Application Process

Q) What are the dates for the Summer Scholar Programs (SSP) 2010?
A) June 26, 2010 - July 16, 2010.

Q) When is the deadline for applying?
A) Applications are accepted from November 15, 2009 until May 1, 2010. Applications received after the deadline will be reviewed based on program availability.

Q) What are the application criteria?
A) Students who are interested in this program must submit an application, a personal essay of interest, one teacher recommendation, an official transcript, and must have a least a 3.0 grade point average (based on a 4.0 scale).

Q) Can international students apply or is this program only for domestic students?
A) International and Domestic students are welcome and encouraged to apply for the program.

Q) Are commuter student accepted into this program?
A) Yes, commuter students are welcomed as long as off campus arrangements are made by the student and/or guardian. Ideally those who choose this option should have a Florida residence located in either Miami-Dade or Broward counties. We strongly encourage that commuter students reside with family or family friends who are over the age of 21. Commuter students are no longer the responsiblity of the Universty of Miami, once they leave campus (unless they are on a program sponsored activity).

 

Q) Where should the application materials be mailed?
A) All materians must be mailed to the following address

Summer Scholar Programs
University of Miami
PO Box 248005
Coral Gables, FL 33124-1610

or

Summer Scholar Programs
University of Miami
212 Allen Hall
5050 Brunson Drive
Miami, FL 33146

 

If counselors or teachers send documents separately (transcripts or recommendations), they SHOULD NOT be sent to the University of Miami Office of Amission. This will delay the admission decision of the student file and it may not be reviewed at all.

Q) When will my file be reviewed for admission to the program?
A) A file will be reviewed once all items have been received at the program office (application, applicaton fee, essay, transcript, and corresponding recommendation(s). Please allow at least 7 business days for the file to be reviewed once it has been recieved in the office.

Q) Will students be notified of missing application documents?
A) Generally, no. The purpose of our application process is get the students aquainted with the college application process that they will have to go through very soon. Making sure that the file is complete is strictly up to the students and parents.

Q) When are students notified of their acceptance?
A) Students are notified of their acceptance via email and postal mail if they have been accepted. Should a student be denied admission, he or she will only be notified via postal mail.

Academics

Q) What school supplies should students bring?
A) Students should bring anything that they would use during the normal academic year like paper, pens, pencils, backpacks, and folders. Specialty items like graphing calulators may be needed; hwoever, this information will be communicated to the students prior to their arrival on campus.

Q) Will students have to purchase books for class?
A)  No. Books are provided to students by the program.

 

Q) Do students earn academic credit?
A) Yes, students will earn college credit and grades that will be part of their official record at the University of Miami.

Q) What does the student's official record consists of at the University of Miami?
A) The student record includes the classes taken, grades earned, corresponding grades, and the grade point average (semester average and cumulative average). This information is permanent. The grades earned during the program will be included in the calculation of the student's overall academic record should they gain entrance to the university as an undergraduate student.

 

Q) Can this credit be used at other colleges or as high school credit?
A) Yes, students can petition to use this credit at other universities, colleges, or  high schools. Students must request an official trancsript to be mailed to the institution that will apply the credit. It is the sole descretion of the receiving institution to accept and apply the credit. Students should keep transcripts and graded work as in many cases, the receiving institution will request that documentation. These documents are not gauranteed to be housed with the Summer Scholar Programs office.

Q) Are transcripts provided to students?
A) An unofficial grade report will be mailed home after the summer semester has official ended (usually around September). Official transcripts must be requested by downloading the Transcript Request Form that must be then mailed or faxed to the Office of the Registrar.This form SHOULD NOT be mailed to the Summer Scholar Programs office; the address where the form should be mailed is on the form. If students need official transcripts for their college applications, it is recommended that they submit requests atleast a month prior to the application deadline of the college/university to which they are applying.

Q) Will attending the program help students if they apply to the University of Miami?
A) The University of Miami welcomes Summer Scholar participants to apply as undergraduates; however, attending the program does not guarantee admission nor is special consideration given to Summer Scholar Program alumni.

 

Tuition

Q) What is the cost of the program?
A) There are two program cost. The residential program tuition fee is $5,570 and the commuter program fee is $4,570. Each program includes a $500 confirmation deposit.

 

Q) I am a University of Miami employee; can I use my tuition benefits?
A) University employees are welcome to have their son or daughter apply to the program. Tuition remission is not available for this program; however, there is a discount if the student wants to attend the program as a commuter student. The Employee Dependent Commuter Student fee is $3,970 and the student must be registered with Benefits Administration as a dependent. The C #'s of both the employee and the student should be noted on the student's application.

Q) What does the program fee include?
A) The residential program fee includes: housing, meals, tuition, text books/printed materials access to campus fitness facility and doctor's office, evening activities, and weekend field trips. The commuter program fee includes: Lunch Monday through Friday, tuition, textbooks/printed materials, evening activities, and weekend field trips.

Q) Are there any additional costs?
A) Yes, there is a non-refundable application fee is $35. Admitted student are responsible for submitting a room key deposit of $65 (residential students only) and a student I.D. card deposit of $25. These deposits are refundable providing that students do not lose their I.D. card or room key. Commuter students pay $111 if they want to park on campus.

Q) Are there scholarships or financial aid available?
A) There are no program funded scholarships or financial aid available; students are encouraged to seek outside sourced of aid.

 

Campus Life

Q) Can student select their roommates?
A) Yes, if both students send an email to ssp.cstudies@miami.edu by April 1, 2010. Otherwise, students are paired based on their program of study.

 

Q) Are provisions made for students who arrive from out of town?
A) Yes. Transportation will be provided to students upon their arrival and departure from Miami International Airport (MIA). Students will be greeted by program staff members, called Community Assistants (CA's). All CA's will have on nametags, matching UM uniforms, and list of the students arriving. Students arriving via Ft. Lauderdale Airport (FLL) or through other modes of transportation (bus or train) will need to provide their own transportation to campus.

Q) Will commuter students enjoy the program in the manner as residential students?
A) Yes, SSP is designed for the enjoyment of all that attend especially students who participated in evening and weekend activities. These activities give students time to bond outside of class and also provide ways to learn about forming mature interpersonal relationships and communicating with a diverse group of people.

 

Q) What is the class schedule and how are classes structured?
A) Classes are held from 8:20 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., and 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. They consist of lectures, tests, quizzes, projects, homework, and a final exam. The program is structured around hands-on experience, which may consist of guest lecturers, open discussion, lab work, and field trips.

Q) Are students chaperoned?
A) The safety of our Summer Scholars is our primary concern; however, there is still a great deal of freedom given to participants. There are chaperones on class and weekend field trips as well as during evening activities. Parents and guardians should note that students will need to have a high level of maturity and self responsibility if they choose to attend this program. Program and university staff members are readility available for all students, but

Q) What steps are provided to ensure safety on campus?
A)

• Public safety is available should the students need assistance at any time. Security at UM operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Trained police and security officers from the Department of Public Safety patrol the campus.
• Residential students are not allowed to bring cars to campus nor are they allowed to be in the vehicles of commuter students.
• The living areas of the residence halls are only accessible by university issued ID cards. 
• Non program participants are not allowed beyond the lobby of the residence hall except for move in and move out day.
• All campus sponsored field trip are chaperoned by program and university staff

 

Q) Do students have a curfew?
A) Yes, student must be in their rooms by 11pm Sunday - Thursday and by 12am on Friday - Saturday.

Q) Should students bring their computer?
A) Bringing a computer is at the discretion of the student. All SSP students have access to the University of Miami library. However, most students find it easier to do homework at night especially after curfew.

 

Entertainment and Travel

Q) Do most of the parents accompany students to campus on the first day of the program?
A) Families who live within a 4-5 hour drive of the UM usually will bring their children because students are not allowed to have a vehicle on campus. Those who are out of state or country typically travel alone, but our staff greets them at the Miami International Airport only, i.e., if a student will be flying in the Fort Lauderdale airport, he/she will have to make own arrangements to get on campus, as well as upon the return at the end of program.

Q) Is transportation provided for commuter students to campus for class?
A) Transportation to and from campus is not provided for commuter students. Commuter students may drive to campus; however, they will have to purchase parking passes for the program. Commuter students must ride sponsored transportation to program activities.

Q) How will students get around during the program?
A) University sponsored transportation will pick up students from the airport on the day of arrival, take participants to and from program activities, and to the airport on the day of departure. This is provided at no extra fee.

Q) What do students do in their free time?
A) Students may study, work on class assignments, use campus facilities like the school gym or pool, walk to the shops across the streets, or take a quick nap!

Q) Are there scheduled activities?
A) Yes! The program provides, at no extra fee, weekend activities such as snorkeling, beach and shopping outings, and a volunteer project opportunity. There will also be smaller scale programs in the evening facilitated by program staff. The activities are optional for all students, but strongly encouraged.

Q) Are there televisions available for students to watch?
A) There are no televisions in the residence halls; however, students are welcome to bring their own. All rooms have cable tv provided.

 

 

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