| Application deadline | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | January 31, 2027 (2027 cycle) |
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| Cost | Last year's cycle (2026): $2,400–$5,200; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Financial aid | Last year's cycle (2026): Need-based financial aid: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Expenses and aid conditions | Last year's cycle (2026): Deposit to secure a spot after acceptance: $1,000. Waived or adjusted when alternative arrangements or financial aid are awarded.; Need-based financial aid: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Stipend or pay | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Eligibility | Grades 9–12 (provider uses rising grades) | Unconfirmed — check official site | Grade 11 (provider uses rising grades) |
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| Additional eligibility | Requirement: Open to rising grades 9–12; Requirement: No prior engineering experience or STEM classes required | Ages 13–17 | Residency: Resident of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; Requirement: Be a rising high-school senior; Requirement: Complete junior year immediately before the programme; Requirement: Secure two classroom-teacher recommendations from different PGSS core subjects; Requirement: Secure a school-counselor recommendation; Requirement: Be able to attend the complete residential session; Exclusion: Students who are not Pennsylvania residents are ineligible; Exclusion: Recommendations from overlapping core subjects do not satisfy the two-subject rule; Exclusion: Incomplete or late applications are not reviewed |
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| Session dates or duration | Last year's cycle (2026): Starts June 8, 2026; Ends August 7, 2026; 3–6 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Starts June 27, 2027; Ends July 31, 2027; 5 weeks (2027 cycle) |
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| Format | In person / Online | In person | In person |
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| Housing and supervision | Non-residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Location | San Jose, CA | Apple Valley, MN | Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, Pennsylvania |
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| Selection and application | Selection: Application and interview review occur in receipt order while seats remain. BlueStamp does not publish applicant counts, acceptance rates, aid rates, cohort size for the next cycle, or a guaranteed decision. Application materials: Student interview with a parent or guardian present | Selection: The zoo closes applications when the summer cohort is filled, but it does not publish applicant counts, cohort size, interview process or selection rate. | Selection: PGSS describes a statewide application and admission process but the current official pages publish neither cohort size, applicant count nor acceptance rate. Application materials: Narrative essay introducing the applicant and explaining interest in PGSS; Topical essay about a significant influence on scientific interest or a proud achievement; Two recommendations from classroom teachers in different PGSS core subject areas; One school-counselor recommendation |
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| Official sources | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-10-24Source 3 · checked 2026-10-24Source 4 · checked 2026-08-20 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-09Source 2 · checked 2026-08-22 |
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