Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any specific prerequisites to applying to the program?
There are not any formal prerequisites to applying to the MIT HSRP. However, students should demonstrate a strong interest in math, science, or technology. Students should also be able to learn quickly, as most of the knowledge they need for their projects will be picked up during the first few weeks of the program.

Who can apply to the program?
Any student in high school can apply to the program.

What will my day-to-day responsibilities be as a participant?
Students will arrange their specific day-to-day responsibilities with their mentor once they have been paired. However, students can expect to come into their lab a few times a week to work on their project for 2-3 hours each day. Students are expected to find their own transportation to MIT.

What is the time commitment for the program?
Students will be required to work 6 to 12 hours per week during the semester, and at least 30 hours per week during the summer, as per specific arrangements with their mentors, for the duration of the program. Students should realize that the quality of their project and of their experience in the program will depend strongly on the amount of time they put into the program.

Where will I be working?
Students will be working in labs on the MIT campus.

What kinds of projects will I be able to work on?
All projects will be in non-hazardous environments, in fields such as computer science, engineering, computational biology, bioinformatics, cognitive science, and neuroscience.

How do I apply?
See Application page. Completed applications must be mailed in with a copy of the high school transcript.

When is the application deadline?
The application deadline for the 2011-2012 session is January 26th, 2012.

How will applicants be evaluated?
Students will be evaluated holistically, taking into account their grades, past activities and achievements, and their essay. After an initial screening, applicants will be interviewed by interested mentors. This will give an opportunity for applicants and potential mentors to meet one another. At this interview, mentors will also ask applicants about additional requirements they may have (such as programming ability, time commitment, etc.). If an applicant is not accepted by a mentor after the initial interview, he/she may be interviewed again by another mentor.

How will I found out if I am accepted?
Accepted applicants will be notified via email in mid-May.

Will I be paid?
Students participating in the program are not paid for their work. However, students may submit their work to science competitions, which often offer scholarship money as prizes.

What can I do with my project?
Besides presenting the project at the end-of-term presentation and dinner night, students may present their work at competitions such as the Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology (in the fall), Intel Science Talent Search (in the fall), Massachusetts State Science and Engineering Fair (in the spring), and the Southern New England Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (in the spring). These competitions provide students with an opportunity to be judged on their scientific work. Scholarship money is usually offered as prizes, and performing well at these competitions is a big accomplishment that often makes students stand out in the college application process.