“America Through a Hip-Hop Lens,” “Wireless Music Transmission and Build Your Own Speaker,” “Quiddich for Muggles,” “Write an Award Winning Screenplay,” “Sampling, Genetic Algorithms, and Evolution.”  All of these classes and more were offered to thousands of middle and high school students who convened at Stanford University for “SPLASH,” a 2-day extravaganza of classes held on November 2nd and 3rd. Students assembled their own class schedules and foraged around Stanford’s main campus in search of their assigned classrooms, meeting points, and lecture halls. They came out of the experience having learned something new and having met like minds who share the same excitement they do about learning. According to Splash organizers, “The goal of Splash is to get students excited about learning and help them explore new topics.”

Started by Stanford Educational Studies Program in Fall of 2008, the event is open to all, regardless of their ability to pay the $40 registration fee for up to two full days of classes. About a month prior to the actual event, students can log in to the website (www.stanfordesp.org) to register for classes in two phases of registration, the class lottery and, later, “first-come, first-serve class sign-ups.” An algorithm matches each student with as many of their marked “priority” classes as possible, and a lunch period each day. The courses are largely taught by Stanford undergraduate and graduate students, as well as a number of community members affiliated with other universities or companies, who teach topics they are enthusiastic about themselves. Each school year, there is one event held in November, and another in April.

I have had the opportunity to attend Stanford Splash three times, and found the experience eye-opening, as I at last had the opportunity to learn about topics I was interested in that are typically not covered in high schools, for example, neuroscience. In most public schools, classes often do not have the specificity as they are able to have at Splash, which can be beneficial to some students, but limiting to others. A program like Splash can serve as a student’s first introduction to college-level classes, and get them started on the track to figuring out what they might want to study when they go to college if they do not already have a clear idea, which many high school students do not. Still, in the end the experience is what the participant makes of it. If a student wants to come just to hang out, eat some pizza, and take a couple of fun classes, there’s no stopping them either.

As a student, I found Splash to be unique because, for a change, students find themselves surrounded primarily by bright young minds who are as excited as they are about the topics taught and about learning in general. The event is fast-paced, chaotic maybe, but an educational and inspiring experience nonetheless. It is a fantastic opportunity for all students, and with scholarships that cover the entire cost of the program, it is truly accessible to all.

So head on out to Stanford SPLASH (the next one is April 12-13) if you are ready to take that ultimate “splash” into learning. And, one more thing, remember to have fun!