I’m wondering how much weight going to an affiliate summer program has on the decision making process. I went to SSP last summer and applied to MIT and CalTech RD. My test scores, ECs, and recs are pretty good but my GPA is horrible. I’m wondering if my participation in SSP could sway the decision in my favor. I know I most likely won’t get in otherwise.
Thanks so much!
What is the impact solely because it is operated in cooperation with MIT/CalTech (and others)? Zip. Zero. Zilch. Nada
That said, attending SSP can positively impact your application to MIT and other schools because it is a highly selective program that admits exceptional applicants. Will it overcome a “horrible” GPA? Probably not, but at this point it’s a wait-and-see.
How did you get into SSP with a “horrible” gpa? its super selective
Based on other threads, 3.22 GPA, 1370 SAT, 620 Math SAT II (was going to re-sit the SATII). Applying for physics/astrophysics
@stemmmm I think I got in because of my essays and recommendations. I strongly conveyed my passion for astronomy and how SSP would benefit me since I come from a rural area with few opportunities to get into astronomy. My test scores are good. Updating what @collegemom3717 said, I have a 1380 SAT (superscored, 700 R/W 680 M), 31 ACT (35 E 34 M 26 R 29 S), 680 Math 2, 650 Bio E, 620 Physics (took for the heck of it with little prep). Like with college admissions, you never know what’s going to happen. I was fairly certain I was going to be rejected since I was rejected from the Yale Summer Program in Astrophysics. But I was accepted. In the end, that’s all that matters to me.
Just shows you can never really predict these things. Definitely let us know how it works out. Good luck!
@stemmmm I will. Less than two months! Thank you!!
At most it may be treated just as a demonstration of interest.
SSP is highly selective. My daughter did that in 2010. She got into a lot of very nice schools 
Congrats on getting accepted! I don’t think the affiliation matters so much, more than that it is selective.
@donnaleighg Thank you! It was a lot of fun last summer!
Well, they might have used the fact that you are from a rural area to open up the candidate pool. I think they do that for other acceptances as well. I just think your scores are very low for MIT. I hope that they see other things in your application. You might try other astrophysics programs which will appreciate your interest. Have you checked out Univ of HI? If I were going to study the stars, I’d do it in HI. Just a thought
@frazzledazzle My son attended SSP in 2016, and it was such a valuable learning experience. It’s impossible to predict your college acceptance results, but I congratulate you on being able to attend and wish you the best. I know you’ll do great wherever you go to college.
@Happytimes2001 I would consider University of HI–I have in the past–but it is too far away for me. Being 5,000 miles away from home is too great a number for me at the moment. The resources in the area are amazing, but I would like to be able to go home easily and not at a great cost. I understand my scores as a whole are too low for MIT, especially my SAT score, but my English and Math scores from the ACT are in the middle 50th percentile and 25th percentile, respectively. They don’t provide data for the Reading and Science sections. I know that’s a small portion of my test scores, but it’s something.
@Ynotgo Thank you so much! I’ll let you know how things go in a couple of months.