<p>I am interested in ISP but from what I've seen, the rigor of the program is comparable to any top science departments at any schools (Caltech, MIT, etc., if NU's science is not the top). But I haven't found any information about the difficulty to get into. So if I have good SAT, SATII, AP in sciences, is it still very hard to get into (just like getting into Caltech or MIT)? In other words, is the program selective or you can get into just to pass some qualifications (good scores, GPA, etc.)? Do I need some stellar activities, research, or other talents to get into (like those needed to get into MIT)? Also, I found that there are about 20-30 students in ISP. Is it the incoming class size, or graduating class size? Because about 80% of students will drop during the course and no one since junior year will be allowed to get in. So if actually 20 students graduate from ISP, then it must admit 100 or more students as freshmen to keep enough students till senior year.</p>
<p>No, it’s not hard at all to get into once you get into NU.</p>
<p>@aleksander Do you mean getting into ISP as a high school applicant or transfer into ISP as a NU freshman?</p>
<p>S is in ISP. You will have to get into NU first and ISP admissions results arrive a week or so later. You can join ISP only as a Freshman. They look for strong science background, AP scores, and subject SAT IIs. The ISP pool is a self selected one. It is also very rigorous and hence about 25 percent students drop out at the end of the first year.</p>
<p>I would say that ISP isn’t much harder than getting into NU, so if you get in, and your science credentials are good, you have a good shot. But like NUDad said, it gets rid of more in the program, than before. It’s kind of like a lot of engineering schools of public universities, where they take a lot of people, but weed them out as quickly as possible if they can’t make the cut.</p>
<p>^, thank you for the information. Just curious, I’ve heard that ISP faculties will lobby behind NU adcoms to admit students that have strong science credentials and they think will succeed in ISP. Is it true?</p>
<p>This is the first time I am hearing this…no idea!</p>
<p>Speaking as someone who got into ISP for Class of 2017, it’s not hard to get into once accepted to NU. Yes, it’s a very rigorous program, but it’s made for a specific type of student, and if you fit the bill with the grades and test scores, you’ll get in and do fine.</p>
<p>I think I recall that when D applied to NU a couple years ago ALL applicants in science and math got an email inviting them to apply to ISP. </p>
<p>Therefore the e-mail inviting folks to apply for ISP should not be construed as any form of likely letter, true?</p>
<p>True, judging by the fact that only 25-30 get in per year, it should not be seen as a likely letter. That email is just giving ISP the publicity to prospective students who have never heard of the program, but might be interested.</p>