Columbia Science Honors Program

<p>I'm hoping to apply for the Columbia SHP, and I was wondering how difficult the entrance exam is. Do they administer a different exam according to grade?</p>

<p>I have As in Honors Bio and AP Chem and I had an A in physics last year and an A in Pre-calc (last year) and I didn't get in. You don't think it's too hard but it ends up being a little tricky. Brush up on your pre-calc (like last year there was a grid problem about iterations of movement of a bug and it turned up the movements were an infinite series so you needed to know the A1/(1-R) equation to get the sum of each coordinate) and stuff like that. I would definitely study all three sciences for it (AND weather/geo./astro basics) to make sure you cover everything. Good luck! Oh, BTW, I tried twice and didn't make it either time.</p>

<p>I made it and am currently attending. By the time I took the test I had taken AP Bio, AP Chem, AP Physics C:Mech, AP Calc BC, AP CompSci, AP Stat, and Electronics.... my AP sciences helped me because there was some stuff from each of the three major sciences. There were a few electronics questions. From what I remember, the math section was pretty easy. There were some random "which scientist did this" questions. The challenge questions were challenges. Nevertheless, there were students who had not taken Physics, Electronics and Calc that I knew who got in and there were students who had taken the same classes as me and didn't get in. But of course I believe they take into consideration your grades and letters of rec?</p>

<p>is this any better than any of the other college summer programs? do you at least get to live in a dorm with other students?</p>

<p>Is this a summer program or a school-session program? Since you are currently attending it, I gather this is a program while school is in session? I also know of a few people who are currently attending a Columbia program. Anyway this is different from the Columbia summer program, right?</p>

<p>Its a saturday program, and I fail to see how any test prep is necessary (my friends and I sure didn't prep). Additionally for those of you who don't know anything about it, you take undergraduate or/and graduate level classes for free (and no grades or credit).</p>

<p>(for clarification)The summer program at columbia is affiliated with the school of continuing education, and the science honors program is affiliated with the physics department (with many instructors being grad students teaching courses as part of their TAships)</p>

<p>Thanks for the clarification.</p>

<p>It seems they are mailing apps in February. If that's so, then how come some people have already began attending it? When's this test?</p>

<p>they don't mail apps, you have to get the app from your school.
you apply for it the previous year, and once you're in, you stay in</p>

<p>would anyone be so kind as to email the application to me for gmail invites? I don't want to go through the hell of getting the application again this year</p>

<p>and yeah, you really can't prep for this test, you know it or you don't seriously its so general its not even funny, except for that ridiculously easy first math section</p>

<p>How close do you have to be in order to apply?</p>

<p>I'm in upper NJ - I'd be willing to make the 50-minute commute ... Will I have to call to find out whether I am eligible, or must I live in the city?</p>

<p>if you can travel the distance, you're eligible
you need to get the app through you school or some such
though I'm sure if you're far away its possible they would be willing to send a copy (I can't say as I live only 30 blocks away)</p>

<p>its all schools 10-15 miles 9-11 graders can apply</p>

<p>they should send it to your school no matter what, they won't send apps individually, so don't call</p>

<p>when is the application due?</p>

<p>they send the applications to all schools within a 75 mile radius</p>

<p>oh god i took the exam last year when i was a sophmore
i had honors earth science, honors bio and half of honors chem which i sucked at lol
seriously though i thought that exam was ridiculously easy, no offense to anyone here at all, it was really a joke, they have a "really hard" math section at the end and they said not to be disappointed if you only got a few right, id be surprised if i didnt get them all right, but then again im quite proficient at math, and i was able to guess most of the physics questions cause its mostly common sense</p>

<p>i have the application, but when do they administer the test? thanks!</p>

<p>i took the test last year and it was relatively easy, you can't study for it really except for review. Anyhow I wish you all luck I'm not even gonna apply, reason being its 250 kids being admitted compared to last year's 450, additionalyl the test will be harder</p>

<p>Also contradictory to what some idiots say that the test makes up all of the admission, i doubt it like hell. Columbia is developing their own little RSI which is the SHP. They take a nice look at your transcript and reccomendations (disrgard your essay) and they use your test to verify you are as good as your grades and reccomendation say</p>

<p>Might I ask how YOU have any insight into the admissions?</p>

<p>I feel that SHP and RSI are completely different, considering the relative sizes and means of the programs. I thought it was cool when Professor Blaer said that at least of the people in the room of new people would be a nobel laureate.</p>