The Columbia University Science Honors Program (SHP) is a Saturday morning program specifically designed for high school students in the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grades. Classes are held on the Columbia University Morningside Campus during the entire academic year from September through May. The program offers in-person instruction only and hence requires the participant to live within a 75-mile radius of our campus.
The Columbia University Science Honors Program (SHP) is a highly selective program for high school students who have a strong interest in the sciences and mathematics. The SHP holds classes at Columbia from 10:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. on Saturdays throughout the academic year. Courses are primarily in the physical, chemical, biological, behavioral, and computing sciences; and instructors are scientists and mathematicians who are actively engaged in research at the University.
Location(s)
- Columbia University, New York City
Schedule
- Academic Year (September through May, on Saturdays)
Cost/Compensation
- Tuition: $600, with $300 due at the beginning of each semester
Eligibility Requirements
- Students must attend high schools in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut and live within a 75-mile radius of the Columbia campus.
- Students who are currently members of the SHP do not have to reapply for admission.
- Students who applied previously but were not admitted may reapply for the following year.
Deadline
- March: Application deadline
- April: Transcripts and recommendation deadline
Application or Entry Requirements
The Columbia University Science Honors Program (SHP) requires the following:
- A completed online application, including a report of high school grades and an essay
- A high school transcript
- One letter of recommendation from a math or science teacher, guidance counselor, or principal
- A $50 non-refundable application fee. *Application fee waivers are approved on a case-by-case basis. Students in need of a fee waiver will need to complete and submit the Application Fee Waiver Request Form.
- As part of the application process, there will also be a 2-hour online entrance examination. Students are expected to have a background in algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and probability, together with some knowledge of elementary science subjects.
Notifications of Decisions
- Mid July (via email)
Financial Aid Details
Tuition waivers may be available for students with documented financial hardships; waivers will be granted after the admissions process, and all applications will receive equal consideration regardless of need.
To apply, indicate interest on the SHP program application and complete the following documents:
- Individual recent pay stubs for parent(s). Indicate if weekly, bi-weekly or monthly pay period.
- Family Income and Expense Worksheet
- Parent Non Tax-Filer Certification Form (this is only applicable if not filing a tax return)
Other Dates to Keep in Mind
- Entrance exams are held in June
Have other questions?
Columbia University, located in New York City, is a major private Ivy League research university and one of the most selective in the world. Founded in 1754 as King's College by royal charter of King George II of England, it is the oldest higher learning institution in New York, the fifth oldest in the U.S., and counts Alexander Hamilton among its first students. It is also home to the third-largest private research library in the U.S. Columbia is made up of twenty schools, with four undergraduate schools and sixteen graduate schools. Its undergraduate schools are Columbia College, The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, Barnard College, and the School of General Studies. Among its graduate schools, the Business School, Law School, College of Physicians and Surgeons, College of Dental Medicine, and Journalism School are some of the highest ranked of their kind in the country. The University administers the prestigious Pulitzer Prize literary and music awards presented annually.
