Should You Apply For CEISMC Summer P.E.A.K.S at Georgia Tech?
As you gear up for an academic future in science and related fields, enriching your profile through pre-college programs can set you apart. Participating in such programs not only helps deepen your academic interests but can also showcase your commitment and initiative to prospective colleges. The CEISMC Summer P.E.A.K.S program at Georgia Tech, the subject of this blog post, is one such opportunity you can consider. Let's explore what makes this program a valuable experience for ambitious students like yourself.
What is CEISMC Summer P.E.A.K.S?
At its core, the CEISMC Summer P.E.A.K.S (Programs for Enrichment and Accelerated Knowledge in STEAM) is a set of one- to two-week long programs designed to enhance your knowledge of science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics (STEAM) through educational activities. This initiative aims to ignite a passion for STEAM among middle and high schoolers, offering a chance to engage in experiential learning and relevant, advanced projects on the campus of Georgia Tech. Each course in the program focuses on imparting knowledge while also stimulating intellectual curiosity and innovation among its participants.
CEISMC (Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics, and Computing) is part of a broader commitment by Georgia Tech to extend learning beyond the conventional classroom. It represents the university's effort to bridge the gap between K-12 education and higher education, emphasizing the importance of STEAM fields in the current global landscape.
Is it prestigious?
Participating in the CEISMC Summer P.E.A.K.S program at Georgia Tech can give your profile a solid boost. While the courses are not extremely selective, they are however highly immersive and a good starting point to develop your core fundamentals about your chosen field. Since the courses are all held in-person at the Georgia Tech Atlanta campus, they also provide a great networking opportunity and exposure to Georgia Tech’s state-of-the-art facilities and labs.
How is CEISMC Summer P.E.A.K.S structured?
P.E.A.K.S offers a host of one to two-week courses running in the months of June and July. Typically, a work day in each course is structured from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, although some of the more advanced ones go on till 5:00 PM. The program takes place at Georgia Tech’s Atlanta campus, utilizing various facilities to offer a hands-on and engaging educational experience. While you can and definitely should go through the complete course list and details here, below is a short summary of the available courses:
Middle school sessions
Lego Robotics: Dive into the world of robotics by designing, building, and programming robots to tackle real-world challenges using LEGO Spike robots.
Masters of Science: Explore science by engaging in hands-on activities focused on matter, energy, and their interactions. From chemical alchemy to understanding electromagnetism, you'll broaden your perspective and connect science with art and life.
Code with the Yahboom Smart Robot: Learn coding by programming Yahboom robots to sense and respond to stimuli in the physical world. This course is hosted in partnership with the College of Computing.
G.T. Girls: Exclusively for girls, this course will explore Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) through hands-on activities, experiments, and meeting prominent women in STEAM fields.
RAD Engineering: Innovate and engineer rapidly while solving problems related to mechanical, civil, and aerospace engineering. Learn through hands-on activities including 3D design and printing.
Coded Beats: Learn music production and mixing beats while gaining valuable STEM skills, including computer coding with Python.
High school sessions
Code With the Yahboom Smart Robot: Similar to the one held for middle schoolers, you get to dive into coding the digital world by programming your Yahboom robotic companion to react to stimuli in the physical world. This is held in partnership with the College of Computing.
Seth Bonder Program in Computational and Data Science: This is a set of three courses at different levels that allow you to delve deep into computational and data science through meaningful applications like machine learning and genomics. Learn Snap! visual programming language and computational concepts through hands-on activities.
Energy Unplugged: Explore the future of energy with hands-on activities, interactive demos, and field trips to energy facilities. Learn about solar panels, electric vehicles, and cleaner electricity while discovering career opportunities in STEM.
iEXPERIENCE: A course for those interested in Industrial Engineering. Engage in interactive sessions and field trips to discover how Industrial Engineers are shaping the world and get ready for a thrilling game competition to showcase your skills.
The Science of Psychology: Uncover the workings of the brain and behavior in this course. Explore how psychology influences individual and group behavior, its impact on technology, and more through research projects and lab demonstrations.
Cinemagination Film Program: Turn your cinematic dreams into reality as you explore the film production process. Collaborate in teams to create micro short films or commercial advertisements using industry-standard software and equipment.
The World of Materials: Discover the fascinating world of materials science through hands-on experiences. Learn about the principles, applications, and innovations in materials science and engineering in collaboration with the School of Materials Science and Engineering.
Coded Beats: Unlock your potential as a music producer while learning valuable STEM skills like coding with Python. Dive into beat mixing and music production to create your own tracks.
Who is eligible to apply?
Rising 9th-12th graders are eligible to apply for the high school courses, and 6th-8th graders for the middle school courses. It’s important to note that the courses are all held in-person, hence you must be able to travel to the Georgia Tech Atlanta Campus on each day of the course. Some of the courses, such as Levels 2 and 3 of the Seth Bonder Program in Computational and Data Science, also require participants to have completed the previous course or may have other eligibility criteria. Other than those specific cases, most courses are open to beginners and advanced students alike.
How does the application process work?
To apply for any of the courses under CEISMC Summer P.E.A.K.S, all you have to do is register for that course using its direct link on the courses webpage. Since each course has a different starting date, batch size and duration, their application deadlines are also different, so make sure you check that page for the latest details. Each course also has its own cost, but typically these vary between $400-$650 per course.
Financial aid is available via the Building Opportunities in Out-of-School Time or BOOST Scholarship. If your family qualifies for Georgia Free or Reduced Lunch Program by household size and income, then you can apply for the BOOST Scholarship here. Should you secure it, this scholarship provides a 75% waiver on the program cost.
Pros and cons to consider
Pros:
1. Quality of education: You get access to Georgia Tech’s faculty, state-of-the-art facilities, and cutting-edge pedagogy.
2. Large roster of courses: The P.E.A.K.S program has a course for nearly everyone. Regardless of where your interest lies across the many fields of STEAM, you’ll find a course that suits you.
3. Solid introduction to your field of choice: Almost all of the courses are designed for a beginner-friendly approach. This allows P.E.A.K.S to help you build your foundational knowledge in the field of your choice.
Cons:
1. Limited duration and learning: Since the courses are only 1-2 weeks long with only 6 hours of classes per day, the amount of learning you can take away is unfortunately limited.
2. Not prestigious enough as a standalone program: While the program is highly accessible, both in terms of the time commitment and the cost, that necessarily means that just mentioning it on your profile does not automatically add prestige. It is still valuable for its learning, but you would ideally want to combine it with other, more rigorous and demanding programs if you really want your profile to shine.
In conclusion, the CEISMC Summer P.E.A.K.S program offers a unique blend of education, experience, and exploration for high school and middle school students interested in STEAM fields. If you're keen on exploring one of the many courses on offer and building your core skills, this program could be a perfect fit. The program is quite accessible in terms of its cost and time commitment, and its benefits can extend far beyond the program itself, helping you build a solid foundation for your future academic and professional endeavors.
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Image Source: CIESMC P.E.A.K.S Logo