Super-Charging Your Physics at ISSYP
The International Summer School for Young Physicists (ISSYP) is a prestigious program that provides high school students with a passion for physics to explore the subject in greater depth. Run by the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, one of the premier centers for theoretical physics in the world, the program is designed to provide a challenging and stimulating environment for young physicists everywhere.
If you have a passion for theoretical physics, this summer program will give you the opportunity to immerse yourself in it at the university level. In this post, you can learn more about the background of the ISSYP summer program, the application process, and some tips for crafting a strong application.
What is the ISSYP Summer Program?
Now in its 20th year and connecting over 900 alumni, the ISSYP summer program is one of the ways in which the Perimeter Institute seeks to promote scientific education and inspire future generations of physicists. The program is open to students from around the world and is designed to give them an immersive experience in the study of physics.
The ISSYP program is an intensive two-week online program that combines “mini-courses” with keynote sessions from researchers, career insights from alumni and researchers, and connections to like-minded peers. The program covers topics in modern physics, including quantum mechanics, relativity, cosmology, black holes, and particle physics. You will have the opportunity to work on challenging problems both independently and interactively.
To be eligible to apply to ISSYP, you will need to be in the last two years of secondary school, have completed junior-year physics, and be fluent in English. The program fee is $250, which will cover the program costs, but financial aid is available to offset the cost for students who find this fee prohibitive.
The ISSYP Application
The ISSYP summer program is highly competitive, with hundreds of students worldwide applying for a limited number of spots. It is designed to identify students who are passionate about physics and have the potential to succeed in the program, and consists of the following seven tasks:
Personal Information Form
Extracurricular Activities and Essay
Confidential Teacher Assessment
Reference Letter
Transcript and Interim Report Card
Applicant Consent Form
Parent/Guardian Consent Form
Your transcript should reflect strong abilities in physics and related subjects, and your personal statement should explain what draws your interest in physics and what you hope to gain from the program. After your application has been submitted, you may be invited to an interview with a member of the selection committee. This will be your opportunity for them to get to know you better as a person and to explain why you are well-suited to ISSYP.
Crafting Your ISSYP Application
If you want to pursue theoretical physics, ISSYP will be a fantastic experience. To be a part of it, you will need to craft an application that stands out to the selection committee. Here are some tips if you are hoping to get accepted into the ISSYP summer program:
Have Confidence
It can be intimidating to apply for a program that includes courses covering relativity and quantum mechanics when most high school courses only cover mechanics or electricity and magnetism. But here’s a secret: those are the next courses you might take in college anyway. ISSYP focuses on building a solid conceptual foundation – you are ready for it!
Know Your “Why”
There are so many great things about ISSYP, and it will be important to learn about the program and highlight what you are excited about in your application. Are you looking to get a stronger grasp on advanced topics? Talk about the mini-courses! Want to learn about life as a physicist? Talk about career insights and meeting people through the keynotes! Want to meet like-minded peers that share your enthusiasm? Talk about the relationships you will build! There is something for everyone in this program, but they want to know what there is for you.
Find A Strong Recommender
You will want a recommendation letter from someone who can speak to your intelligence, talent, and passion. This could mean your current teacher, past teacher, coach, employer, science club administrator, or another mentor. Give them plenty of time (as much as possible) to write you a strong letter, and if you are applying to programs other than ISSYP, let them know to tailor this letter to speak to your physics experience specifically.
Explore Physics However Possible
They want to see that you are passionate about physics – so don’t let opportunities to engage with it pass you by. Join clubs or competitions related to physics, read books by physicists for a general audience, see if local universities have any public physics talks, take additional or advanced courses, anything to engage with the material. This won’t just be interesting for you - it will help demonstrate your passion to both the ISSYP selection committee and, eventually, university admissions officers.
If you are interested in applying to the ISSYP summer program, consider applying to the 1:1 Mentorship Program at InspiritAI! The intersection of AI and physics research is fascinating and ever-growing, and our mentors – hailing from the world's top research institutions and tech companies – will walk you through an entire research project from start to end. Whether you are a coding novice or a virtuoso, our individualized mentorship program will help you develop an exceptional research project. For more information, do not hesitate to contact InspiritAI with questions.
