[1] Since 1958, SHP has offered courses spanning the full range of the pure and applied sciences, from organic chemistry, neuroscience and physiological psychology, to computer programming in Java and calculus in the complex plane, as well as introductions to special relativity, quantum theory, particle physics and physical cosmology.
[2][3] The program was directed by educator Donald Barr from its inception until 1964, and during that period admitted students as young as ten years old.
It boasts many famous alumni, including the creator of GNU, Richard Stallman, and several Nobel Laureates.
There were previously no tuition charges for the program; however, beginning in the 2022-2023 school year, a fee of $300 per semester (for a total of $600 annually) was implemented.
The main portion of the application process is a rigorous, three-hour examination proctored in the Columbia University campus that contains questions in both mathematics and science.