How to Apply

Dates of Program: June 30 - August 8, 2025

*Applications  for Summer 2025 are now closed. No late applications will be considered. 

Guide to applying:

• ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
  Applicants must currently be in their junior year (11th grade) of high school at the time of applying; must be US citizens and/or permanent residents; and must be at least 16 years of age by the start of the program. (No exceptions.)
• NOMINATION REQUIREMENTS

  NOMINATION REQUIREMENTS: Interested eligible applicants should seek nomination from their high school. The designated school nominator/official (typically a science research coordinator/director, guidance counselor or other appropriate contact in the high school) may have additional guidelines/processes for selecting the student nominees from the school.
  
  We strongly suggest and recommend that only one official at each school (for ex., one science teacher, or guidance counselor) be responsible for nominating students to ensure there are no more than 2 nominees per school (more than 2 nominees will result in the disqualification of all applicants).

  If you are not certain of the school official/contact handling nominations for your high school (usually a School Research Coordinator, Science Teacher, Guidance Officer), please view our database of high school contacts below:

  LINK:  HIGH SCHOOL NOMINATION CONTACT LIST - SIMONS SRP

  Should the listings on the above database need to be modified, please ask the newly designated  HIGH SCHOOL OFFICIAL to contact us at simonssrp@stonybrook.eduwith their information (full name, position, contact information & school name/address) so we may update our directory.

  Schools not represented on this list have likely not previously nominated applicants for the Simons SSRP. If an individual school is not listed on our database and would like to nominate a student, the school official whom will be coordinating the nomination process should complete the nomination form. We can then add the school/representative to our directory as the main contact for future years.
  
  *School nomination deadline:  January 31. 

• ONLINE APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

  Note to applicants: Once you have confirmed your nomination status with the designated school official at your school,  you may go ahead and start the online application. Once your nomination has been submitted, you will also receive an invitation to apply (please allow up to 48 hours). 
  Applicants should be prepared to upload a transcript/grade report (PDF) (unofficial is acceptable) at the time of submission.

  Application deadline:
  FEBRUARY 7, 2025 (11:59 PM EST)

  Troubleshooting: Be sure to complete the application form in one-sitting (4 hours or less) so that your application does not time-out!
  

  You should receive an automated confirmation email once you submit your application. Please check to make sure you are able to receive messages/communications from us; it is recommended that you use a non-school email address, to ensure that our messages to you do not go to spam.
  
  Brief Questions section. Word / character limit? We are looking for brief responses (300 words or less).

• RECOMMENDATION LETTERS

  Applicants are responsible for obtaining recommendation letters from 2 teachers (math/science preferred) from their high school.  

  Letter of Recommendation deadline: FEBRUARY 14, 2025 (11:59 PM EST)

  *Once an application has been submitted, an email will be automatically generated to the individuals who are submitting a letter of recommendation on behalf of an applicant.  Teachers (and/or previous science mentors) are requested to submit/upload a letter of recommendation by FEBRUARY 14, 2025. 

  Note: Letters from any previous research supervisors (if applicable) are encouraged. On the application, you can indicate the name and contact information of  your recommendation letter writers.

• FACULTY RESEARCH MENTORS

  Applicants will be asked and required to select their top three (3) choices of preferred mentor/areas of research interest onthe online aplication. Unfortunately, we are unable to make any substitutions. To view the listing of faculty research mentors available for summer '25, please visit the link below:

  Link: 2025 SIMONS SRP RESEARCH MENTORS LISTING
• SUBMITTING APPLICATION UPDATES

  If the transcript submitted with your application does notcontain grades for fall 2024, please follow-up with an updated transcript as soon as available.  Once you submit the application and receive a code, you will be able to use the "Edit Application" link to go back to your application and provide updates until Feb. 7, 2025. (After this date, please send a PDF file/transcript update to the Simons SRP email:  simonssrp@stonybrook.edu.)
  
  
  Additionally, should you receive any contingent offers to workin a particular research laboratory (if accepted into the program), please forward any faculty correspondence to simonssrp@stonybrook.edu.

  Other than these specifics, please do not attempt to submit or send any other supplementary materials (resume, test scores, research publications) that are not requested.

• SELECTION PROCESS

  The Simons Summer Research Program is a national, competitive summer research program for 11th grade students. Prior research experience is not a prerequisite for the program.

  Applicants must indicate a preferred mentor/area of research interest. Additional admissions procedures (including interviews, by telephone or in person) may be required for placement within certain research groups/labs.  Note that obtaining an interview is not an indication of acceptance into the Simons program, and the program receives far more applications from qualified students than can be accommodated.

• IMPORTANT DATES

   

  January 31, 2025 - deadline for school nominations 

  February 7, 2025 - deadline for  application submission 

  February 14,  2025 - deadline for teacher recommendations
  
  update!: March 13 - All applicants were notified of their admissions status at 6pm on March 13, 2025

  early April 2025 - notification of admissions decision to applicants (via email)

• PARTICIPATION Requirements

  All participants in the Simons program should expect to commit a minimum of 4 hours per day working with their mentor/research group for the full duration of the program. Hours may vary and should be agreed upon by consultation with the assigned faculty mentor.
  
  Students admitted will be required to provide proof of medical insurance, waivers regarding liability, permission for use of photographs, etc. from the applicant and/or their parent/guardian. Further details will be provided to accepted students at a later date.

Due to the large volume of applications received for this program, late submissions/materials are not considered/accepted.

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Percentage of students admitted:
about 5%

Please note that admissions into the Simons program is highly selective and we receive far more applications from qualified students than we can accommodate. 

So we can respond to all inquiries in a timely and efficient manner,  please contact us via email
at simonssrp@stonybrook.eduif possible.