1 person found this review helpful
SUMMER SCIENCE PROGRAM
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November 1, 2012
1 person found this review helpful
Without a doubt, The Summer Science Program changed the trajectory of my life and career -- on multiple occasions.
As a student, I found the program enlightening and eye-opening. Not only did I learn an incredible amount about astronomy, math, and physics, but I found a group of peers who viewed and engaged in the process of learning in ways similar to myself. The academics of the program are vital to its appeal, but, as any attendee will attest, it is the camaraderie and friendships forged over the course of the program that truly change people's lives.
I returned to SSP as a teaching assistant on multiple occasions. Older and wiser, I didn't expect the program to be life-changing again -- but I was wrong. There is something about this program that irreversibly touches everyone it reaches. It is something that cannot be duplicated or imitated. It is a transformative experience for those lucky enough to be involved.
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How would you describe the help you got from this organization?
Life-changing
How likely are you to recommend this organization to a friend?
Definitely
How do you feel you were treated by this organization?
Very Well
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
1 person found this review helpful
November 1, 2012
1 person found this review helpful
I attended SSP at the California campus this summer (2012), and had the experience of a lifetime. My experience there was defined as much by the amazing people I shared those 5 and a half weeks with, as it was by the intense exposure to Astronomy, Physics and Maths. Words truely cannot do this program justice. It only takes a glance to see that alumni from 3-4 decades ago are taking the time year after year to support SSP, all maintaining that the Summer Science Program was one of the most life-changing 5 weeks of their lives.
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Will you volunteer or donate to this organization beyond what is required of board members?
Definitely
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
Life-changing
Will you tell others about this organization?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
1 person found this review helpful
October 31, 2012
1 person found this review helpful
I attended this program during summer of 2012 and those five and a half weeks gave me the most amazing experience of my life. I learned and thrived in a way I had never before, and in a way I thought I never would. Additionally, I had the extraordinary privilege of spending time with some of the most dedicated, fascinating, and diverse people I've ever met. SSP is the highlight of my life and a magnificent program I fully endorse.
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How would you describe the help you got from this organization?
Life-changing
How likely are you to recommend this organization to a friend?
Definitely
How do you feel you were treated by this organization?
Very Well
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
1 person found this review helpful
October 31, 2012
1 person found this review helpful
I was a student in this program during the summer of 2010, and it was a great experience. I was exposed math, computer science and physics that I would otherwise not have seen until attending college at MIT. This program is an amazing chance for bright high school students to meet other people with their interests and learn a ton.
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Will you volunteer or donate to this organization?
Definitely
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
Life-changing
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
2 people found this review helpful
October 27, 2012
2 people found this review helpful
I was a student in 1979 and I can state unequivocally that it was a life changing event. It was the first time that I was truly challenged intellectually, but it was done in a supportive environment, where part of the goal was to learn about personal limits. Like others I learned a tremendous amount of math and science in 6 short weeks, but more than that I got an introduction into the the life of a scientist. A lesson that has stood the test of time. I also met people who have become lifelong friends.
More feedback...
How would you describe the help you got from this organization?
Life-changing
How likely are you to recommend this organization to a friend?
Definitely
How do you feel you were treated by this organization?
Very Well
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
1 person found this review helpful
October 25, 2012
1 person found this review helpful
This program was a tremendous, fast paced, in depth, introduction to astrophysics taught at a level that kept everyone engaged. As students we learned that we could do original research (in this case the determination of an asteroid's orbit) that was meaningful at a global level. The program continues to contribute to our understanding of Near Earth Orbit asteroids today. As students, we met many of the brightest minds among our peers from around the country. With time, the quality of the program and its students has only improved. Run by its alumni, this program has made a difference in young people's lives for over 50 years. I made life long friendships, had great fun, and learned a tremendous amount in a short time.
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How would you describe the help you got from this organization?
Life-changing
How likely are you to recommend this organization to a friend?
Definitely
How do you feel you were treated by this organization?
Very Well
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
1 person found this review helpful
October 25, 2012
1 person found this review helpful
I attended SSP in the 90's. Even though I was then enrolled in a high school known for its excellence in math and science, SSP taught me more in the short 6-weeks than any high school curriculum. The science instruction was hands-on, direct from the source (meaning from enthusiastic, top-rate scientists), and motivating (you had to really work for it). It was also really important to me, as a teenager then, to be put in a position to collaborate with bright and ambitious peers, day in and day out. I learned more from them than I ever thought possible, even as we were working out our differences (ways of thinking, working habits, sleeping habits!). In the long run, this aspect of SSP would stay with me the longest, and I think of it as the most valuable. For this same reason, the human dimension to the learning environment created and fostered at SSP cannot be duplicated in the high school or college classroom. After I got my bachelor degree, I went back to SSP as a TA, and for the first time understood first-hand how much care and attention was put into the work of teaching, directing, and inspiring the students, and I gained even more respect for the faculty back when I was a student. As for myself, despite the fact that I ultimately chose to pursue a career in the humanities rather than the sciences, I will vouch steadfastly that SSP was a life-changing experience.
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How would you describe the help you got from this organization?
Life-changing
How likely are you to recommend this organization to a friend?
Definitely
How do you feel you were treated by this organization?
Very Well
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
1997
1 person found this review helpful
October 25, 2012
1 person found this review helpful
SSP was absolutely life changing. I learned more than I ever thought possible and such in short time and I had the wonderful opportunity of meeting thirty-five of the most brilliant students throughout the US and even some amazing foreign students! SSP made me a better scientist, person, and friend. These were the best six weeks of my life and the best money I ever spent. SSP was worth every penny and much much more, but they were also incredibly generous with financial aid. If you are a high school student interested in math, physics, astronomy, or even just science in general, apply to this program immediately. If you are accepted and decide to attent I guarantee that it will be the most rewarding experience of your life so far.
More feedback...
How would you describe the help you got from this organization?
Life-changing
How likely are you to recommend this organization to a friend?
Definitely
How do you feel you were treated by this organization?
Very Well
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
1 person found this review helpful
October 24, 2012
1 person found this review helpful
SSP is definitely one of the best experiences of my life. I am an alumnus of the 2011 NM session of the camp and I can already tell I've made life long friendships. Take 36 of the best and brightest kids from around the world and stick them together for a few weeks, and you have the recipe for some insane amounts of fun and educational experiences. Of course, it was stressful at times, but as it was noncompetitive, everyone just ends up helping everyone else, which makes the entire experience much more valuable. It solidified my love of science and research and I would strongly recommend it to any other junior who was thinking about a career in science, physics or otherwise.
More feedback...
Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Quite well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
1 person found this review helpful
October 24, 2012
1 person found this review helpful
SSP was the most fantastic experience I've had in my life. It accelerated the personal and academic development of everyone who attended by dropping them into a challenging situation with thirty five other, equally passionate individuals. In fact, it was life-changing in many unexpected ways, from the honest, open conversations we had under the stars to, for some of us, being independent for the first time. We learned the importance of collaboration, the even greater importance of balancing work with fun, met awesome guest speakers, and experienced unsurmontable exhilaration. I would recommend this program to any high school student interested in science and research.
More feedback...
How would you describe the help you got from this organization?
Life-changing
How likely are you to recommend this organization to a friend?
Definitely
How do you feel you were treated by this organization?
Very Well
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
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