International Applicants

This page includes some additional helpful tips if you are an international student. In SSP’s process, you will be considered within international review if you:
  • are not a U.S. citizen nor permanent resident/green card holder, regardless of school location*
  • are a U.S. citizen attending school outside the U.S.

*Except DACA and undocumented students residing in the U.S., who are considered within domestic review. 

Although the overall application process and requirements are generally the same for international and domestic applicants, for SSP ’25, the processes will vary in timeline. Please keep in mind that international applications are due Friday, January 24, 2025 with international admissions decisions expected to be released in Mid-March. Be sure to thoroughly review the Admissions FAQ and other ‘Apply’ pages for useful information for all Summer Science Program applicants.

Visas

  • Most non-U.S. citizens will need a visa to enter the U.S. for the Summer Science Program. In legal terms the Summer Science Program is “pleasure” or “tourism,” not “studying” nor “business”. Summer Science Program is a non-credit enrichment program, like a summer camp. Therefore we do not issue the I-20 form required to obtain an F-1 Student Visa. Whatever document(s) you would need to enter the U.S. as a tourist (typically a B-2 Visitor’s Visa) will be sufficient. A foreign national already in the U.S. needs no additional paperwork to attend Summer Science Program.
  • PLEASE NOTE: for SSP 2025, international applicants will not be required to submit/upload a US visa by the application deadline in order for their application to be considered complete. International decisions are expected to be released in mid to late March. Once admitted, students then have the opportunity to enroll if they provide a valid visa by no later than May 5, 2025. 

Official Transcript

  • An official transcript is a document created by your school(s), listing the courses you have taken, and the grades (marks) you have received in those courses.
  • We need that information for all of grades 9, 10 and 11, even if you attended those grades at different schools. If you changed schools, we need a transcript from each school. Your current school may send copies of the transcripts from prior schools.
  • We prefer that your school send the transcript directly to us through the submission form in the application. Alternatively (not preferred), the school may email the transcript or print the transcript, seal it in an envelope, and give it to you to send to us by courier. Do not email the transcript yourself.
  • If your transcript does not include your current coursework in progress, you must send that, including any grades received this school year. If your school does not generate a ‘report card’ or interim report, please ask a teacher or school official to send a list of your current coursework, and expected grades or general statement on your progress this year.
  • If your transcript is in a language other than English, Spanish, or French, please have it translated by a school official or translation service.
  • Sending Cambridge exam scores alone does not fulfill the transcript requirement.

Miscellaneous

  • For Summer Science Program 2025, we are not collecting nor considering standardized test scores in the application. However, international applicants will see the opportunity within the application to share exam scores that demonstrate English proficiency. 
  • Although English proficiency exam submission is not required for admission, these exam scores can increase our confidence in your preparation for our instructional setting. Examples of such exams may include TOEFL, IELTS, DET, English/Reading SAT or ACT subscore, and others. Generally, proficiency exam scores would not be expected for international students whose home language is English or who live in countries where school instruction is in English.
  • If you are an exchange student who will return to your home country between the end of your school year and the start of SSP, be sure your current visa will not expire before the Summer Science Program ends. You likely will not have time to apply for and receive a new visa before the Summer Science Program starts which would make it impossible to attend. We do not allow students to arrive late for any reason.