<p>Breakdown of the test:
-Ridiculously easy math section; no reason to get a single question wrong
-mehhhish science section. I took the test as a freshman, so I didn't know any of the physics or chemistry (didn't know what a mole was), but you should be able to reason out the earth science stuff. If you're a freshman like I was, I would brush up on the bare basics of chemistry and physics.
-challenge math section: this is what will get you in. The questions are AMCish, but you don't have to know as much math. It's all reasoning.</p>
<p>One thing to note is that the test is curved according to your grade level. That means that it is much, much easier to get in as a freshman than as a senior. Everyone be sure to apply as a freshman - the program is incredible. It's well worth the commute.</p>
<p>Then again, judging by some of the responses above, the admissions process has evolved quite a bit in three years. All I did was send in my math/science grades, a math/science rec, and I took the test. No essay. I do agree that Columbia wants to evolve SHP into an RSI equivalent. And why not? It attracts smart math/science kids to the school and, if it keeps on growing, it'll provide a discriminating factor to sort out all of the briliant kids that come out of northern NJ/NYC/Southwestern CT. (I sincerely hope)</p>
<p>To the person inquiring about the 50 minute commute, it takes me an hour and a half to get from my town in Southwestern CT to Columbia. I'm sure you're within the prospective radius.</p>
<p>Does anyone know if S-PREP is similar to SHP? It's also a saturday program run by columbia, just I think it's run by the med school or something... I'm not sure...</p>
<p>The State Pre-College Enrichment Program (S-PREP) is a rigorous academic program for minority and economically disadvantaged high school students, grades 9-12, who are seriously interested in science, medicine or related health professions.</p>
<p>...its called Google, you should try it out someday</p>
<p>My son and at least one other kid from his HS just got accepted... If you currently attend, could you please describe how the pgm works (ex. do you choose your own classes? do you take one class or 2? how big are the classes?).</p>
<p>Myself and a few of my friends from my high school attended the program last year. I live in central jersey for those of you asking about commuting, which is about an 1 1/2 - 2 hrs away and the commute is not a problem particularily if you can find people from your high school to carpool with or if not, the bus works well as well. Basically once you're accepted you remain in the program untill you finish high school and you don't have to re-apply. The school year spans from late Sept to early May and is broken into 2 semesters. You will recieve a list of classes early Sept. from which you choose your top three classes. for the first semester and depending on class sizes, you'll be placed into one of those three classes. (i've always recieved my first choice). the second semester the same thing happens, you recieve a list of classes, and you choose your top three choices. it's a great program. no grades or homework, just simply taking classes that you're interested in for the purpose of learning beyond your standard high school curriculum. i.e. you can take some insane classes like neurobiology and experiements in atomic and nuclear physics.</p>
<p>oh i forgot. class sizes vary depending on the class and how many people want to take it. for ex. i took a lab class first semester that was fairly small (about 15 ppl). and a lecture class second semester that was more like 30.</p>
<p>It's one of the most boring courses I've ever taken. However, you can sit near the BIG BIG pole in the back, and the instructor won't see you sleep. If you want to learn something, take another course.</p>
<p>Oh yeah, and everyone that goes there is really really smart. I remember asking people in my class what colleges they were going to, and the answers were like "columbia, upenn, harvard, harvard, etc."</p>