FAQs for Parents

Information for Parents

1. How do I get information about the programs?

A great deal of information is available by browsing this Web site. You can also sign up for our mailing list, which will have regular program announcements sent to it.

2. How much do programs cost?

ESP is constantly working to make its programs as cheap as possible. We are a non-profit organization; teachers in most programs are volunteers, and our facilities are provided by MIT at no cost. Thus our enrichment programs (such as Splash and HSSP) cost around $20-$40. Programs like SATPrep and Delve are more expensive; SATPrep runs about $100 and Delve about $200. If it would cause a financial hardship to pay the fee for any of our programs, simply tell us, and we will happily waive it.

If you have signed up for one of our programs and for some reason are unable to complete it, you may be eligible for a refund. For HSSP, SATPrep and Delve: if you submit a reimbursement request prior to the end of the third week of the program, you will be refunded in full. For Splash: we are unable to offer refunds. Sorry!

To request a refund, e-mail the Treasurer at esp-treasurer@mit.edu. Include your name, your ESP username, the program for which you would like to be refunded, and, if you paid by check, an image of the check (this is not necessary but will speed up the refund process considerably).

3. How can I spread word about ESP?

Just telling others about our programs would be a big help to us – word of mouth is the most reliable way to spread information about us. We’re also happy to send you extra promotional material; please feel free to contact us.

4. How can I help?

Have a conversation with a program director at our front office. We love to hear from parents about our programs and what we can be doing better.

5. Can Splash come to my school?

Splash On Wheels is a program that takes Splash “on the road” to a high school for a weekend. If your school might be interested in hosting our program and is within driving distance of Boston, have a school teacher or administrator get in touch with us. You can even direct them to this page. We can’t make any promises, but we’re hoping to expand this program.

6. How can I join the mailing list?

See our page on joining the mailing list.

7. How do I receive publicity information about ESP?

Join our mailing list. We send postcard updates about our programs, as well as e-mails, to those on our mailing list. If you’d like extra material, please contact us.

8. Can students younger than middle school age participate?

ESP requires that all student participants be either eleven years old, or in seventh grade. Some programs, such as SATPrep, Junction and Delve, require that students be in high school.

Students in ESP programs will be walking around MIT without a parent, guardian or teacher. If you do not feel your child is old enough to do this, then your child probably isn’t old enough to attend ESP programs.

To participate, all students must have their parents sign a liability waiver. Parents should keep in mind the nature of our program, and should keep in mind that we expect a high school level of maturity from our students. Students are unsupervised between classes and during time off and are free to wander the MIT campus. Parents should be comfortable that their children are mature enough for this level of freedom.

9. Does ESP offer tutoring?

Short answer: No.

Long answer: While sometimes our members may privately tutor students, the best way to look for tutors is usually by asking your own high school or middle school counselors. If you are specifically interested in having an MIT student tutoring you, the best place to try is the MIT Student Employment Page; they publish job listings to MIT undergraduate and graduate students. If you are representing a school looking for low-cost or free tutors, the best place to look is the MIT Public Service Center.

10. The site won’t let me register my child for a program. What’s wrong?

If the site is telling you that you must have a student account to register, then you cannot register with your current account. You have a parent account. This means that you receive emails about upcoming ESP events, but cannot register for our programs. Each of your children will need to create separate student accounts for themselves. People with student accounts receive emails about upcoming ESP events, and can register online for programs.



Last modified by mbent on Dec. 07, 2008 at 09:23 p.m.