My Nonprofit Reviews

SSP was a truly transformative experience! 11/10 would recommend!! :D

Earlier this year, during my frantic search for a summer program to apply to, I stumbled across SSP. After looking at the website and their programs, I was immediately hooked; all 3 programs seemed like incredible summer opportunities! I was absolutely elated when I got accepted to the program, and reflecting back on that moment now, I laugh at how blissfully ignorant I was of the struggles that I would face. I was completely unprepared for the rigor and difficulty, and for the first week of SSP, I struggled with imposter syndrome and a lot of self-doubt. However, my new friends and the amazing TA's helped me realize that struggle isn't a sign of incompetence, but rather a sign of effort. They taught me a lot about resilience, which I hope to carry those lessons with me for the rest of my life.

As for the non-academic stuff: I know this sounds absolutely cliche, but the highlight of my experience was truly the people! I think we all came into this thinking it would be nerd-camp, and to some degree it was (there is no denying that we're all nerds), but it was also so much more than that. Despite being in such a rigorous and selective program, we embraced collaboration and lifted each other up. From late nights in the classroom to midnight ramen breaks, we found all kinds of ways to bond, including our shared love for astrophysics.

My time at SSP was truly the "educational experience of a lifetime"!!