Program Details
About the Program
Students who are currently in 10th and 11th grade are eligible to apply to this program (rising junior and senior over the summer of the program). The Carleton Summer Science Institute will help students learn to think and write like a scientist by doing science. That is, CSSI students, faculty, and Carleton undergraduate research assistants will engage in classroom and hands-on research related to faculty and student interests. Students will complete a collaborative guided research project which will culminate in a presentation at the CSSI Research Symposium held at the end of the program.
Each participant will self-select into a research group consisting of 10 to 12 students. The students will take courses and conduct collaborative guided research in small groups guided by CSSI faculty members and Carleton College undergraduate Research Assistants. Research topics will vary depending on student and faculty member interest (potential research projects can be found here).
Participants will rotate through three week-long courses which focus on important concepts in the field of the faculty member in order to gain a deeper understanding about interrelation of the scientific fields. Students also will have the opportunity to participate in forums and informal discussions about emerging questions in science, ethics, public policy, science writing, and other topics of interest.
Campus Life:
Participants will live with a roommate in a Carleton residence hall, supervised by full-time Resident Assistants. Students will have access to the campus’ cultural activities, which may include films, concerts, and plays; and recreational facilities including tennis, basketball, racquetball, squash, and handball courts; softball, soccer, and rugby fields; and an 880-acre arboretum with 13 miles of hiking and jogging trails.
In addition to your course work, students will participate in a variety of group activities, which may include trips to the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area.
Attendance Policy:
The Carleton Summer Science Institute is a residential program that requires full-time residence at the College for the duration of the program. Students are expected to remain on campus, with the exception of program-sponsored excursions. Only in cases of emergency, and with the program director's approval, may students be absent from the program. No exceptions will be made.
Transportation:
You are responsible for your own transportation to Carleton. Participants who travel by air should arrive at the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport (MSP). Carleton College is located in Northfield, Minnesota, a 45-minute ride from the airport. Airport shuttles to and from the campus are available for a small transportation fee. Additional details will accompany acceptance materials.
Cost:
The comprehensive fee of $2795 includes:
- Tuition
- All books and class supplies
- Six Carleton credit hours (equivalent to three semester hours)
- Room and board (all meals) for three weeks
- Activities and excursions
A $500 deposit is due with the application. The remaining balance of $2,295 is due on May 29. If you are not accepted into the program, the $500 deposit will be returned to you. For accepted students, the $500 deposit is non-refundable. Please see the cancellation policy for further details.
To register now, please go here.
Schedule:
Classes. Mornings are dedicated to course work and hands-on activities led by CSSI faculty and Carleton College student Research Assistants. Each course lasts one week and will focus on the most important concepts an educated person in the 21st century should know in the field of that particular faculty member. Together with their research group (10-12 people), CSSI students will cycle through all three courses over the duration of the program.
Research. In the afternoon, CSSI Faculty work with a self-selected group of students (10-12 people) for all three weeks. Research topics will vary from year to year and will depend on faculty and student interests. Please see the faculty research pages for potential research projects offered this year.
Tea Time. These are informal meetings largely organized by the Carleton College student Research Assistants. The purpose is to provide a forum for informal discussion about emerging questions in science, ethics, public policy, writing, or whatever else might be needed/wanted in an informal setting. On Thursdays, a guest speaker will kick-off the Tea Time discussions with a research presentation, or presentation on a hot topic in the news.
To see a more detailed schedule of events, please click here
**Carleton College has long upheld a tradition of providing equal opportunity to all people. The following nondiscrimination statement is stipulated in the Minnesota State Statutes: As required by state and federal law, Carleton College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, status with regard to public assistance, age, or disability in the providing employment or in its educational programs and activities.