Year-Round Honors Science Program at Columbia University
By Zara Jamshed
The Columbia Science Honors Program (SHP) offers a unique opportunity provided by Columbia University for high school students interested in science and mathematics a chance to go into a higher level of education in this year-round course. The classes are two and half hours long every Saturday throughout the school year from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm. There are a wide variety of courses available from Organic Chemistry to Computer Programming in Java to Astronomy and Astrophysics, even Number Theory and Exploring Black Holes. The program itself is free of charge, which sets the admissions standards incredibly high.
The application process is similar to that of applying to university. Students are required to fill out an online application the year before they hope to take the courses. The application consists of a high school grade transcript, a letter of recommendation from a math or science teacher as well as a personal essay on the student’s love for science and why he or she would appreciate this opportunity.
In addition to the written application, students who wish to participate in the SHP must take an entrance examination at Columbia University. The test is three hours long and consists of questions in various fields of mathematics, such as trigonometry, algebra, geometry and probability. There are also a series of basic questions in the environmental and earth sciences, as well as biology, chemistry and physics. The test is quite challenging, so Columbia is really looking for the best and brightest to participate in the program.
For high-school students in the tri-state area, the opportunity is incredible. To have classes in an Ivy League university campus without paying more than 20 dollars as an application fee is almost unreal. Applications for the 2012-2013 school year are available online.#
