<p>What are some good free (or low cost) programs (prefereably science-related)offered for sophomores who will be entering the 11th grade the following spring?? Also, I won't meet the 16-years old requirement by the beginning of summer... I know it is a little early but I always like to be prepared for any requirements I might need to fulfill.</p>
<p>Also, how prestigious are the programs you will mention and the one that I listed below??</p>
<p>Thank you in advance for your help!! So far, I have found:</p>
<p>-Summer Science Institute (University of Wisconsin, Madison)</p>
<p>SSP accepted more sophomores in 2004 (Socorro had 6 sophomores last year) but as it became much more competitive in 2005, the number of sophomores accepted decreased.</p>
<p>UFlorida SSTP, UIowa SSTP, and HSHSP also are willing to take sophomores. HSHSP like SSP, however, prefers juniors. I don't know much about SSTP's admissions policy.</p>
<p>If you want a summer program that isn't focused on merely taking courses, then you may also want to investigate math summer programs, which may be less competitive than summer science programs (at least that's what I think though I may be wrong). PROMYS extended its application deadline last year as it was struggling to recruit applicants. Google "AMS Directory of Summer Math Programs" for more.</p>
<p>Ahhh... I definitely feel your pain... My parents didn't allow me to go to CTY even though I'm upper-middle class. But how parsimonious? Could you negotiate with either of them? If I got into SSP (which I didn't as it became much more competitive for sophomores) one of my parents was prepared to persuade the other to send me there, though that may have required the promise for me to enroll in the local state university.</p>
<p>You could try emphasizing the value of it but some parents are too conservative to take those arguments.</p>
<p>Also, are they willing to pay a few hundred dollars for a summer course? I was so determined to do something every summer and my parents were willing to let me take a distance course off Stanford EPGY.</p>
<p>Which very selective non-free programs make sure everyone accepted (who wasn't planning on going to another summer program) attends though, even if they are high-income and don't want to pay the money? And how do you know about that? (just curious since I had plans on appealing to the adcoms of any summer program if I were accepted and my parents wouldn't pay the money)</p>
<p>I would recommend researching at a lab (this is easy if your family has connections). Try the NIH? Several of my friends made some nice cash there (but they have their Asian scientist network to land them the position).</p>
<p>Yes, savoirfaire has a good idea I forgot to mention - perhaps you could forget about summer programs and do some research with a professor. Then you won't have to pay any money. Try contacting professors at a local university as well - some are more than willing to take people in. I e-mailed 4 at the local astronomy department and got to do some research. It wasn't my own research, but it was still nonetheless a valuable experience. You should be VERY HIGHLY self-motivated in this case however, because you're pretty much doing it on your own as you're not monitored 24/7 like you are at some summer programs. So if you're slacking off and playing computer games during your research, no one will catch you.</p>
<p>NIH unfortunately, does not accept all offers. Your chance of getting accepted really depends on the demand present within your field of interest.</p>
<p>Summer programs have advantages in that they provide a social life and accomondations but they are getting more competitive and cost money.</p>