<p>How is your summer going JW? :D</p>
<p>HEY EVERYONE!!! I missed all of these posts! But here’s some info for future applicants - there were 36 applicants, and after I got in, I asked them how many had applied and they said around 90 QUALIFIED applicants. I am assuming this means that some kids just applied and had like 2.0 GPA’s or something - not that you couldn’t get in with a 2.0 GPA if you had really awesome extracurricular’s or research experience! I must tell all future applicants - APPLY. It was an awesome experience! My lab was a bit meh @Ketone I had nanoscience and it was not exactly what I had expected haha. But I learned a lot! The problem, I think, is in which mentor you are assigned to. The director of the lab assignments was a math education lady (not mathematics - math education) who had just become the director of such and didn’t follow through on certain things. Some people had awesome mentors who they talked to, joked with, and who allowed them to design their own research projects and cool stuff like that. Mine pretty much told me what I was going to do and assumed I was an intern who was there to help his graduate student with her research. We only had 2 conversations that lasted more than a sentence for the entire 6 weeks, and it was never one-on-one. He also only came in sporadically every other day or so, so he wasn’t really around. It is kinda a crackshot on where you are assigned. If you don’t like where you are assigned, ask them to switch you early on! You will get more out of your experience at a lab you like and that you switched to than one you don’t like and that you stayed at halfway through the program. Seriously. The application process is a breeze compared to the other program I applied to (SEAP with the Navy), and though SSTP is a bit pricey, financial aid is your friend.</p>
<p>THE BEST part about SSTP was the people there! They were intelligent human beings and were awesome to hang out with! For our session, there were twice as many males as females accepted, but us females bonded and had fun - we pranked, we had all-nighters, we watched movies, and a bunch of other things. So, apply! Know that the “college credit” class will not likely be transferred if you go to places like Harvard, where the requirements for college credit are much higher than other colleges. Most others will accept the credit. The class itself was not useful at all. It was probably the biggest downside to the program. But it was worth it! So… apply!!!</p>
<p>On the other hand… any veteran SSTPers applying to RSI or other programs? I am going to try</p>
<p>Apply~~ You get to have dance parties, pizza at 11pm, and late-night excursions to Java House.
The (scientific) experience is partially what you make it.
The RA’s are great (CLAIRE, ARE YOU LURKING?)</p>
<p>To future applicants, do not hesitate to apply for this. It was the BEST summer of my life. Definitely an experience I can never forget. The intelligence and skills of everyone were amazing and one could talk to anyone else about anything and expect a fruitful conversation. It was like the gathering of smart people from around the globe. We had 2 Indians, 1 Turkish guy, 1 Italian guy, my roommate James (volleyballdude) from Hong Kong, some US Permanent Residents and other citizens of USA so there were people with diverse backgrounds and interests.</p>
<p>Best of all were our RAs, John, Claire, Fernando and Morgan, the coolest people you’re likely to meet. They were all U of I students when I went this year but John and Fernando have (I think) graduated. They had all the fun with you, and guided you whenever you needed any help or felt down. We even planned pranks on the female RAs and girls together. xD</p>
<p>As ketone said, the labs are a bit unpredictable because they’re decided by your professor. You could always talk to them though. What I got was parallelization of an artificial intelligence algorithm on the graphics processing unit of a computer. It’s still not finished but it will hopefully be done in the winter vacations and research be sent to an accredited journal after that.</p>
<p>I’m considering applying to SSTP again this year as well as another program that I have not yet considered. Applying to RSI is impossible because there is no official Indian sponsor and they simply do not accept applications without one, apparently for the purpose of making it equally accessible to everyone.</p>
<p>Hey guyss I want to apply here
But it is too expensive 
and the website says that “Those that apply for financial aid will only be charged half the cost of the program. However, after your information has been reviewed, a decision will be made, and you will receive an email regarding the amount of your award.”
Does it mean if you apply for FA, you will automatically receive half the cost; and if you are qualified enough, you can get more money?</p>
<p>Nope. This means the maximum amount of financial aid is half the amount. You may, however, get less.</p>
<p>Could any of the alumni post their stats please?</p>
<p>@chrisLieto. I could and will list my stats, but I’m just telling you flat out, everybody has a good chance of getting in. Last year they had to extend the application deadline because there weren’t enough people they liked. I was told there were 90 qualified applicants, but really, “qualified” is a loose term. I actually copied my application answers from last year into a Word document for future reference haha. Literally word for word (except for personal info), here are my stats as of when I applied:</p>
<p>Works, performances, honors, awards which indicate talent in math/science:
Honors/Awards: Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth International Mathematics and Verbal Talent Search Award for High Honors; October 2011 PSAT scored in top 99th percentile of sophomores in Critical Reading, Mathematics, and Writing; Member of the National Society of High School Scholars; Member of the National Junior Honor Society; Received the World Languages Award from the United States Achievement Academy; Future Business Leaders of America member (received multiple awards at the state level); Outstanding Band Musicianship Award; All-State Band member (2 years); All-State Orchestra Member (2 years); Academic Team Award for Quiz Bowl Participation; Student of the Month May 2011; multiple Destination Imagination awards (4 years participation, multiple placings at regional level, qualified and placed many times at the state level, qualified for the Global Finals and placed 19th worldwide last year, along with multiple Renaissance and Da Vinci awards); multiple awards with MathCounts (8th place Individual, then 2nd place Individual, 2nd place Countdown (speed) Round, 4th place Team).</p>
<p>Projects: A “blog” for my Anatomy/Physiology course explaining cancer types, cancer causes, treatment options, etc.; and a small experiment in my Biology course to observe how different wavelengths of light affected oxygen production in water plants.</p>
<p>Classes/programs related to science/math: Classes: Physical Science (one semester each of basic chemistry and physics), Biology, Anatomy/Physiology, Chemistry, Algebra I and II, Geometry, Trigonometry/Pre-Calculus, A.P. Statistics</p>
<p>Programs and Extra-Curriculars: Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth Summer Programs and Classes (residential camp hosted by Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles in Cryptology, online course in Crafting the Essay), Governor’s Camp (residential), Midwest Ambassadors of Music European Tour (concert tours in Europe), Quiz Bowl, Destination Imagination (a team-based creative problem solving program), Knowledge Masters Open, Science Olympiad (events Forestry, Protein Modeling, Sounds of Music, Fermi Questions, and Anatomy/Physiology), Future Business Leaders of America, Health Occupational Students of America, enrolling in a Certified Nursing Assistant Program in May.</p>
<p>I hadn’t taken the SAT or ACT, but PSAT scores I think I had a 218. I just combined these with awesome rec letters from my science teachers who loved me and total BS essays. Don’t know if this ties in, but I was one of the first to get my acceptance and lab placement (compared to my brother, who got his more than a month after me, HAHA for his near-nervous breakdown of anticipation). Interpret this as you wish. Hope I helped</p>
<p>Just realized that I forgot to put my volunteering activities down last year when I applied, haha</p>
<p>I feel like I am overposting, but I am procrastinating on studying for my semester tests so, you know…</p>
<p>Forgot to mention I was a sophomore when I applied. It felt like there were slightly more sophomores than juniors in our session. 4.0 GPA unweighted, ranked 1st in class of 86. Took an excess number of classes by taking AP Stats online on my own time. Um. Yeah.</p>
<p>So yeah, there were some people like WeIsCool (XD) and there were some like me with really dull non-APs, low PSATs, and yeah. The closest I can think of is that I did science fair? And cute essays about my <3 for science? Dunno really what got me in lol.</p>
<p>BUT IT WAS AMAZING LIKE YES. Go. You will get high on nerd fumes in the lounges at 1am writing your lit review and sunburned when you go to the waterpark and frozen when you go skating and fat when you make midnight runs to Chipotle or China Star. Best ever.</p>
<p>YES. APPLY. (: and most people, like me (except for @shinexalive and a handful of others, :D) did not have research experience or work experience. Some of us (me, haha) were rejects from other programs, too. It takes all types of people, and I mean that.</p>
<p>Also you get to eat a lot of corn.</p>
<p>LOL yes, corn! I miss you guys!
@chrisLieto, you should apply to this! It was seriously the best summer of my life. I loved both the research and social aspects of it.</p>
<p>Actually, for me, my GPA is my weakness. I had a high act and PSAT score, and that’s what helped me get in, along with my course rigor and extracurricular/leadership stuff. I actually don’t know how exactly I got in :p</p>
<p>lilyy96 who art thou</p>
<p>^agreed. must know!!!</p>
<p>I FB messaged you, I’d rather not put my name up on this forum!</p>
<p>I am hoping someone on this thread might be able to answer this question. I am looking for summer camp for my currently 8th grade daughter. The (BSI) Blank Summer Institute for the Arts & Sciences is a one-week residential summer program held at The University of Iowa for 120 of Iowas gifted students who are currently in grades 7 & 8. My question: Is BSI only open to gifted students who reside in Iowa?</p>
<p>@lilyy96, I think I know who you are now :D</p>
<p>@4beardolls, it is great that your daughter wants to attend this! I went to one at University of SD the same age, and it was great! However, I think it only open for those who reside in Iowa. I checked out the program for you, and it is a school-nominated process. I believe the only schools allowed to nominate students are those who are in Iowa counties. You could always call them and ask though!</p>
<p>Hi Guys ;_;
I was just at the UCLA HSSRP Thread and I decided to focus more on programs that are within my reach…so…I put my first three choices as engineering, chem, and physics. How is the (quality of the) research?</p>