<p>I know there another existing thread but I want to clear some things up.</p>
<p>1) What grades do you need to get it? My overall average is an 86 -.-'
2) Level of difficulty of the test?
3) Is it during the SUMMER or THE SCHOOL YEAR? This question is yet unclear to me.
4) How was your experience?</p>
<p>I don't even know what this program is.</p>
<ol>
<li>do really well on the test and you'll most likely get in</li>
<li>there is a basic science section on chem, bio, physics, earth science. then theres the basic math section and a challenge math section from what i remember.</li>
<li>school year</li>
<li>if you apply and get in, it doesn't give you an advantage when you apply to a columbia undergrad college, but it shows interest in the school. </li>
</ol>
<p>correct me if im wrong, its been like 2-3 yrs, the program might have changed.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.columbia.edu/cu/shp/index.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.columbia.edu/cu/shp/index.html</a></p>
<p>
[quote]
it doesn't give you an advantage when you apply to a columbia undergrad college
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Key point for anyone reading this thread to note.</p>
<p>It may not give you an advantage but it shows that you're interested in the school. Even if you get an, "Oh, he did this program at Columbia and says he had a good experience, he must really like Columbia" from an adcom, it might be worth it.</p>
<p>The connection between this program and a solid reason for why you want to go to Columbia is tenuous at best.</p>
<p>I didn't want to go to Columbia since it's very expensive and it's ivy league, so of course I can't get in. I just wanted to do the program 1) free 2) It has an engineering/computer science course that seems really cool ^_^ </p>
<p>Thanks for your reply scary2hairy. I'll see if my school has the applications.</p>
<p>Have more confidence, you may be able to get in. As for expensive, I thought Columbia is very generous with financial aid.</p>
<p>As a current SHP dork (:P), lemme add:</p>
<p>1) The placement test is the most important aspect, I believe. When I applied I had a good average (in the mid 90s), but my lowest grades were actually in math and science classes. </p>
<p>2) The basic math section is easy. There is also a basic science section which tests bio, chem, physics and earth science (this was a bit more challenging, as I didn't recall most chem and es information, and hadn't yet gotten to the physics topic the questions were on). Then there is the math "challenge section," which is similar to the AME test.</p>
<p>3) During the school year, most Saturdays from 10-12:30.</p>
<p>4) I honestly don't know. The professor who runs the program is willing to write college recommendations for current students, but I think they would be pretty generic, considering the fact that he can't personally know all 500 students.</p>
<p>Of course, my physics teacher wrote both my SHP recommendation and my college one (where she emphasized my participation in SHP), and I did get in to Columbia (though that certainly wasn't the only reason!).</p>
<p>They also consider what grade you are in when you apply. A freshman applicant isn't expected to know all four sciences, but a junior applicant is expected to know most.</p>