Summer Science & Engineering Program

Summer Science and Engineering Program (SSEP)

The Smith Summer Science and Engineering Program (SSEP) is designed for exceptional high school students with strong interests in science and engineering. Engage in hands-on research with Smith faculty in life and physical sciences and in engineering. Established in 1990, the program annually serves more than 100 students. Since its inception, nearly 1,800 students have participated, representing 46 states and 53 countries. After the program, participants return to high school better prepared to tackle tough science courses and understand what to expect in college.

Smith College is among the top-rated liberal arts colleges in the United States and one of the nation's largest colleges dedicated solely to the education of women. The Smith science faculty employs some of the finest researchers and teachers in the country. In 1999 Smith became the first women's college in the nation to establish its own program in engineering science, the Picker Engineering Program.

Central to the program is a learning environment that is rich in role models. SSEP offers hands-on, cooperative, investigative, and challenging learning—where girls get all of the faculty's attention as well as the opportunities and encouragement to achieve their best. Smith undergraduate students with science majors also serve as teaching assistants.

Research Courses

Unlike regular school classes, SSEP research courses emphasize asking questions and learning by doing, not only by listening and watching.

Students choose two two-week research courses; in these, groups of up to 17 students work alongside Smith faculty members, assisted by undergraduate interns. Informal lectures in the laboratory and out in the field encourage students to ask research questions, and they learn to conduct actual experiments. Most of the work is carried out as a cooperative team effort, with ample opportunities for individual contributions. SSEP participants learn how scientists and engineers formulate questions, work on amazingly sophisticated scientific instruments, and develop valuable critical thinking and analytical skills.

Summer Precollege Programs at Smith College offers intellectually stimulating and unique opportunities for high school young women who wish to pursue their academic interests in the classroom and beyond. Every year these programs offer more than 200 young women the freedom to explore challenging and intriguing subjects, to strengthen their college applications and to sample the Smith undergraduate experience while living and studying with other motivated and ambitious students from around the world. Smith welcomes to these programs young women from many nationalities and diverse racial and socioeconomic backgrounds who together form an extraordinary intellectual community. The learning environment is hands-on, collaborative, exploratory, challenging and rich in role models. Smith faculty members offer personal attention in the classroom while encouraging students’ interests and passions and helping them develop new academic skills. Students take courses and workshops throughout each day and can choose from a variety of organized cultural, social, athletic and artistic activities at night and on the weekends. Here young women are taken seriously and inspired to excel—as scholars, scientists, writers, researchers, and leaders.

For International Students

Smith College Precollege Programs welcomes international students each year from around the world into our programs. You'll find that our small classes, similar to the undergraduate experience at Smith, offer exceptional learning in an environment where women are taken seriously and inspired to excel as leaders. Smith is located in the northeastern region of the United States, an area with some of the highest concentrations of international students anywhere in the country.

Life at Smith

A big part of your experience will be getting a real feel for college life and independent living. Immerse yourself in a campus setting that will inspire you, with the added benefit of caring supervision and guidance from a residential director and interns.

Live & Eat on Campus

Enjoy a room in one of Smith's beautiful houses, each with a living room that serves as a great home base. Students stay in Talbot, Lamont, Gillett and Northrop houses. Smith houses have single and double rooms, and most participants will have a roommate.

Each house has its own dining hall, and Smith's food is delicious and nutritious. Three meals a day are provided. The Dining Services staff accommodate gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan diets. They also work with participants who have other dietary restrictions.

A Typical Day

Classes go from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. After that, you can use all of the campus facilities (Smith has two gymnasiums, an indoor pool, indoor and outdoor track and tennis facilities, squash courts, dance studio, croquet court, and a fitness center. Smith is also home to a distinguished art museum, an award-winning botanic garden, and greenhouse), and go on field trips that are included as part of your tuition (music, theater) for afternoons, evenings and weekends. There is always an organized activity to join—or you can spend time with your friends from the program. Each program offers some of its own activities outside of the classroom, but we also plan activities that all students will want to participate in. There are also optional getaways, which require a separate fee.

CONTACT

Office of Summer Programs

30 Belmont Avenue Smith College Northampton MA 01063

Phone: 413-585-4455 Fax: 413-585-4344