Q) What are the dates for the 2009 Summer Scholar Programs?

A) 2009 SSP starts on Saturday, June 27, 2009 (check-in), and ends on Friday, July 17, 2009 (check-out).

Q) What are the admission criteria?

A) Students will need to have completed their sophomore or junior year and have at least a B average (3.0 on a 4.0 grading scale). Weighted grade point averages are also considered. Students will also need to submit their official high school transcript, a teacher's recommendation letter, a personal essay of introduction and interest, and pay an application fee.

Q) If I attend the program, do I have to live on campus?

A) By demand, we are offering the commuting students option this year. Students can either live on or off campus during the three-week program. Commuters will enjoy the same benefits as the students living on campus.

Q) When are acceptance decisions made and when will I hear from the SSP? 

A) Students will be notified by mail as soon as the Admission Committee reads application files only after all completed forms, including the teacher's recommendation letter, the most recent transcript, the letter of interest and the nonrefundable $35 application fee ($40 for international students). Admission decisions will start on or after November 15, 2008. Once an application is complete, it takes approximately 10 business days for a decision to be made and recorded.

Q) How much does the program cost?

A) Tuition is $4,400 for commuter students and $5,340 for residential students. The tuition includes the textbooks, printed materials, instructional supplies, residence hall lodging for residential only, meals, field trips, access to the health center (physician's office) and fitness center, weekend excursions and extracurricular activities. Commuter students will have one meal/day (lunch), and will not have access to the fitness center, health center and will not participate in the weekend field trips.  

Q) Is financial assistance available?

A) No financial aid is available this year.

Q) Can students participate in the program more than once?

A) Yes, as long as they are not currently a senior in high school and they select a different program than the previous summer. The application process for new and returning students is the same. Spots in the individual programs are not guaranteed; students' credentials must fulfill the prerequisites for the program.  

Q) What are the admission and payment deadlines?

Applications and all supporting documents must be received prior May 1, 2009.

Admission decisions for complete files are made on a rolling basis beginning November 15, 2008.*

Applications are considered in the order that they are received until spaces are filled. 

$500 deposit is due within 10 days of receipt of the acceptance letter.

Applicants who fail to do so will forfeit their reserved space.

* A complete file contains the application, application fee of $35 ($40 for international students), official high school transcript, letter of recommendation and application essay.

Q) What are the cancellation and refund policies?

A) The nonrefundable $35 application fee ($40 for international students) will be refunded to those applicants who have been denied admission to a program. Applicants who withdraw from programs prior to May 12, 2009 will receive a full refund of all payments beyond the application fee. Students who withdraw after May 12, 2009 will forfeit their $500 deposit. The reserves the right to cancel any program for insufficient enrollment or because of events beyond our control. In such cases, applicants will be considered for their second choice or given a refund of all fees and deposits. All programs are subject to change without notice.

Q) Will students earn college credit?

A) All programs except, Marine Science and Writer's symposium receive six credits upon successful completion of the program. Students who successfully complete Marine Science earn 4-5 credits and Writer's Symposium earn 3 credits. Courses are graded on the letter system of A, B, C, D, and F and will be recorded on the official transcript. Credits earned at the Summer Scholar Programs are generally accepted by most colleges and universities. However, it is up to the discretion of the institution. Students are advised to check with the college they plan to attend and keep all course syllabi for future reference.

Q) Where will students attend classes?

A)  Depending on the program of study, students will have class on one of the three campuses. While most programs will have classes on the main Coral Gables campus, Health and Medicine students may have the opportunity to study at the Miller School of Medicine in downtown Miami and Marine Science students may have classes at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences which is located on Virginia Key (~ 15 minutes from our main campus). All program classes are led by a distinguished faculty member of the corresponding department and will consist of a lecture and applied learning.

Q) Will attending the Summer Scholar Programs help me when I apply to the University of Miami?

A) The experience is a very valuable one. However, admission to the Summer Scholar Programs does NOT guarantee admission to the University of Miami. 

Q) Where do students live while on campus?

A) Students will stay in a residence hall located on the University of Miami main campus located in beautiful and historic Coral Gables. The accommodations include: telephone, internet hookup, desks, beds and bureaus for both students in each room. Students will also have access to laundry facilities, vending machines, and lounges located in the building. The meal plan provides three meals a day, Monday through Friday, and two meals on Saturday and Sunday. Boxed lunches are provided for off-campus field trips.

Q) Do students are offered Kosher food?

A) Kosher meals are not available with the meal plan, but a new Kosher Deli, called Oasis opened up on the main campus this year and serves top quality strictly Kosher food. The Oasis serves as a retail food establishment, offering a variety of Glatt Kosher food from breakfast to dinner, and for takeout.   

Q) What is a typical day like for Summer Scholars?

A) Students are in academic classes from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. five days a week, with breaks for lunch between 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and dinner between 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. The classes offer hands-on exposure to the subject matter, which may include field trips and or guest lecturers. Students are required to be in the halls by 10 p.m. During breaks, students are allowed to attend social functins, hold study sessions, work independently on assignments, make use of the campus facilities such as the library, wellness center (campus recreational gym), pool, or visit the shops across the street from campus. Off-campus activities take place on the weekend on a voluntary basis.

Q) Is students safety a priority for our students?

A)The safety of Summer Scholar participants is our primary concern. Students traveling alone by airplane will be greeted at Miami Int'l Airport by university staff. Security at UM operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Trained police and securiy officers from the department of Public Safety patrol the campus. Residence halls are equipped with electronic access systems that restrict entry to residents only and the front desks are staffed around the clock. Resident Assistants live on the same floor with the students. In addition, faculty supervise all field trips, and resident assistants and staff chaperone all social events.

Q) What is our policy on rules and disciplines?

A) Offenses involving a student's integrity, social offenses that threaten the well-being of other individuals, or continued infractions that indicate an unwillingness to come to terms with the demands of the Summer Scholar Programs all may lead to dismissal. The Summer Scholar Programs takes special care to address issues associated with alcohol and illegal drugs, both of which are forbidden.

Q) What services are available for students with disabilities?

A) Individuals with disabilities are guaranteed certain protections and rights to equal access to programs and services under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Students should contact our office for the appropriate documentation and instruction for special accommodations.

Q) Can students leave campus?

A) Students may sign out in groups to go to the shops across the street, but are not allowed to leave campus on their own. Parents are allowed to sign for an adult over the age of 18 to pick up the student for the weekend. Students are also NOT allowed to have a car on campus. There are many activities planned for the students so they can experience South Florida. Some past activities have included outings to the Florida Everglades and a Florida Marlins game. Students will also have the opportunity to participate in activities including: intramural sports, socials, visitors from the University of Miami Office of Admission and other activities facilitated by the Community Assistants.

Q) Do most of the parents accompany students?

A) Families who live within a 4 -5 hour drive of the University of Miami usually will bring their children because students are not allowed to have a car on campus. Those who are out of state or country typically travel alone, but our staff greets them at the Miami International Airport.

Q) Should I bring a computer?

A) Students are not required to bring a personal computer from home, since there are available at the library. However, most students who did not bring their laptop, wish they had. On the one hand, it will be very easy to do your homework at any time of the day, especially after curfew.

Q) May students choose their roommates?

A) If a student already knows another participant of the same gender and would like to room with him/her, both students will need to submit a letter stating that they wish to room together. Only students can make this request. Otherwise, participants will be matched randomly by gender depending on their program of study. We try to make the SSP experience as much like a first-year college experience as possible and part of that experience is learning to live with new people.

Additional questions? Contact the SSP Office, at tel: (305)284-6107 or (305)284-5078. Our e-mail address is ssp.cstudies@miami.edu