  I define the Standard Supersymmetric Model (SSM) as the minimal
supersymmetric extension ofthe Standard Model with gauge coupling unification
and universal soft supersymmetry breaking at the unification scale. This
well-defined model has a five-dimensional space of unknown parameters ($m_t,
\tan\beta, m_{1/2}, m_0, A$). I outline the top-down and bottom-up methods of
solving this model. Thresholds may be treated either by dropping heavy
particles from the RGE's or by considering loop corrections to the vacuum
energy. Substantial regions of the parameter space are consistent with all
experimental constraints. I consider the relation of the SSM to more realistic
models such as supersymmetric $SU(5)$, Flipped $SU(5)\times U(1)$, the
String-Inspired Standard Model, and string-derived models. I briefly discuss
sparticle spectroscopy and flavor changing neutral currents (FCNC's) as sample
methods for determining the unknown parameters of the SSM, and discriminating
between the SSM and more realistic models.
