“I was researching how I could better myself over the summer,” begins Philadelphia high school student Marquez Browne-Rosario. “I wanted to add to my extracurricular activities and also gain an insight on college while I was free from the regular school year.”
His drive to pursue a path to college, he says, comes from being first-generation American—his mother is from Saint Vincent and his father is from Puerto Rico. By attending Penn’s Summer Academies in July 2024, Marquez found not just an academic challenge to add to his resume, but an enriching social experience.
Growing up in West Philly, Marquez was familiar with the prestigious Ivy League university in his backyard. “Penn is actually one of the schools I plan to apply to for college,” notes the honors student. However, he was unfamiliar with Penn’s programs for high schoolers before his AP computer science teacher, Michael Eiseman, recommended he apply to Penn’s former summer Coding Academy (a program that Eiseman also taught). As a School District of Philadelphia student, Marquez was eligible for a scholarship from Penn to attend the summer academy. The award, he shares, made it possible for him to attend and gain the full experience of the three-week residency program. “Having the opportunity to go to an Ivy League school and be in a college setting living in the dorms was really important to me,” Marquez says.
His summer academy had a packed academic curriculum Monday through Friday, full of lectures and team-based problem-solving. “That was the most rigorous part about it—learning how to collaborate with other people and work as a team,” he shares. After an intense day in the classroom, Marquez found the program still had much more to offer. The residency program and social activities—run by Penn partner Summer Discovery—kept students engaged after class while offering a peek into college life.
“All the Summer Academies students live in one dorm together,” Marquez says, giving them the chance to bond. Students are supervised by Summer Discovery resident counselors (RCs), who plan activities in the evenings and weekends. Marquez recalls choices during the week like water balloon fights, organized time for drawing and sending postcards home, and karaoke. “I was at every single karaoke night. I was participating in everything,” he shares, and he encouraged others to do the same. “I made sure that friends did not feel alone and felt included in the community.”
Additionally, there were periodic discussion groups with RCs to check in with students on any challenges they were facing and talk through them as a group. As recent college grads themselves, the RCs also served as a resource for advice about the college application process and experience.
On the weekends, academies students can join trips off campus. They might get to choose between a local mall shopping excursion, a Phillies baseball game, or a beach day at the Jersey Shore. “I remember going to Spruce Street Harbor Park and Penn’s Landing as well,” Marquez shares, pointing out two popular summer destinations in the city.
Even exploring campus was an adventure. Penn offers a level of access to campus facilities that Marquez has not experienced at other university summer programs he attended. “It was so cool to try the different dining halls,” he says. “And you have access to the gym. I think it’s really important to stay active.” He also visited the Penn Museum, and, for a classmate’s birthday party, went ice skating on campus (offered at a discounted rate for PennCard holders).
Marquez’s Penn experience introduced him to students from Asia, Africa, South America, and Europe, as well as students from other parts of the US. “It was actually amazing to me. I didn't see much diversity at my old school, which was 99% Black,” he says. “I think it was really cool because we got to learn different cultural aspects from each other while going to class and living together.”
As a local Philadelphian in the program, Marquez served as an unofficial Philly ambassador to his fellow students coming from outside the region and across the globe. He helped students feel comfortable away from home and in a big city. He introduced his cohort to cheesesteaks, the proper use of the Philly slang “jawn,” and the unusual way locals pronounce water (closer to “wooder”). He made sure his friends didn’t miss important local landmarks, like the Penn biopond, where they frequently ate lunch. “Also being Puerto Rican and Vincentian, I got to share those cultures as well,” he adds.
After three weeks living on campus Marquez says, “You just feel part of a community. A sharing, warm community.”
This fall, Marquez transferred from Hardy Williams High charter school into Philadelphia’s top-rated Central High School to start his sophomore year. He is already considering attending another Penn high school program as part of his ongoing college preparation.
For prospective Penn Summer Academies students, Marquez has words of advice. “College is not just about being academically driven. It's about learning how to socially interact with other people—how to communicate and connect,” he shares. “I think Penn’s Summer Academies are great options because, in addition to rigorous classes, you can build a lot of connections. You can meet people from all over the world and share a lot with them.” He stresses that the program teaches self-reliance, too. “Penn gives you a lot of freedom that simulates a college student experience,” he says. “I think being away from home teaches you how to grow up and be an independent person learning on their own.”
Finally, he encourages future academies students to fully participate in the Summer Discovery programming and embrace the campus experience. “The classwork was very rigorous. I learned a lot. But at the same time, I got to enjoy myself and have a good academic and social life over the summer.”
