F.I.T. 2021

 

Mission: Nuturing Tomorrow's Intellects

 

Finding Independent Track (F.I.T.) is a unique program for students (from rising sophomores in high school through college) who thrive on curiosity and intellectual challenge. The program is offered by UCSF in partnership with various organizations in the Bay Area. F.I.T. is inclusive of all students (from rising sophomores in high school through college) nationwide.

 

F.I.T. Philosophy: F.I.T. encourages self-awareness by nurturing an interdisciplinary mindset through real-time reflection, and contextualization of self. F.I.T. nurtures interactive learning and in-depth research to demonstrate the interconnectedness between the Earth, the Human, and our Social and Political constructs. 

 

F.I.T. 2021: In 2021 the F.I.T. program will expand and have returning faculty as well as new teaching assistant (TA) positions comprised of previous F.I.T. graduates. For more information about the F.I.T., please contact Sunita Ho at [email protected]. 

 

Application Process

 

Upon evaluation of a submitted application, the potential F.I.T. applicant will be informed following which, the applicant will start the program by attending prerequisite sessions (July 10 – July 14th) transitioning into the chosen tracks (July 15 – 30). July 31st is the grand finale of oral presentations shared by F.I.T. participants to those who will be invited to enjoy.

Contact: Sunita Ho, Ph.D., F.I.T. Program Coordinator and Instructor, [email protected], [email protected], 415-514-2818

 

Register for F.I.T.

 

What

F.I.T. is an intellectually rigorous program, that encourages interdisciplinary solutions using a) contextualization, b) critical thinking and c) student-teacher interactive and adaptive learning approaches.

Major and Minor Tracks:

  • Health Sciences: Medicine, Dentistry, Public Health, Nutrition, Materials, Imaging, Physical Fitness
  • Data Sciences:    Statistics, Programming, Medicine, Dentistry, Public Health, Environmental Science
  • Earth Sciences:   Environmental Sciences, Sustainability, Soil and Water Conservation, Nature, Geology, Chemistry
  • Political Sciences: American Business, American Cultures, American Heritage, American Labor, Law, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World

Students can pick up to two tracks. Combinations can be one-major only (or) two-majors (or) one-major and one-minor. Deliverables for a major track are a written report and an oral presentation on solutions to current problems. Deliverables for a minor track will be a written report on a solution to current problems within a minor track.

Where

F.I.T. – 2021 will be held virtually from July 10th – July 31. 

  • July 10-14th:Prerequisite Sessions – general required topics for Data Sciences enthusiasts will include statistics, and for all tracks will include public speaking, reading, writing, and scholarship; 
  • July 15 to Saturday, July 31 (no sessions on Sundays): will focus on instructor subject presentations for the track(s) selected, and will connect all subjects through an interdisciplinary problem-solving approach. Monday through Friday sessions run from 4 pm to 9 pm, and hikes on Saturdays.
  • Last Day: Interdisciplinary solutions will be proposed in a written and oral presentation format to the group. 

More about F.I.T.

F.I.T. is a three-week program that organically encourages high school juniors and seniors to solve complex anthropogenic related problems. The core of the program is a series of evenings from 4-9 PM for three weeks and revolve around rigorous reviews and analyses of literature on the health status of humans and the earth within the context of our current political environment. The nuts and bolts of F.I.T. are facilitated through interactive sessions presented in a Socratic style. The founder of the program, Dr. Ho is a firm believer that “no one-size fits all in terms of how to interact with and mentor students.” As such, the program limits the number of participants in each track to a maximum of ten. The program metamorphoses during the three weeks through daily inclusion of feedbacks from students into the virtual classroom instructor-student interactions for the following evening. As such real-time “adaptive” learning is encouraged to enable the growing minds of the participants to develop creative and thoughtful solutions. Critical thought is catalyzed through a safe space where each instructor is focused yet facilitates a whimsical classroom environment.

 

A few "snippets" from F.I.T.-2020 graduates

 

 

“I really enjoyed the small class size and getting one-on-one help.  I didn’t think I would enjoy Programming.” Vincent C.  (High School Graduate of De La Salle, rising freshman at Johns Hopkins)

 

“I learned a lot and specifically enjoyed the interconnectedness between Data, Health, Earth, and Political Sciences.”  Alex J. (High School Graduate of Albany High School, rising freshman at UCLA) 

 

“I’m so glad I can participate in the F.I.T. Program, and I think it came at a perfect time in society and the world with the pandemic.” Beck M. (Junior, Acalanes High School)

 

“From the Scouting perspective, F.I.T. captures the goals and objectives of the merit badge program and applies it in a real world environment which gives the scouts an added advantage in learning how to apply all of the outcomes of the Scouting program throughout their lifetimes.” Joe Barton, GGAC Director of Support Service

 

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Contact Information

Sunita Ho, Ph.D., F.I.T. Program Coordinator and Instructor, [email protected], [email protected], 925-917-0703

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