For Parents & Families
We understand that the idea of your child traveling away from home may be intimidating. You may also have a lot of questions on whether their transportation and accommodation needs will be met. We hope these answers to commonly asked questions can ease your mind and give us your trust to take part in your child’s future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Participants’ health and safety are our highest priorities. Summer Science Program follows all minor protection policies as required by the college campus or state. In addition, we have our own policies and procedures in place to protect our participants, which are often more stringent. Four teaching assistants and residential mentors live in the dorms with the participants, and the site director manages all residential life concerns.
Summer Science Program does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender, national origin, religion, or disability. We are able to provide reasonable accommodations for many circumstances. Please contact admissions@ssp.org to discuss possible accommodations.
Yes, Summer Science Program faculty will meet all participants who arrive by air at the designated airport on the designated day and time. Flights that are delayed on travel day will be accommodated on a case-by-case basis. A chartered bus or van will provide transportation for the group from the airport to campus and back to the airport on departure day. The site director of each program will send an introductory email to you and your child before arrival with specific instructions for finding the group at the airport and will provide a means to be in touch with everyone arriving.
Summer Science Program faculty are trained in basic first aid, CPR, and have 24/7 access to a nurse for consultation. Per Summer Science Program’s policy, nurse recommendations for treatment are always followed. We do not provide nor require medical insurance for participants, and parents are responsible for the cost of all medical treatment. Read more about Health and Safety on this page.
In rare circumstances, we may send a participant home for chronic or severe violations. Each admitted participant receives a handbook, ensuring that rules and expectations are clearly defined and agreed upon before arrival. Moreover, any serious infractions are discussed with the participants and their parents before any action is taken.
Yes. Participants share a room and bathroom with another participant of the same gender. Universities provide varying levels of separation based on gender – sometimes in a different building, on a different floor, or in the wing of the same building.
If you have further questions or concerns, know that we are able to provide reasonable accommodations for many circumstances. Please contact admissions@ssp.org to discuss possible accommodations.
Typically, only participants arriving by car are accompanied by their parents. Participants are not permitted to drive themselves to campus. If flying, parents may choose to accompany their child, but the Summer Science Program cannot provide financial assistance for parent airfare nor provide ground transportation for parents. Most participants fly on their own, however. Our faculty and staff will provide specific instructions for communicating during travel day to provide support to participant travelers as needed until they’ve connected with the group.
Each program has one designated Sunday, around the middle of the program, when family may visit or take their teen off campus. The site director will provide more information to make arrangements if you choose to visit on this designated day.
Yes, there is a brief ceremony on the morning of departure, which families are welcome to attend.
We do not directly communicate with admissions offices on behalf of alumni. However, the Summer Science Program supplies alumni with a letter of completion, and academic faculty are often willing to provide letters of recommendation for participants. Additionally, all participants are eligible to participate in SSP Connect, a mentorship program pairing our most recent participants with young alumni in college to help them navigate the college admissions process.
"This was Jia's first time being away from home for five weeks, and naturally, we had our concerns. We worried about how she would manage-whether she would eat well, sleep well, or feel homesick.However, our worries quickly faded as we saw how well she adapted. Jia not only made a lot of new friends but also learned valuable life skills like doing her own laundry and navigating challenging situations with confidence. When she returned, her grandmother was amazed at how much more independent she had become. Jia was more respectful, thoughtful, and mature. We are truly grateful for the incredible experience SSP has provided. It played a significant role in helping Jia grow into amore self-sufficient and considerate young person.”
"Our son Colton attended SSP this summer and he said it was by far the best experience of his life. Where we live is not particularly diverse and SSP brought together kids from geographically and culturally different backgrounds and the experience really opened his eyes to the world. I suspect Colton thought SSP would be dry, but the mixture of academics and outside activities was just the right blend. The content was challenging and pushed him intellectually but he found it incredibly stimulating. He was very impressed by the intellectual abilities of the fellow participants and has continued to maintain contact with them since his departure. He wished the program was actually longer. It was only by accident that we discovered the program, but we are so glad we did.”
First I wanted to say BIG THANK YOU to you and the financial aid committee of SSP for making this program possible for my son. I am a single mother who wouldn’t be able to afford the program tuition and you granted Alex full scholarship covering not only his whole stay and program fees worth of $8,800 but also covering his airfare both ways and giving him spending money of $150. This made his participation in this amazing program possible. Alex has made so many lifetime friends in SSP. Not only he learned so much in the lab and with the professors, but he also had so much fun experiences during the field trips and socializing with his friends there. He is missing his friends but he talks to them every day. This really is a lifetime experience. The SSP staff is also amazing and very supportive. The whole program is very well run and organized with great communication. THANK YOU SSP for giving this once in a lifetime experience to my son.”