Frequently asked questions

Elegibility:

Who may participate ?

The program is open to any student who is in a public, private, or parochial high school or in a home schooled program. Other special cases such as parents, adults or teachers should be petitioned to the program coordinators. Click the "About us" link for contact information.

Registration

When does registration open ?

We usually open online registration the middle of August and close it in the middle of March.

Lectures

Where are the lectures given ?

Lectures are given in the Wilson Hall building. The conference room usually used is named "One West", but the precise conference room may change depending on the specific events going on at Fermilab during each Saturday.

Who gives the lectures ?

Volunteer Fermilab scientists and engineers will give the lectures.

Tours

Are any of the tours outside Fermilab?

No, tours are given exclusively of the Fermilab facilities. For a detailed list of tours follow the Program link on the top of the page.

What are the tours of ?

The tours are from the laboratory's Accelerator, Research, and Industrial facilities. For a detailed list of tours follow the Program link on the top of the page.

Who gives the tour ?

The tours are given by Fermilab scientists.

I've sat through the lecture, but I need to leave early. Can I skip the tour ?

Yes, missing a tour will not counted as an absence.

Graduation

Do we need to take a test to graduate ?

No, there will be no test at any point during the program.

Do we get a certificate ?

Students who have attended seven complete classes of the entire nine-week course will be awarded a Certificate of Accomplishment at the Graduation ceremonies following the conclusion of the last class.

Do we get a degree ?

No, you do not get a degree. Some schools give special credits for those who attended SMP.

I got a Certificate of Accomplishment but I couldn't make it to the graduation ceremony. How can I get the certificate ?

We can always mail it to you. But if you know in advance you can't make it to the final class, and you already attended 7 or more classes, you can have a friend pick it up for you after the ceremony.

Do we need to wear tuxedo/dress ?

Obviously you haven't seen how we dress. No, you don't need to wear any special clothes, we just try to focus on the content and to keep things very informal.