FSU Young Scholars Program
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FSU Young Scholars Program (YSP) is a residential science and mathematics program for 40 Florida high-school students with potential for careers in the sciences, engineering, and health professions. The Young Scholars Program lasts for six weeks, and is supported by funding from Florida State University. Students pay no fee to attend YSP, although they must provide their own transportation to and from the camp.
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[edit] Academic program
The curriculum of the Young Scholars Program includes course work in various areas of science and technology. All students take a mathematics class (either problem solving or math analysis), one of three levels of computer science classes, and a science ethics class. Additionally, students take a course in either molecular biology or modern physics. The courses and their associated laboratories are specifically designed for the program; they are neither high school nor college courses. Students typically participate in classes three days each week.
[edit] Research
Each student who attends YSP is assigned an independent research project (IRP) based on his or her interests. Depending on the availability of faculty, students work alongside either graduate students or professors over the course of six weeks conducting scientific research for two days each week. The fields of study available range from robotics, molecular biology, chemistry, geology, physics, to zoology. At the conclusion of the program, students present their projects in an academic conference, documenting their findings and explaining their projects to both students and faculty.
[edit] Faculty
The program is co-directed by Dr. Ellen Granger, Director of the Office of Science Teaching Activities, Ms. Robin Smith, Assistant Director, Office of Science Teaching Activities, and Ms. Jean Hancock, Coordinator of Academic Programs. Instructional faculty includes Dr. Washington Mio, Associate Professor of Mathematics; Dr. Dan Oberlin, Professor of Mathematics; Dr. Samuel Tabor, Associate Professor of Physics; and Dr. Lloyd Epstein, Associate Professor of Biological Science. Twenty additional Florida State science and engineering faculty members mentor the students in their independent research projects.
[edit] Selection process
YSP admits students who have completed the eleventh grade in a Florida public or private high school. Occasionally, a small number of students who have completed tenth grade are admitted to the program.
All applicants must have completed Algebra II, and have earned at least an unweighted "B" average in academic courses. Additionally, students must have scored at the 90th percentile or better in science or mathematics on a nationally standardized exam, such as the SAT or PSAT.
Students are also required to submit high school transcripts, and the two letters of recommendation (counselor and teacher).
Selection is extremely competitive. In 2005, the mean PSAT math score was in the 98th percentile nationally. 11 of the 40 students were ranked first in their class, and the rest were all in the top 10% of their class. The average GPA of attendees in 2005 was 4.84.
