How SSP Acceptance Rate Can Affect Your Summer Science Program Experience
Innovation can be a challenging endeavor, especially for professionals, and it becomes an even more unfamiliar territory for high school students
However, the Summer Science Program (SSP) can help guide students through high level STEM research projects.
Details that will be shared below:
Information about the renowned Summer Science Program
Details to know before applying (Financial Aid, Program Locations)
What to think from SSP’s Acceptance Rate.
What is Summer Science Program (SSP)
SSP is an extremely rigorous and immersive highschool Summer Program where students conduct college level research in projects. Projects could be Asteroid Orbit Determination and Antibiotic Resistance and Directed Evolution. The program is led through small groups and lab stations, with many lectures of professionals in that field.
SSP is also:
a residential enrichment program designed to challenge and inspire talented and motivated high school students (rising seniors) from around the world
one of the longest-running (since 1959) pre-college programs
an immersion into hands-on research
A renowned STEM pre-college research opportunity
Students perform college level research in Astrophysics, Genomics, or BioChemistry.
SSP Program Format
Program Locations
Although 2024 program dates haven’t come out, SSP 2023 operated six programs on five College campuses, including Purdue University + Indiana University.
Prerequisites
SSP is open to current Juniors when applying and exceptional Sophomores. All 3 courses have different prerequisites related to the projects.
Has 2 courses, one open for juniors and another open to sophomores.
Students complete/in progress with courses in physics + pre-calculus.
Open to Juniors or Sophomores.
Students with complete/incourses in biology, chemistry, and strong algebra skills.
Open to Juniors and Sophomores.
Students with complete/incourses in Biology and Algebra 2.
SSP does NOT require AP or advanced level classes.
If you have not taken the required classes, you are not eligible to apply.
Financial Aid/Program Cost
The cost of the program without financial aid is $8,800 (all inclusive, housing). However, financial aid is available to all students based on their household income and individual circumstances.
An applicant with family income:
under about $70,000 will likely qualify for fully discounted fee (SSP is free) and travel expenses
under about $130,000 will likely qualify for a partially discounted fee.
over $130,000 may qualify for a partially discounted fee, depending on individual circumstances
How SSP Acceptance Rate can affect your Summer
With a program of this level and proficiency, students across the world are interested in applying to this program.
In the year 2020:
There were over 1,400 applicants for the SSP.
Only 144 of those applicants get accepted.
SSP Acceptance Rate is barely over 10%.
That is why, even in the official SSP FAQ students, they advise students to have an alternate plan for their summer.
Of course the best effort should be put in an SSP application, however it may be beneficial for students to think about what they may do if they don’t get into the program.
About Inspirit AI
AI Scholars Live Online is a 10 session (25-hour) program that exposes high school students to fundamental AI concepts and guides them to build a socially impactful project. Taught by our team of graduate students from Stanford, MIT, and more, students receive a personalized learning experience in small groups with a student-teacher ratio of 5:1.
