For the past six years, Florida State University has offered an academically intensive, 6-week residential summer program in science, mathematics, and computer science for fifty-four gifted and high- achieving high school students. The program is designed to offer college-level experience in high technology areas to outstanding public and private high school students of Florida. The program includes a mix of formal instruction, field trips, and research participation in mathematics, computer science, and in the biological, physical, and behavioral sciences. The curriculum includes college-level course work in discrete mathematics and in computer science for all participants, with elective laboratory course offerings in molecular biology, modern physics, and other basic science areas. These courses are designed for and limited to the students of this program. The emphasis throughout is on problem solving and the integration of contemporary theory with application. Each student is also expected to complete original work in a research laboratory setting on the Florida State campus or in one of its associated research field stations. Assignments with specific faculty incorporate the interest and background of the participants to the extent possible. Student progress in the subject matter areas is evaluated by written examinations with grades and class ranking established for each course. This information does not appear on the student's high school transcript, but is part of an individual evaluation letter developed for each student. The students are also evaluated on their written and oral presentations covering their individual research project.
