<p>Damn. Another qualified applicant rejected. Last year, many of us probably would be accepted.. Now amongst CCer's, it's 4 rejects (there are more in the Caltech forum), 1 probably accepted.</p>
<p>Since everyone is so similar, they're going to use factors such as scientific experience into this decision.</p>
<p>MellowChick, what math were you taking? did you take physics? programming?</p>
<p>I took calculus and programming, but no physics.</p>
<p>Does my app supplement suck? BE HONEST. I could have invested more thought into it but got a little arrogant because everyone was almost certain I'd be accepted (including the two SSP alumni I talked to).</p>
<p>One day as a freshman, I asked Jameson Neff (SSP, 04), a person with very similar ambitions as mine, about the summer programs he was applying to. He tersely said, "Summer Science Program." Those mere three simple words were enough to arouse my excitement. The next time I was able to log onto a computer, I immediately Googled "Summer Science Program" and sure enough, the program's website turned out to be the first hit. As I read about the program, I immediately knew that this program was the program for me. It was a childhood dream come true. I was so enthusiastic that I even e-mailed Mr. Bowdon even though I knew that I could not apply to the program as a freshman.</p>
<p>Like Carl E. Wiemann, (Nobel Physics, 2001) I was always an independent spirit who enjoyed learning for its own sake, even if it was beyond the scope of the school curriculum. Thus, I found the Summer Science Program especially appealing because it covers topics beyond the high school curriculum, which also ensures that I will not have to review what I learned in high school, wasting precious time. I also crave for applications of what I learn and the Summer Science Program provides immediate applications of what its students learn in its asteroid research project. I even found the notorious all-nighters within the program appealing because they indicate how rigorous the program is. I crave rigor because I tend to work much more efficiently under rigorous conditions, which are not uncommon in scientific environments. Even though I have not enjoyed much social success within my high school, I believe that I will also have an enjoyable social life at the Summer Science Program, as there are many people in the program with similar ambitions as mine. </p>
<p>The Summer Science Program provides an environment very similar to the scientific environment, where I can work with a team to achieve a goal in a limited amount of time. Thus, I believe that it will become an enormous asset in my scientific aspirations. Science has enormous potential in the near future and I am eager to contribute to its growing foundation.</p>
<p>Well, rahrah still did follow the instructions. She did disobey one - in which she wrote 3 paragraphs but that's OK. The problem - the application is so misleading. Had those questions not been posted in their own very small boxes, I would have been encouraged to write more. But because they were posted in their very own small boxes, I thought I had to write only as much as the box could contain, even though I e-mailed the answers. </p>
<p>Meh, I won't make the same mistake next year. My worst mistake of all was my perfectionitism + procrastination. Yes, those two combined.</p>
<p>However it goes - it looks like becuase there are so many applicants, writing will be extremely important to differentiate between everyone. Last year, it wasn't that important due to the lack of applicants and thus, my schoolmate who didn't even write the supplement, got in.</p>
<p>All in all, SSP's almost hard to get into as Caltech is. So I shouldn't be too discouraged.</p>
<p>hey - maybe I did stress out far too much about SSP. I stressed so much over it because I thought it was not such a difficult goal for me. But I was only basing my ambitions on last year. The two SSP alumni who saw my stats were only basing their evaluations from last year. And had I knew about this year's applicant pool, I wouldn't have been so disappointed. I really shouldn't be. There's still next year. To be rejected in my sophomore year is equivalent to my being rejected from Caltech applying my junior year. Would it be preferrable had I been accepted? Duh. But on the other hand, there's always next year and those RSI ambitions of mine are very very slim.</p>
<p>Blah. Forget my freshman year. I could have all blamed it on my school district. I could have self-studied physics but was instead playing Age of Empires. But I failed to e-mail profs at the university. Shyness hurts.</p>
<p>And yet my chances for Siemens are not over yet.</p>
<hr>
<p>MellowChick - are you very passionate into the sciences/astronomy? Or merely the well-rounded person who isn't particularly into anything? Since if you aren't so passionate, that may hurt. SSP's looking like Caltech admissions now (almost as selective, restricted applicant pool, no affirmative action).</p>
<p>As for anyone else - don't lose hope yet - I probably would have got in for my academics, but was slaughtered because SSP apparently devotes a large section of its application to emotional qualities. Because I'm still emotionally unstable and unresilient to setbacks, I was rejected.</p>
<p>Yeah - though they all had different content so I don't consider it flooding. :) And I had to do that 'cuz CC doesn't allow me to edit posts after 20 mins.</p>
<p>Still - next year, it may not be as beneficial for me. Because I'll have self-studied AP Physics C, quite familiar with programming, and will know virtually all of the calculus in the program, I won't have to face Caltech-like all-nighters like the rest. And I feel that's part of the SSP experience. So then in that case, if I'm accepted to SSP and a camp that sends alums to Intel, I may just choose that camp.</p>
<p>Should i ask why I was rejected? I don't want to sound so rude as to jeopardize my application next year. (HOLY CRAP TWO SOPHOMORES no wonder why i was rejected!!!)</p>
<p>Does this letter sound alright?</p>
<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I realize that I was rejected and have no intention of contesting the decision. However, I would like to know if there was a specific reason why I was rejected. Is it OK if you could tell me why? Thanks,</p>
<p>Simfish, I don't think you should do that - just a gut feeling. If you feel compelled to ask something then ask what you could do during the next year that would make you more competitive in their applicant pool.</p>
<p>Two sophomores from our school applied and just found out they didn't get in. Both had PSAT's in the 230+ range, one has an 800 on a science SAT II , the other a 34 on the ACT (in 9th grade), straight A's in honors classes, one is in pre-cal, the other in honors algebra 2, both have done some math and science competitions, but no big awards and no research. One is a very good writer (I don't know about the other), and I'm guessing they both had excellent recs. I thought both of them had a very good chance and was surprised at least one of them didn't get in. There's always next year, and I think both of them are planning on applying again. It must have been very competitive this year.</p>
<p>Ehhh....ONLY two sophomores? And I still didn't get a letter yet!! Argh this is freaking me out. No word from SSP since that March confirmation letter. </p>
<p>I agree with over30 - Simfish, sometimes I think it is better to deal with the facts, no matter how curious you are about why the decision was made. It isn't the end of the world that you were rejected, and there's always next year. I rather not bug them and just try harder next year. I wouldn't write a letter if I was rejected, since obviously, they don't see something that they want in me, and to me, that is already good indication that I don't measure up to the 10th graders around me.</p>
<p>Both of the students I know applied by the Feb deadline if that makes any difference, and they both got an email in the last day or two. One had already accepted a place at governor's school (had to commit last week), and the other has applied to several other programs. </p>
<p>Also Simfish, even if you ask you still won't know. I can't imagine they would tell you your essays were horrid or your grades were abysmal or whatever. They'll just tell you that they had a lot of well-qualified applicants and they couldn't take everyone. </p>
<p>Congrats to those who got in and good luck to those still waiting.</p>