Summer Science Program (SSP) 2015

@Southpaw45 Thanks again! Looks like it’ll be tough competition. Another question: How important is the Supplemental Information section? Is it a (somewhat) crucial part of our application? Should the information be closely related to math and sciences?

Do most people append supplementary materials to their applications? Does it affect my chance to be accepted if I didn’t send it?

@AngEverlasting‌ The supplemental information is not as important as the rest of your application. This is where you’d put your resume, CV, any of your own publications, etc. Mainly, it’s to include anything that doesn’t exactly fit with the rest of your application that you still want considered. I would not think too hard about this section. If I remember correctly, I just added my resume because I wasn’t able to talk about most of my activities in my application.

@HughHuang96824‌ I’m not sure about this, but I highly doubt that most people attach supplemental materials. I don’t think it will affect you negatively if you don’t have anything for it.

For essay 5, the part about the achievement that I am personally proud of, do most people put something math and science or academically related? I am thinking about writing about a national chess tournament that I placed 3rd in. Also does anyone have an example for “not taking the east way out”.

Also, for number 6 can I say that I am applying this year instead of next because I want to attend RSI next year?

^^ That is a terrible idea.

@kkpanu9‌ I think you should choose whatever you’re proudest of. I’m sure many applicants write about math or science, but I think that is just because most applicants do a lot of math and science activities and not because it’s advantageous to choose an activity like that. Writing about something not necessarily as STEM-oriented can help you stand out.

As for not taking the easy way out: did you ever have to take a not-so-straightforward path to take a class? Do an activity? Were you ever told no (from a parent, counselor, teacher) that you didn’t accept? Did you ever keep working even after you received a bad grade on a test? Think along those lines.

Saying that you’re doing that is a bad idea. I think that many sophomore SSPers go on to do that very thing (or attempt it) but it’s not a good reason to attend a rigorous program where you’re going to be the youngest person with the least high school years behind you.

@kkpanu9‌ I talked about doing research and publishing it on my own for essay 5

Can I say that I am applying as a sophomore because I want the experience for a future research position that I will be doing junior year and next summer? If that’s not a good idea, what should I talk about?

For the SAT score report do they want just the first page reporting the summary of the results or the entire document showing which questions we go wrong.

Sorry if it’s been answered before, but I was planning to send it with overnight mail on Thursday afternoon (my teacher needs time to write is recommendation for me). If it arrives Monday-ish, would I be considered “pushing my luck”?

@skyisover Do you really think the Committee has time to review which questions everyone got wrong?

@Newdle You should be fine.

@Falcon1‌ Thanks for the reassurance! And… I definitely shouldn’t be typing with a headache… I just reread what I wrote, and wow…

@Newdle I’m also sending my application with overnight mail this Thursday.

Did anyone get an email from SSP about how the deadline would be pushed a week back?

Yes I saw that. Thank God because I was doing my essays right now lol

Yes, it is on the website too. “March 6 Application deadline for US applicants - extended from Feb. 27 due to severe winter weather. All required application parts must be received by this date. There will be no further extensions.
Applicants should log in to verify their application is complete.”

Is it only me who thinks this way or is this year’s SSP thread awfully quiet?

Oh yeah, who applied as international?

hmmm. I didn’t get any email from them.

I didn’t get an email either, very strange.