Provost’s Summer Mentorship Program (SMP)
Helping Philadelphia High School Students Pursue Their Educational and Career Passions
Established in 2004, the Provost’s Summer Mentorship Program is a summer college and career preparatory experience offered to Philadelphia rising 10th and 11th-grade students. Admitted students are paired with one of five affiliate University of Pennsylvania Graduate and Professional School partners to gain firsthand exposure to careers in their field of interest. In addition to hands-on experiential learning, participants gain educational enrichment in areas related to financial literacy, Study Skills, Time Management, SAT test preparation, personal statement writing, and other information and skills required to be successful in the college application process.
About SMP
The Provost’s Summer Mentorship Program (SMP) is a signature initiative of the Division of the Vice Provost for Student Engagement designed to increase awareness of STEM and law careers for first-generation, under-represented students. SMP participants attend an immersive, campus-based, four-week summer program that includes hands-on, experiential learning-based programming provided through creatively designed curricula that center career exploration facilitated by participating Penn Graduate and Professional School partners. Our partners include the Perelman School of Medicine, the School of Nursing, the School of Engineering and Applied Science, the Penn Carey Law School, and the School of Dental Medicine. The program typically culminates in a college fair hosted on the Penn campus.
Students entering the 10th or 11th grade in fall 2025 and who reside and attend a Philadelphia high school are eligible to apply.