<p>I’m in a bit of a fix here. I haven’t actually taken any standardized test required on the SSP application yet. However, I will be taking the SAT on January 26. The problem arises from the fact that the earliest I will be able to access my SAT score is February 14, EIGHT DAYS after the application deadline for international students on February 8. Do any previous applicants have any recommendations for what I can do?</p>
<p>^^ Note the deadline above is February 6, NOT February 8.</p>
<p>No personal experience with your problem slipstream, but I think that emailing Bowdon and explaining your situation couldn’t hurt.</p>
<p>How weighted are test scores in the admission process? Because I did horrible on the SAT.</p>
<p>An alum, Desafinado, said earlier that he believes high SATs (2350+) are a big help.</p>
<p>For the question asking about the topic in science, does it matter what we write about? I’m considering some extremely well-known and very prominent topics (like some of the most important and not very specific to one thing) in physics…but I don’t know if it’s okay to write about a broad and huge topic like that (i.e. loop quantum gravity). Would that be okay or do they want you to write about something like superfluid vacuum theory…</p>
<p>Lol I wrote about biology and still got in… So really you can write about what appeals to do. DON’T’T TRY TO GUESS WHAT SSP PEOPLE WANT!!! Seriously answer every question truthfully - that’s the best you can do for yourself haha. I also think high sat scores helps but most people there had between 2200-2300 I think</p>
<p>Well I was debating talking about a certain biology topic that i am passionate about and a physics topic that I also am really interested in…i presumed it would make more sense to go wit the physics topic lol :/</p>
<p>@cheeshead9099: </p>
<p>I answered one of them (why did you want to go to SSP). I also answered the first problem with bology (anatomy/physiology actually). so just pick one and talk about it in an interesting way. :)</p>
<p>YET another question about the SAT :p</p>
<p>Is there a cutoff for your testing scores. Like will your application be doomed to the pits of Tartarus if you score below 2000 on the SAT? I guess its just testing nerves.</p>
<p>^nope! But if you have <2000, you better have some freakin impressive other stuff to make up for it</p>
<p>Hi! I’m also interested in applying to SSP (and I’d go to either campus). I’m a junior girl from Wisconsin with a 2400 and I love science! I was just wondering if the number of female applicants is generally less than the number of male ones. Also, I was reading about the late night telescope groups–how do they put you in groups of 3? Is it random?</p>
<p>^ </p>
<p>I would guess so–for MIT, male applicants dwarf female applicants by at least 2:1 .
and yes, to some degree? We filled out surveys before going, and I think they tried for each team to have a balanced mix of abilities and personalities.</p>
<p>^yeah I definitely agree about the survey thing. One of my teammates was a super astronomy whiz, and the other was an uber programmer! I was the dude that had no idea what he was doing lolololol</p>
<p>Hi, I’m applying, but the more time i spend on CC the more I feel like it is completely unrealistic to apply with a 210 on the PSAT and 3.68 gpa. I’m not trying to be chanced because I understand how much weight these things really have, but I feel like it’s absolutely useless. (that’s CC for you though 
)</p>
<p>Anyway, I was wondering, does SSP frown on some astronomy experience or is that good? I know it’s okay not to have it, but it says if you have a ton of experience it may not be for you.</p>
<p>Won’t you learn tons of other stuff? The program says you’ll also learn advanced math, physics and programming. I don’t think any of the applicants are experienced in ALL these fields, and some do still get accepted without having taken any of these classes</p>
<p>Astro experience = GOOD. You’ll be learning some new stuff–trust me</p>
<p>2/3 of our campus took calculus, and 2/3 of our campus took physics. That means that there were a lot of people without experience in one of the two! Of course it helps, but obviously it’s not a requirement. You DO need to know at least one though</p>
<p>oops I meant that I do have quite a bit of astronomy experience</p>
<p>To try and settle the SAT question, there were kids at NM with relatively low SAT scores. Again, relatively, as in they weren’t near perfect but they were still very decent. They were however great people and awesome learners so they made up for it. A low SAT score will NOT ruin your chances.</p>
<p>Also I went in having done a bunch of astronomy research in the past and one girl was going to the astronomy olympiad. Having too much astronomy experience probably won’t hurt you.</p>
<p>Technically, The application requires you to send “any and all scores” that you have received for standardized tests like the SAT. However, it’s not like the admissions people will know if you don’t send your scores 
Your call.</p>