Research summer research programs

Overview

Many competitive summer programs have December-March application deadlines. Starting your research now gives you plenty of time to prepare strong applications!

Top Programs to Research

Highly Competitive (Free, Low Acceptance Rates)

| Program | Focus | Deadline | Cost | |---------|-------|----------|------| | RSI (MIT) | STEM Research | ~December 10 | Free | | MITES (MIT) | STEM for underrepresented students | ~February 1 | Free | | TASP (Telluride) | Humanities seminars | ~December 3 | Free |

Competitive with Strong Outcomes

| Program | Focus | Deadline | Cost | |---------|-------|----------|------| | SSP | Astronomy/Biochemistry | ~February 19 | $9,800 (aid available) | | COSMOS (UC) | STEM (CA residents) | ~February 6 | ~$5,500 (aid available) | | Stanford SIMR | Medical research | ~February 21 | Free (stipend!) |

What to Research

• Eligibility requirements
• Application components (essays, recommendations, transcripts)
• Deadlines (mark them on your calendar!)
• Financial aid availability

Resources

• RSI
• MITES
• SSP
• COSMOS

Encouraging Note

These programs are extremely competitive — don't be discouraged if you're not accepted! The application process itself is valuable practice.