MIT ESP - How Does Spark Interact with HSSP

NOTE

This page is about Spark and HSSP 2008. Spark and HSSP 2009 will work very differently; the two will be run as fully-independent programs. Students may sign up for each at their discretion.

Spark, a one-day program with over 100 classes, will run on the first day of HSSP. HSSP is an 8-10 week program that starts on March 8th. The first session of HSSP classes will take place during Spark. Here are answers to some common questions about how the two programs interact:

Can I go to Spark without being part of HSSP? Yes! You are encouraged to come to Spark even if you think HSSP isn’t for you. At Spark you can take any of the single-session classes offered and you can even take the first sessions of HSSP classes that interest you (even if you don’t intend on continuing with HSSP).

Is it possible to be removed from the Spark session of an HSSP class? Unfortunately, yes. HSSP students get first priority in registration for HSSP classes. If an HSSP class is full of Spark students, and other HSSP students want to sign up for the class, it's possible that you will be removed from the class to ensure that HSSP students can attend the first session of their 8-10 week class. Hopefully this will be uncommon, but you should be aware that it is a possibility.

Can I decide to be part of HSSP after coming to Spark? Yes! If you come to Spark and take the first session of an HSSP class, then decide that you really want to learn more, we encourage you to join HSSP.

Can I come to HSSP without coming to Spark? Spark is the first day of HSSP. If you miss Spark, you will miss the first class of all the HSSP classes you want to take.

Can I take more than three HSSP first sessions during Spark? Yes, you can take as many first sessions of HSSP classes as you want. You can try out the first sessions of lots of classes, that’s what Spark is all about! If you plan on continuing with HSSP, you will have to pick at most three that you will continue taking.

Will HSSP classes be at the same time and place during Spark as they are during HSSP? No, we want you to try out some of the different HSSP classes that happen in the same HSSP time block, so we will try to schedule the first sessions at different times for Spark.

How does payment work? There are 3 possible payment scenarios:

If you sign up for both programs online, you pay $30.
If you first sign up for Spark and then decide, after online registration closes on March 4th, to sign up for HSSP you pay $20 for Spark and $20 for HSSP ($40 in total).
If you sign up for just HSSP you pay $30. As an HSSP student you will also be attending Spark so you might as well take lots of awesome classes!

As always, if money is an issue for you and your family, we offer need-based financial aid.

** NOTE **

This page is about Spark and HSSP 2008.  Spark and HSSP 2009 will work very differently; the two will be run as fully-independent programs.  Students may sign up for each at their discretion.

[Spark](/learn/Spark/index.html), a one-day program with over 100 classes, will run on the first day of [HSSP](/learn/HSSP/Spring_2008).  HSSP is an 8-10 week program that starts on March 8th.  The first session of HSSP classes will take place during Spark.  Here are answers to some common questions about how the two programs interact:

**Can I go to Spark without being part of HSSP? **
Yes! You are encouraged to come to Spark even if you think HSSP isn’t for you. At Spark you can take any of the single-session classes offered and you can even take the first sessions of HSSP classes that interest you (even if you don’t intend on continuing with HSSP).

**Is it possible to be removed from the Spark session of an HSSP class?**
Unfortunately, yes.  HSSP students get first priority in registration for HSSP classes.  If an HSSP class is full of Spark students, and other HSSP students want to sign up for the class, it's possible that you will be removed from the class to ensure that HSSP students can attend the first session of their 8-10 week class.  Hopefully this will be uncommon, but you should be aware that it is a possibility.

**Can I decide to be part of HSSP after coming to Spark? **
Yes! If you come to Spark and take the first session of an HSSP class, then decide that you really want to learn more, we encourage you to join HSSP.

**Can I come to HSSP without coming to Spark? **
Spark is the first day of HSSP. If you miss Spark, you will miss the first class of all the HSSP classes you want to take.

**Can I take more than three HSSP first sessions during Spark? **
Yes, you can take as many first sessions of HSSP classes as you want. You can try out the first sessions of lots of classes, that’s what Spark is all about! If you plan on continuing with HSSP, you will have to pick at most three that you will continue taking.

**Will HSSP classes be at the same time and place during Spark as they are during HSSP? **
No, we want you to try out some of the different HSSP classes that happen in the same HSSP time block, so we will try to schedule the first sessions at different times for Spark.

**How does payment work?**
There are 3 possible payment scenarios:

- If you sign up for both programs online, you pay $30.

- If you first sign up for Spark and then decide, after online registration closes on March 4th, to sign up for HSSP you pay $20 for Spark and $20 for HSSP ($40 in total).

- If you sign up for just HSSP you pay $30.  As an HSSP student you will also be attending Spark so you might as well take lots of awesome classes!

As always, if money is an issue for you and your family, we offer need-based financial aid.

Last modified by aseering on Feb. 16, 2009 at 11:13 p.m.