again in introductory biology. You will experience what it is like to take a full load of classes with exams and other activities of campus life before actually taking the class.

What the program provides

The program will provide all course materials and attendance to all of the activities associated with the program.

Course materials

1. The text book for BISC160, and 162 (A $200 value). This includes a three year subscription to online resources (Launchpad) that are linked to the text. Our book is called Principles of Life, Second edition. If you want to take a look at the book and the types of things that can help you study, head here.

Sample schedule

Click here to find an example of a Bootcamp schedule. (This is only a sample. Please, don't rely on this for 2019.)

Feedback from Former Bootcamp Participants

Here are some samples of how former participants have reviewed the Bootcamp program:

What was your favorite part of the Bootcamp program?

2017

• "Learning and meeting people."
• "Getting acclimated into college life from both academic and social aspects."
• "Mentors were extremely helpful even to people outside of their group."
• "Getting a feel for the lectures and tests."
• "The lab."
• "The realization of the rigor. :)"
• "Moving in early and meeting new people, and having some of the class material shown to me."
• "Being able to experience a college level class first hand."
• "Learning to take college notes and making friends before the school year begins."

2014

• "Learning information about BISC 160 so I’m not lost when I begin the actual course."
• "Building relationships with classmates that were interested in the same course as me."
• "Getting an overview of what’s to come and what will be expected of me."
• "Starting the college experience early."
• "Working with mentor and realizing the difficulty level of class and exams!"
• "Learning how to study better by studying with others."
• "I enjoyed meeting people who were in the same major as me and getting to go over the material early."

2013

• “I attended biology Bootcamp last summer and I loved it. I met some of my best friends there, my mentor still helps me with biology, and It really prepared me for Bio 160! Without bootcamp, I highly doubt I would have been so successful in biology!”
• “My favorite part of Bootcamp was meeting a bunch of people to study with and making new friends.”

2012

• “I liked moving in early and getting to know about how to get through college.”
• “I learned the reality of college life---it helped make the transition easier.”
• “The strawberry DNA lab was awesome!”
• “Learning study skills and what the fall semester will be like was great!”