SMASH Applicant FAQs
Below you will find answers to all your questions about SMASH.
| APPLICATION | PROCESS |
| When is the SMASH Application due? | We are no longer accepting applications for SMASH 2012. Completed applications were due March 1, 2012. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @LPFI or @SMASHAcademy to be alerted to 2013 application dates. |
| When is SMASH Academy? | 5 weeks in the summer of 2012. |
| If I want to apply for SMASH, what is the first step? | You must register here. Application registration is now closed. After you register, you will receive a confirmation email with a temporary password. Follow the link in that email and enter the password to access the SMASH online application. You may change your password from there. Once you login to the SMASH online application, follow all instructions carefully. |
| What does the application consist of? What should I expect after submitting my application? | If your pre-application is approved, a complete application consists of: student and parent/guardian information, medical information, an essay, two letters of recommendation, an official transcript and a copy of your most recent CST/STAR test scores. Detailed instructions for each section can be found within the online application. After you submit your application, you will take a math assessment and if you make the cut after the math assessment, you will be interviewed for the final round. |
| Once I submit my application, how will I know if I was selected? | SMASH will send all notifications to the email address you provided in your application. Make sure you add SMASHacademy@lpfi.org to your email "safe" list so our correspondence does not end up in your spam folder. Refer to the application process timeline to find notification dates. |
| How competitive is the application process? | For the summer of 2011, we received over 350 applications and 120 students were accepted into the program. This is an admit rate of 33%. For summer of 2012 we expect more applicants and more available slots. This information should not dissuade you from applying – rather, make sure that you put a lot of time and energy into filling out the full application. |
What are your eligibility requirements?
| (1) Be in the 9th grade at time of application; (2) Attend a public high school, or attend a private high school via scholarship; (3) Have strong mathematics skills appropriate for your grade level, as determined by the SMASH math assessment (which is administered to all SMASH applicants in March); (4) Must be African American, Chicano/Latino/a, Native American, Filipino, Pacific Islander, Southeast Asian (i.e. Cambodian, Hmong, Laotian, Vietnamese) or mixed race/multiracial with at least one parent from the above ethnicities; and (5) Must reside in San Francisco, Marin, Solano, Contra Costa, San Joaquin, Alameda, Napa, Stanislaus, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, or San Mateo County to apply to Stanford or UC Berkeley sites, and in Los Angeles County to apply to the UCLA or USC sites |
| What else are you looking for in applicants? | The best candidates for the SMASH Academy will: |
| What does "first-generation college student" mean? | **You are considered a first generation college student if neither one of your parents received a bachelor's or 4-year degree (or higher) from an accredited college or university. If you have a sibling in college you are still first generation. If your parents took some courses, but did not complete a degree you are still considered first generation.
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| What cities does the program serve? | SMASH currently serves UC Berkeley (Berkeley, CA), Stanford (Palo Alto, CA), UCLA (Los Angeles, CA) and USC (Los Angeles, CA). |
| If I am accepted and I decide to go, do I have to attend for all three summers? | Yes, students who are accepted into the SMASH Academy are making the commitment to attend for all three summers. |
| What if I am having problems registering or with the online application? | Email SMASHsupport@lpfi.org and wait for a response. Our standard response time is 72 hours. |
| From whom should I request letters of recommendation? | You should request letters of recommendation from teachers who know you well and can tell us about your math or science aptitude. If one of your current teachers is unavailable, we will accept letters of recommendations from previous teachers. |
| What if one or both of my letters or recommendation are late? | Your application will be processed as incomplete. Please make sure you check with your teachers to ensure they submit the Letters of Recommendation on time. |
| What do I need to mail into the LPFI office? | Mail one packet that includes your official transcript and copies of your CST/STAR test scores. Also, include any letters of recommendation if you did not request them to be sent electronically. |
| What if I don't have a computer? | Ask a teacher or counselor to help you access and complete the SMASH application from a computer at school. You may have to do this after school. Also, all libraries have computers that are available for public use. If you still have difficulty accessing a computer, email SMASHsupport@lpfi.org with your concerns. |
| What if I don't have an email address? | Create an email account at www.gmail.com. |
| RESIDENTIAL | PROGRAM |
Can my family visit me during SMASH Academy? | Yes, you will have free time scheduled when you can visit with your family. |
| Will I have free time to talk with my family & friends? | Yes, you will have internet access and free time available to communicate with family and friends on your cell phone. |
| Where will I live? | SMASH Scholars share a room with other scholars in dorms/residences. |
| Will I need to have money for food? | No. Breakfast, lunch, dinner & snacks are provided to you. |
| What if I get sick? | Over the counter medicine (Tylenol, Theraflu, allergy medicines, etc.) are available on site. The Residential Advisors (RA) & Residential Director are accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to handle anything more serious that comes up. |
| What if I have special medical needs? | Health records are submitted before program begins, and the residential staff will work with special situations as needed. |
| What will we do when we are not in class? | Scholars work on homework, rest, play sports, and participate in other fun activities. |
| What will we do on the weekends? | Time for rest, homework and fun. |
| What do I bring with me? | Once admitted, a comprehensive list will be provided. |
| Where will I do laundry? | Machines for washing clothes are available to Scholars. See “costs” section for full $ details. |
| How will I find my way around campus? | The RA’s will provide support to orient Scholars to residential halls and campus. |
| What if I have specific questions about the residential program? | Once admitted to SMASH Academy families and Scholars will have ample time, through meetings with the administrative team and via Scholar Handbooks, to have questions answered. |
| ACADEMICS | |
What does a SMASH day look like? | During the week (M-F), you will attend classes from 8:00 am to noon and from 1 pm to 4pm daily. In the evenings, you will attend Academic workshops from 7 to 9 pm. |
What happens during the weekend? | Saturdays and Sundays are reserved for field trips, project work, family visitation and SMASH community events. Yes, you get to sleep in a bit during the weekends. |
How much time will I have for non-academic activities? | Each scholar determines non-academic time by how managing their time on a day-to-day basis. Non-academic time is scheduled in mostly during the weekends and evenings. |
Who decides what level of math and science I will take? | SMASH administers the math assessment exam used by the University of California and California State University system to each scholar. Your performance on this assessment exam determines the level of math class in which you will be enrolled. |
Will I have homework? | Absolutely! Homework is assigned weekly by you instructors and is typically due the following week. You will have study hall assistance in the evenings. |
What academic help will I get during the program? | As part of the SMASH commitment to prepare each scholar for STEM studies, support of academic strategies such as collaborative learning, test taking, academic self-assessment, and assistance from instructors and teaching assistants are part of the program. |
Will students get grades at the end of each summer? | Yes. Each scholar will be assessed continuously throughout the program and receive a summary of achievement at the end. |
Will my school give me credit for courses I take during SMASH? | Credit for SMASH is at the discretion of your school. In the past SMASH, scholars have been given non-academic credit. SMASH does not meet California A-G standards. |
| SMASH | DURING THE ACADEMIC YEAR |
What activities will I be expected to participate in during the school year? | As a SMASH scholar, you and your family will have the opportunity to attend workshops designed to prepare you for college. These include topics such as the college application process, paying for college, SMASHCAST, and speakers. You will also participate in industry tours, attend receptions, and represent SMASH at your school, community and in the public. Workshops and activities do change in response to scholar input. |
Do I have to attend these activities? | You will be notified at least two weeks in advance of any activity. This notification will inform you if it is a MANDATORY or OPTIONAL participatory event. |
What is the difference between MANDATORY and OPTIONAL? | Attendance policies and expectations will be explained during the SMASH Orientation. |
What other responsibilities will I have during the academic year? | You may be requested to represent SMASH at receptions, community events, respond to surveys, and keep your contact information up to date with SMASH staff. |
| COSTS | AND WHAT TO BRING |
| What clothes should I bring? | The SMASH Academy does not require uniforms, although we expect you to wear appropriate clothing at all times during the summer program. This includes in the classroom, the residences, and during all activities on and off-campus. You are also required to dress in business attire for some events during the summer. This means a suit/jacket, tie and slacks for young men and a dress/skirt or pantsuit for young women. You should also bring athletic clothes and shoes for sports or other outdoor activities. You may refer to the SMASH Handbook given during Orientation for more details on what to bring and what not to bring. |
| Will I need to buy books or school supplies? | No, the SMASH Academy will provide you with all academic materials needed during the summer, including books. |
| What expenses are covered by SMASH? | If you are accepted to the SMASH Academy, all of your expenses for classes, food, housing, books, school supplies, and weekend activities are covered. |
| Will I need to buy a laptop? | No. All of the technology you need for SMASH Academy will be provided. |
| What expenses are NOT covered by SMASH? | The SMASH Academy does not cover laundry or incidental expenses, such as souvenirs from field trips. For laundry, a typical student will need twenty dollars for the summer and you may bring laundry detergent from home so that you do not have to spend money buying it on campus. |
| KEY TERMS | |
What are Residential Advisors (RAs')? | RA’s are college students that live with scholars during SMASH Academy. |
| What are Scholars? | The SMASH community refers to students in the program as scholars. |
| What is the Residential Director? | The Residential Director is the onsite administrator who lives in the residential halls with Scholars and RA’s. |
