Student and Parent FAQ

How are students selected to participate in SAMS?

We will select applicants with an array of academic and extracurricular credentials; diverse socioeconomic, geographic, athletic, religious, cultural, racial and ethnic backgrounds; and wide-ranging interests, achievements and experiences. We will be sensitive to the great variation among applicants’ personal circumstances, home communities, courses studied and grades earned in high school. We have the opportunity and responsibility to consider all factors in evaluating applications and to select applicants having the potential to contribute to, and be successful students in, these summer programs.

If I submit my application online what is the next step?

If you submit your application electronically, additional materials (transcript, recommendations, essay, etc.) must be mailed in one package and postmarked by the April 1 deadline.

What information is needed when applying as a returning SAMS participant?

Returning students must submit an application, updated standardized test scores and high school transcripts.

When will I hear if I've been selected?

Decision letters will be sent in mid-May. A series of forms will then need to be submitted before your enrollment is complete.

How much does it cost to participate in SAMS?

There will be no tuition, housing or dining fees for students selected to attend SAMS. Students will, however, be responsible for books, supplies, transportation and recreational expenses.

What are the estimated expenses?

Textbook costs vary from year to year. An estimate would be $150-200. On average, students spend approximately $200 on personal and recreational expenses throughout the summer program.

Am I required to live on campus?

All students are required to live on campus. A part of the SAMS experience is learning to live in the residence hall with a roommate.

Who will supervise the students in the residence hall?

The residence hall staff consists of two adults (1 male, 1 female) with counseling and residence hall supervision experience. There will also be 5 male and 5 female undergraduate college student resident assistants who will advise and support the health, comfort and general welfare of the students. There will be a 7:1 student:staff ratio. The adult staff members and the 10 resident assistants will live in the residence halls and are available to respond 24 hours a day.

Are students permitted to leave campus during the program?

In order to build a strong residential community we strongly encourage students to limit weekends away from campus. However, if students must be away overnight or for the weekend, an "Absence from Campus Release Form" signed by the parent or guardian, granting permission for the absence, must be completed. Overnight absences during the week when classes and projects are in session will not be permitted.

Am I permitted to take additional classes or be employed outside of my SAMS schedule?

Because SAMS is a rigorous academic program, students cannot work on or off campus, take additional course work or attend special camps (sports, music, etc.) during their participation in SAMS.

Will there be recreational activities?

SAMS residence life involves much more than just a place to live. Of course students will do their share of work in the academic portion of the program, but there’s also time for a social life! Our resident hall staff plans a schedule of activities throughout the summer including sightseeing trips in and around Pittsburgh, movies, museum visits, sporting events, amusement parks and theatrical productions.

When should I plan to arrive and depart?

Orientation begins Saturday, June 29, 2013, at 2:30 p.m. Participants should plan to arrive and check in between 8:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. before the event begins. Students should plan to leave after 5 p.m. on Friday, August 9, but before noon on Saturday, August 10.

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