| Application deadline | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Cost | Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): $335–$875; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Financial aid | Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Need-based Science-U aid: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. First-come after registration until funds are exhausted, limited to one camp per child and excludes extended care; amount varies.; Named merit scholarships: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Scholarship-specific eligibility, student work and teacher recommendation requirements apply; current listed dates were for 2026.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Expenses and aid conditions | Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Residential upgrade where offered: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Included within the published $875 residential total for selected five-day camps; not available for every camp.; Need-based Science-U aid: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. First-come after registration until funds are exhausted, limited to one camp per child and excludes extended care; amount varies.; Named merit scholarships: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Scholarship-specific eligibility, student work and teacher recommendation requirements apply; current listed dates were for 2026.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Stipend or pay | Last year's cycle (2026): 2026 Summer I or Summer II fellowship: $4,000; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Eligibility | Grades 10–12 when applying; check the provider's rules for graduating seniors | Grades 2–12; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Additional eligibility | Residency: Must be able to participate at an available Project SEED site or eligible virtual project; in-person site selection considers a safe daily commute; Requirement: Document household annual income at or below 300% of applicable Federal Poverty Guidelines; Requirement: Provide an accepted tax, free/reduced-lunch, SNAP/WIC, TRIO, or SAT/ACT fee-waiver eligibility document; Requirement: Preferably be a current high-school sophomore, junior, or senior; the 2026 cycle also allowed graduating seniors; Requirement: Have completed at least one high-school chemistry course and demonstrate interest in science or chemistry; Requirement: Obtain parent/guardian permission if under 18; Requirement: Be available for the full project, normally at least eight weeks and about 40 hours weekly for in-person research; Requirement: Meet the local site's commute, safety, lab, onboarding, and schedule requirements; Exclusion: Applicants who cannot document the financial-eligibility requirement; Exclusion: Applicants without completed high-school chemistry; Exclusion: Applicants unable to commit to the selected site's full schedule or safely commute for an in-person placement; Exclusion: Assuming prior lab experience is required or guarantees selection; Exclusion: Assuming application guarantees a placement, preferred lab, virtual option, $4,000 next-cycle amount, conference trip, publication, college credit, recommendation, scholarship, admission advantage, or job | Ages 7–17; Requirement: Meet the exact age or entering-grade band for the selected camp; Requirement: Be able to attend the complete four- or five-day session; Requirement: Complete CampDoc registration, health and permission materials; Requirement: Complete any camp-specific application or prerequisite, including the separate Biotech application where required; Exclusion: Age and grade ranges differ by camp; Exclusion: Residential enrollment is not offered for most camps; Exclusion: Financial aid is limited to one camp per child and does not cover extended care |
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| Session dates or duration | Catalog terms: 8–10 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Catalog terms: 1 week; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Format | Hybrid | In person |
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| Housing and supervision | Non-residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site | Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Location | Participating university, government, and industry research sites; virtual projects may also be offered | State College, Penn State University Park campus, Pennsylvania |
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| Selection and application | Selection: Local coordinators select among financially and academically eligible applicants based on performance, science interest, full-summer availability, site capacity/budget, safe commute, and mentor/project fit. ACS publishes no single current acceptance rate. | Selection: Most camps registered until capacity and many reached full or waitlist status. Biotech and named scholarships used additional application review; acceptance rates are not published. Application materials: For merit scholarships: scholarship-specific student work and teacher recommendation |
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| Official sources | Source 1 · checked 2026-08-20Source 2 · checked 2026-08-20Source 3 · checked 2026-08-20 | Source 1 · checked 2026-08-21Source 2 · checked 2026-08-21Source 3 · checked 2026-08-21 |
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