Do you want to have “the educational experience of a lifetime?” Because that’s what students like you have reported after attending SSP (the Summer Science Program)!
Of course, from that description, you can probably also imagine the SSP is one of the most competitive summer programs for high school students! (And you’re right—it is.)
Securing a spot can be nearly as challenging as being admitted to an elite Ivy League school. Still, if you’re an ambitious student passionate about cutting-edge STEM research, it’s worth taking a shot at the application.
The Summer Science Program can add academic distinction to your college applications, lead to a stellar recommendation letter, offer you experience that helps to refine your career goals and interests, and help you gain a clearer understanding of what it takes to become a professional scientist.
Excited and ready to apply? Great—read this guide first. We’ll teach you everything you need to know to ensure you’re eligible and capable of crafting a standout application.
What is SSP—the Summer Science Program?
The Summer Science Program is an immersive summer research program for high school students interested in astrophysics, biochemistry, genomics, and more. Since its foundation in 1959 as an independent nonprofit, the Summer Science Program has provided opportunities for 3,500+ students worldwide to engage in hands-on, original research projects.
The SSP also boasts some impressive university affiliations: The program usually occurs at elite colleges like the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Georgetown University, New Mexico State University, Purdue University, Indiana University, University of Colorado at Boulder, Southeastern Oklahoma State University and Georgia College & State University. Several professors from those and other top-ranking universities typically serve as the summer program’s course lecturers as well.
Does attending the Summer Science Program guarantee you admission to those elite colleges? Nope. But it can generally help strengthen your college applications.
Hundreds of SSP alums have gone on to enroll as undergraduate students at those elite colleges, in part thanks to the program’s prestige and rigorous curriculum.
(For a comprehensive guide to extracurricular activities such as the SSP, and how they play into the college application process, check out that link.)
What do students do in the Summer Science Program?
The Summer Science Program gives students the opportunity to learn from and collaborate with a diverse, intellectual, and exceptionally brilliant group of peers and faculty.
How exactly?
When you apply to the SSP summer program, you’ll select which type of research project you’re most interested in learning about six days a week.
You’ll learn through experimental science classes, lab sessions, and guest lectures. Once or twice a week, you'll also go on field trips to local scientific, cultural, or recreational destinations.
To give you an idea of their research projects, here are the projects completed by students in the 2023 program:
(Astrophysics) Asteroid Orbit Determination: Students learned about celestial coordinates, how to interpret an ephemeris to select a near-earth asteroid to study, how to write an “observing proposal” to submit to an observatory, and more.
(Biochemistry) Fungal Inhibitor Design: Students conducted original research and worked in teams to design a molecule that could safely protect crops from a specific fungus.
(Genomics) Antibiotic Resistance & Directed Evolution: Students stimulated the evolution of antibiotic resistance in a safe, controlled culture, then sequenced its genome and analyzed the acquired mutations.
(Side note: those all sound rad.)
No matter the program, you’ll work and live closely with small groups of other highly motivated students from around the world.
By the end of the program, you’ll have gained a greater understanding of what goes into scientific research, a broader perspective of the world, and the skills needed to excel in college STEM majors and courses.
SSP eligibility
Does the Summer Science Program sound like a good opportunity for you? Let’s make sure you’re eligible! The SSP only accepts applicants who:
Are current high school juniors or exceptional sophomores
Will be 15-19 years old during the summer program
Have completed the coursework prerequisites
For example, here’s info on the current coursework prerequisites.
| SSP Research Focus | Year in School (When Applying) | Coursework Prerequisites (In Progress or Completed by June of the Program Year) |
|---|---|---|
| Astrophysics | junior (11th grade) | physics (any level high school physics) + precalculus (or if you don’t have physics, calculus) |
| Astrophysics | sophomore (10th grade) | physics (any level) + calculus |
| Biochemistry | junior or sophomore | biology + chemistry + strong algebra skills |
| Genomics | junior or sophomore | biology + Algebra II |
| Synthetic Chemistry | junior or sophomore | chemistry + strong algebra skills |
SSP’s application requirements
Here’s everything that you’ll need to complete the SSP application requirements:
Application form (basic contact, school, and family information)
Several short essays about you and your academic interests
At least two teacher evaluations (a third evaluation is optional)
Your official high school transcript
Financial aid application (optional, after being admitted)
You can complete all parts of the SSP application online.
Here also are two resources to help you write these kinds of short answer essays and get top-notch recommendation letters:
We created those resources primarily for high school seniors applying for college, but most of the information and insights also apply to this type of highly selective summer program application.
How to apply: Summer Science Program application timeline
Exact application dates vary from year to year. But the application timeline for the Summer Science Program tends to be as follows:
Late December: The SSP application opens.
Mid-February: The SSP application closes.
Mid-Late February: The financial aid application closes.
Mid-April: Admissions decisions finalized.
Mid-Late June: The programs start.
Make sure to check the program website for the official application timeline during the year you plan to apply. The program has a strict policy against accepting late application materials.
Summer Science Program costs + financial aid
It’s free to apply for the Summer Science Program, but the total cost of attendance is currently $8,800. But if that’s more than your family can afford, don’t worry. You should still apply!
Everyone who receives an offer to attend the Summer Science Program can apply for need-based financial aid before enrolling. And thanks to donations from the program’s alums, board members, and supporters, the financial aid is actually quite generous!
SSP provides financial aid grants meeting 100% of a student’s demonstrated need, including room & board, tuition, supplies, local transportation, round-trip airfare, and any additional travel expenses.
The program evaluates financial aid applications by considering all relevant circumstances. However, the general guidelines for determining the distribution of financial assistance are as follows.
An applicant with family income:
under about $75,000 will likely qualify for a fully discounted fee (the Summer Science Program is free), and travel expenses
under about $140,000 will likely qualify for a partially discounted fee
over $140,000 may be eligible for a partially discounted fee, depending on individual circumstances
Amazing bonus: The program also offers a limited number of $3,000 stipends to students who would otherwise need to work during the summer.
Key Takeaways
The Summer Science Program isn’t your typical summer program for high school students: It’s a rigorous STEM research program that will challenge you to collaborate with other motivated teens and complete an original research project.
Given the Summer Science Program’s prestige and generous financial aid, it’s also highly competitive!
You can give yourself the best shot at being admitted by carefully following the application instructions and deadlines. You can also use the resources provided in this guide to enhance your application materials.
Are you still searching for the best way to spend your summer vacation and prepare for college applications? Read this guide next: How to Spend Your High School Summer.
Special thanks to Ameer Drane for writing this blog post
Ameer is a freelance writer who specializes in writing about college admissions and career development. Prior to freelancing, Ameer worked for three years as a college admissions consultant at a Hong Kong-based education center, helping local high school students prepare and apply for top colleges and universities in the US. He has a B.A. in Latin American Studies from the University of Chicago and an M.A. in Spanish Linguistics from UCLA. When he’s not working, Ameer loves traveling, weight lifting, writing, reading, and learning foreign languages. He currently lives in Bangkok, Thailand.
Top values: Growth / Diversity / Empathy
