Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics (PI)

Pre-College Issues Summer Programs
1

<p>All right, so, has anyone ever heard of this institution? It's based in Canada, but it runs a two-week summer program that is open to Canadians, U.S. citizens, and other countries. It looks pretty interesting, and here is an excerpt about the program:</p>

<p>ISSYP
The International Summer School for Young Physicists (ISSYP) is an exciting and challenging two-week program for grade 11 high school students. The program explores the most fascinating ideas theoretical physics has to offer — from the weird quantum world of atoms and subatomic particles to black holes, warped spacetime, and the expanding universe.
Besides learning incredibly cool stuff, students get chance to work with leading international theoretical physicists in mentoring sessions while creatively exploring their own interests and ideas.</p>

<p>So tell me this isn't one of the most interesting things out there, assuming that it is as rigorous as they say it is and that you're like theoretical physics.</p>

<p>Once again, has anyone heard of this program? Has anyone attended it before? Is it worth looking into more? How do out-of-country programs like this factor into college admissions? Do you think universities have heard of the program? I guess I should research more about the institute's prestige to get a better idea. Still, it sounds SOOOOO cool!</p>

2

<p>I've heard of it, but only because I did an extensive search on Cogito, and then I ended up emailing the lady only to end up deciding that my parents weren't going to let me go out of the country. However, I agree it does look very interesting and exciting, and I do trust the program, as I trust Cogito and like that Facebook trust thing... yeah.</p>

<p>PLEASE don't apply to programs so they factor into college admissions. Prestige of a summer camp is not a big factor in college admissions. Sure there is a high correlation between participation in some programs and college admissions, but any good statistician and any summer camp-er will tell you that that is likely correlation, not causation, and that the experience is really what helps you out.</p>

3

<p>yeah, I do understand this. I just wanted to hear anyone else's input if they have ever heard about/attended this program. i don't want to make an ill-informed decision about something. the program sounds really interesting to me, but i want to know if it is really how i picture it.</p>