Anonymous
Post 01/22/2026 18:54     Subject: Re:SSP, governor's school type summer programs vs. working
Anonymous wrote:Would love to hear more about SSP - my daughter is very interested in the program. I understand the acceptance rate is only about 10-15% - any tips for her application? She has an unweighted 4.0, 1550 SAT, AP Calc BC (5) - so has the academic credentials . . .but no research experience to speak of.


My DC had no research experience and was accepted. They said it seemed that SSP was a blend of kids that had research experience and kid that had none. A classmate with a bit stronger stats, higher rigor applied also but was rejected. So, it is a little like selective college admissions.
Anonymous
Post 01/22/2026 18:36     Subject: Re:SSP, governor's school type summer programs vs. working
Would love to hear more about SSP - my daughter is very interested in the program. I understand the acceptance rate is only about 10-15% - any tips for her application? She has an unweighted 4.0, 1550 SAT, AP Calc BC (5) - so has the academic credentials . . .but no research experience to speak of.
Anonymous
Post 01/22/2026 18:10     Subject: SSP, governor's school type summer programs vs. working
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:For people who say their kids attended SSP and got into HYP, do you think it's more likely because 1) colleges like the same top kids prescreened by SSP selection criteria, or 2) top colleges value the research and teamwork experience these applicants had at SSP?

If it's 2), wouldn't a kid who has done real research, perhaps even longer than 5 week, offer the same qualities? Not everyone can afford the $11k program.

Yes. If the kid can publish a high quality paper as a result of the research, it would be a big spike. If not, how do they differentiate you from pay to play research?

At SSP, kids actually don't do research in the traditional sense. The experiments are designed by SSP, the kids work on the experiments as a group. The nuance is that (1) SSP is a vetted process, colleges can at least partially rely on this screening. (2) SSP is huge for URM, FG, and LI, and SSP recruits a lot. HYP will take these kids in a second.


My SSP kid was rejected SCEA at one HYP. Hoping for better results in RD.


DP: my SSP kid was also rejected early at HYP. Good luck to both of our kids for the RD round!!!
Anonymous
Post 01/22/2026 18:04     Subject: SSP, governor's school type summer programs vs. working
Definitely not working unless they are FGLI.

No one's impressed by stealing someone's job for play money.
Anonymous
Post 01/22/2026 17:39     Subject: SSP, governor's school type summer programs vs. working
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:For people who say their kids attended SSP and got into HYP, do you think it's more likely because 1) colleges like the same top kids prescreened by SSP selection criteria, or 2) top colleges value the research and teamwork experience these applicants had at SSP?

If it's 2), wouldn't a kid who has done real research, perhaps even longer than 5 week, offer the same qualities? Not everyone can afford the $11k program.

Yes. If the kid can publish a high quality paper as a result of the research, it would be a big spike. If not, how do they differentiate you from pay to play research?

At SSP, kids actually don't do research in the traditional sense. The experiments are designed by SSP, the kids work on the experiments as a group. The nuance is that (1) SSP is a vetted process, colleges can at least partially rely on this screening. (2) SSP is huge for URM, FG, and LI, and SSP recruits a lot. HYP will take these kids in a second.


My SSP kid was rejected SCEA at one HYP. Hoping for better results in RD.
Anonymous
Post 01/22/2026 16:42     Subject: SSP, governor's school type summer programs vs. working
Anonymous wrote:For people who say their kids attended SSP and got into HYP, do you think it's more likely because 1) colleges like the same top kids prescreened by SSP selection criteria, or 2) top colleges value the research and teamwork experience these applicants had at SSP?

If it's 2), wouldn't a kid who has done real research, perhaps even longer than 5 week, offer the same qualities? Not everyone can afford the $11k program.

Yes. If the kid can publish a high quality paper as a result of the research, it would be a big spike. If not, how do they differentiate you from pay to play research?

At SSP, kids actually don't do research in the traditional sense. The experiments are designed by SSP, the kids work on the experiments as a group. The nuance is that (1) SSP is a vetted process, colleges can at least partially rely on this screening. (2) SSP is huge for URM, FG, and LI, and SSP recruits a lot. HYP will take these kids in a second.
Anonymous
Post 01/22/2026 16:23     Subject: SSP, governor's school type summer programs vs. working
FWIW, my kiddo did gov school and just got into her SCEA school. Also had an amazing experience! Gov school was pretty low on the activities list though, so probably not a huge differentiator.
Anonymous
Post 01/22/2026 16:03     Subject: SSP, governor's school type summer programs vs. working
For people who say their kids attended SSP and got into HYP, do you think it's more likely because 1) colleges like the same top kids prescreened by SSP selection criteria, or 2) top colleges value the research and teamwork experience these applicants had at SSP?

If it's 2), wouldn't a kid who has done real research, perhaps even longer than 5 week, offer the same qualities? Not everyone can afford the $11k program.
Anonymous
Post 01/22/2026 14:56     Subject: SSP, governor's school type summer programs vs. working
Anonymous wrote:Don't have advice for you, but want to share that my son attended SSP Astrophysics this past summer. He had a lot of fun at the camp - the friends he made, activities, etc. The social aspect of the camp was amazing.

he did the research (wasn't too hard, according to him), learned Python programming and how to operate a telescope.

you can't go wrong with SSP. Also very, very generous financial aid.


Does he know where he’s going to
College yet?
Anonymous
Post 01/22/2026 14:17     Subject: SSP, governor's school type summer programs vs. working
Don't have advice for you, but want to share that my son attended SSP Astrophysics this past summer. He had a lot of fun at the camp - the friends he made, activities, etc. The social aspect of the camp was amazing.

he did the research (wasn't too hard, according to him), learned Python programming and how to operate a telescope.

you can't go wrong with SSP. Also very, very generous financial aid.
Anonymous
Post 01/22/2026 08:24     Subject: SSP, governor's school type summer programs vs. working
It’s what you make of each program/work opportunity. DC went to Gov School, weaved into overall college narrative based on output from the summer…now at a HYP.
Anonymous
Post 01/22/2026 00:00     Subject: SSP, governor's school type summer programs vs. working
Governor’s school
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2026 23:36     Subject: SSP, governor's school type summer programs vs. working
Anonymous wrote:Which is more appealing to admissions officers?

Context: for a kid who will likely major in chem, physics or bio who will be applying to mostly T25 based on comparable profiles on scoir and college counselor's list. "Working" would mean a combination of half day at a paid part-time job (typically teen job) and the other half interning at a research lab (real research, data collection, analysis, etc., not the type you buy from a professor or arranged by private consultants).


It might be helpful to check out where SSP sent their kids:
https://www.instagram.com/ssp24decisions/
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2026 23:30     Subject: SSP, governor's school type summer programs vs. working
Which is more appealing to admissions officers?

Context: for a kid who will likely major in chem, physics or bio who will be applying to mostly T25 based on comparable profiles on scoir and college counselor's list. "Working" would mean a combination of half day at a paid part-time job (typically teen job) and the other half interning at a research lab (real research, data collection, analysis, etc., not the type you buy from a professor or arranged by private consultants).