Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Is there a minimum age one must be to attend? And is there an age cut-off after which you no longer accept students into the program?
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You must be 16 years old before the beginning of the program in order to attend - no exceptions (Please see University Policy: Guidelines for Mentoring a Minor in the Laboratory). There's no "maximum" age per se, but we stop accepting students once they've entered college. So a graduating high school senior is still eligible to participate.
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- Is there an application fee?
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Not currently. The only costs related to this program you should expect to incur are those for transportation, lunch, and, in a very few cases, housing.
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- When does the program begin/end?
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The program begins roughly at the end of June with Orientation and ends roughly in the middle of August with the Poster Session presentation. It lasts approximately seven weeks. You should be prepared to commit yourself to attendance for the duration.
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- How much lab time can I expect to put in per day/week?
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This is a total-immersion experience, so you can expect to be in the lab five days a week, between the hours of 9am and 5pm. Schedules may vary somewhat from lab to lab, so flexibility is needed.
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- Can I start later or leave earlier than the SSRP's official starting and ending dates?
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Participants are required to attend every day of the program and are not allowed to take time off during the work week for family vacations or college visits. You must be able make a full-time commitment to the program.
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- Is there any time for individual, outside research?
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We expect you to leave your own work at home and concentrate on the work of the lab in which you're placed. There's much to be done, and you'll find that the lab work will really demand all of your attention (we'd be surprised if you had energy left at the end of the day for your own stuff!). Add to this the required STRaW course and Thinking Scientifically seminars, and that's a full load.
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- How much does the program cost?
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The program itself costs nothing. However, depending upon your situation, there may be related travel, meal, or even housing expenses, so please take those into account when applying. For students who demonstrate need, scholarships may be available.
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- Is housing available?
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Unfortunately, no. The Summer Science Research Program does not provide room and board to its participants. Most of our students come from the New York Metropolitan area and commute to campus from home. If you live too far to commute, you'll have to secure your own lodgings.
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- Are scholarships available?
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Scholarships are typically provided to students who are experiencing financial hardship or who are in need of financial aid and who meet all the attendance and research requirements of the SSRP.
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- Can I apply to the program if I live outside the United States?
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We no longer accept applicants who live outside of the Tri-State area (NY, NJ, CT). There are no exceptions to this rule.
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- Are there any minimum GPA or curriculum requirements?
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No, but we seek students who achieve at a high level, and most accepted students rank in the top 10% of their class.
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- Can I submit my SSRP research findings/poster/research report to a science fair not affiliated with The Rockefeller University?
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Any scientific work you complete is the property of your host lab and is, in some cases, highly confidential. Therefore, any scientific communication from the lab - verbal, written, or digital - must be made with the advice and consent of the laboratory head and your day-to-day mentor. If you have any questions about this, it is very important that you discuss this with your mentor.
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