MIT THINK Scholars Program
Offered by Massachusetts Institute of Technology · Free to apply
The MIT THINK Scholars Program supports full-time high school students who have developed a background proposal for a novel STEM project but need mentorship and funding to execute it. Finalists receive up to $1,000 in project funding, weekly virtual mentorship from MIT students and professors, and a four-day all-expenses-paid trip to MIT. Students may apply individually or in teams of two by submitting a detailed research proposal.
Other deadlines near this one
How hard is the MIT THINK Scholars Program to win?
A large applicant pool chases this award. Apply if the student is a genuinely strong fit, but build the plan around better-odds awards first.
- Estimated odds
- roughly 1 in 1,575 applicants
- Modelled applicant field
- ~9,500 students
- Awards each cycle
- 6
- Payoff per hour of work
- $0 / hr
What drives the odds here
Odds on a scholarship are mostly a question of how many students can enter. Each rule below changes the size of that field.
- More rivalsOpen nationwide, so the field is large
- Fewer rivalsAn essay is required, which filters out casual applicants
How Solyo estimates this: We model the applicant field from how narrow the eligibility rules are, then divide the awards available by that field. Requirements such as essays and recommendation letters improve a serious applicant’s odds, because most browsers never complete them. These are estimates derived from each award's published structure, not reported acceptance rates, which almost no scholarship provider discloses. Treat them as a way to rank where the hours go, not as a guarantee.
Who can apply for the MIT THINK Scholars Program?
These are the eligibility rules Solyo verified against the official award page, translated into plain English. Your student must meet each one.
- Open to high school freshmen, high school sophomores, high school juniors, and high school seniors
- Must be a full-time high school student (public, private, or home school) residing permanently in the United States during the academic year (citizens living abroad are not eligible).
- Must propose a novel science, technology, or engineering project that can be completed in one semester within a $1,000 budget.
- Applicants may only submit one proposal per academic year.
- Applicants may apply either individually or as a team of two students.
- Applications for the 2026-27 cycle are due by 11:59 PM EST on January 1, 2027.
Personalized matching
Does your student actually qualify?
Not sure your student clears every rule above? Solyo checks 20+ criteria against their real profile: GPA, state, grade level, intended major, and more, across every award in this directory at once.
What the application takes
- Essay required.
Deadline and application cycle
The current deadline is January 1, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around January 1 each year. Applications typically open in November.
- Applications open
- November 2026
- Applications close
- January 1, 2027
Free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge a fee. We use your student's information only to build their plan.
Common questions about the MIT THINK Scholars Program
How much is the MIT THINK Scholars Program worth?
The MIT THINK Scholars Program awards $1,000. 6 awards are made each cycle.
When is the MIT THINK Scholars Program deadline?
The current deadline is January 1, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around January 1 each year. Applications typically open in November.
When do MIT THINK Scholars Program applications open?
Applications typically open in November, and close January 1, 2027.
Who is eligible for the MIT THINK Scholars Program?
Key requirements: Open to high school freshmen, high school sophomores, high school juniors, and high school seniors.
Does the MIT THINK Scholars Program require an essay?
Yes. The application requires an essay. Expect to spend about 3 hours on it.
How hard is it to win the MIT THINK Scholars Program?
Solyo estimates the odds at roughly 1 in 1,575 applicants, against a modelled field of ~9,500 students. The pool stays that size because an essay is required, which filters out casual applicants. At 3 hrs of work, that is about $0 of expected value per hour. This is an estimate from award structure, not a published acceptance rate.
Is the MIT THINK Scholars Program free to apply?
Yes. The MIT THINK Scholars Program is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.
More field of study
- Marcia S. Harris Legacy Fund Scholarship$1,500 · due December 4, 2026
- Mark Earl and Esther Ruth Spencer Technical Scholarship$2,500 · due February 1, 2027
- Maryland Workforce Shortage Student Assistance Grant (WSSAG)$1,000 to $4,000 per year · due October 15, 2027
- Massachusetts Community College Nursing ScholarshipRemaining tuition, fees, books and supplies · due June 30, 2027
- Massachusetts Tomorrow's Teachers ScholarshipUp to $25,000 per year · due November 20, 2026
- Montana STEM/Healthcare Scholarship$1,000 to $2,000 per year ($6,000 total) · due March 15, 2027
Lists this award appears on
Award details are curated by Solyo and verified against the official scholarship page. Deadlines and requirements can change between cycles, so always confirm on the provider's site before applying.