Questions & Answers

Application Processing

1. We submitted the Qualifying Test today. When will be hear results?

A. First, we do not make a decision until all parts of the application are received: application form, Qualifying Test, academic recommendation and non-academic recommendation. After that, we usually give a decision in a week, but sometimes we are very busy with our day jobs and a decision is delayed.

Sometimes everything is complete except, say, the non-academic recommendation has not been submitted. If we notice this, we will email you about it, so that you can let your recommender know that we are held up waiting for his/her recommendation.

But sometimes we are too busy to notice such a bottleneck. So, If you don't get an email decision from us within two weeks of when you believe the last part of your application was submitted, please email the Admissions head, Prof Maurer.

When we have reached our decision, we inform you by email, attaching a registration form that you must return with your deposit or full payment, and we also provide links to other materials online that accepted students need to attend to. You are not guaranteed a seat at camp until the registration and at least a deposit are received.

While much of the application is now done online, most applicants send the Qualifying Test by post (snailmail) and currently all payments must be sent by post as well. It is not necessary to send these items by special mail if you are mailing from the US. In fact, when occasionally applicants have used certified mail (extra security, not extra speed) the delivery has been slowed down by as much as a week! Ordinary first class mail gets to us from anywhere in the USA in 2 or 3 business days. If you want to get quick knowledge of receipt, you can send priority mail with delivery confirmation – but even this is unnecessary because we acknowledge by email receipt of tests and payments.

Mail between the US and Canada, which used to be very slow, seems to be improving, typically 4 or 5 business days for regular first-class mail. For deliveries from countries outside North America, you may want to use global express mail or courier services, depending on your confidence in your national mail service.

2. By when do you need confirmation of my child's attendance?

A. As stated above, a seat in camp in not reserved until we get the registration form and at least a deposit. The last day on which we promise to accept registrations is May 31, 2010. Indeed, full payment, and various medical and waiver forms must also be received by May 31, 2010. We no longer allow the final payments to be made on the first day of camp.

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