| Application deadline | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Cost | Last year's cycle (2026): $3,975; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | $3,445–$7,195 (2027 cycle) |
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| Financial aid | Last year's cycle (2026): ASC 2026 financial-aid funds: Up to $3,975. General fund up to half, Sydney Stark Jr. Memorial fund up to full tuition, and Military Family fund at least half; historical terms only.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Early new-enrollment tuition discount: $500. For new 2027 Teen Summer Trip enrollment by August 31, 2026; this is a discount, not a cash award.; Conditional alumni, sibling and educator discounts: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Published rates are 20% alumni by August 31, 5% sibling and 10% educator, subject to eligibility and program terms.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Expenses and aid conditions | Last year's cycle (2026): Nonrefundable tuition deposit upon registration: $150. Part of tuition, not an additional $150 program price.; ASC 2026 financial-aid funds: Up to $3,975. General fund up to half, Sydney Stark Jr. Memorial fund up to full tuition, and Military Family fund at least half; historical terms only.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Application fee: $95. Nonrefundable.; Teen Summer Trip enrollment deposit: $700. Applied under enrollment terms; refundable through December 31, 2026 for early 2027 enrollment, then subject to cancellation rules.; Program accommodation: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Included in tuition; accommodation type varies by itinerary.; Three program meals daily: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Included in tuition; airport meals before and after the trip are excluded.; Round-trip airfare and excluded travel costs: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Airfare is not included. Passport, visa, baggage, airport transfer and insurance expenses may also apply.; Early new-enrollment tuition discount: $500. For new 2027 Teen Summer Trip enrollment by August 31, 2026; this is a discount, not a cash award.; Conditional alumni, sibling and educator discounts: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Published rates are 20% alumni by August 31, 5% sibling and 10% educator, subject to eligibility and program terms.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Stipend or pay | Unconfirmed — check official site | 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 8–12; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official site | Grades 10–12 when applying; check the provider's rules for graduating seniors | Grades 9–12; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Additional eligibility | Ages 13–19; Requirement: Be a rising 8th grader through a graduated 12th grader, or homeschool equivalent; Requirement: Be age 13-19 at the applicable start-date checkpoint; Requirement: Apply and receive an acceptance decision; Requirement: Complete accepted-camper registration and deposit before capacity fills; Requirement: Be prepared for a full residential schedule, auditions, rehearsals, classes, performance, and shared living; Exclusion: A rising 7th grader is ineligible even if already 13; Exclusion: A rising 8th grader is ineligible if still 12 at camp; Exclusion: A student who has completed a college freshman year is ineligible even if 18; Exclusion: Acceptance does not reserve a seat until registration is complete; Exclusion: No prior performance experience was required, and admission did not guarantee a particular play, role, solo, college credit, or professional outcome | 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 | Requirement: Entering grade 9 through graduating grade 12 for high-school trips; Requirement: Meet selected itinerary's health, mobility, conduct and travel requirements; Requirement: Submit health history and licensed-physician exam; Requirement: Obtain passport, visa and destination entry documents when required; Requirement: Parent or guardian completes under-18 enrollment and releases; Exclusion: Middle-school trips are separate products; Exclusion: Trip acceptance and safe participation remain subject to health, conduct, documentation and capacity review; Exclusion: Not every trip offers the same service, language or academic experience |
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| Session dates or duration | Catalog terms: 3 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Catalog terms: 8–10 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Catalog terms: 1–3 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Format | In person | Hybrid | In person |
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| Housing and supervision | Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site | Non-residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site | Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Location | Staunton, Virginia; Mary Baldwin University and Blackfriars Playhouse | Participating university, government, and industry research sites; virtual projects may also be offered | Program-specific international and U.S. territory itineraries; current departures use Houston, New York, Miami or self-booked flights |
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| Selection and application | Selection: Attendance was by acceptance, applications were reviewed monthly, and accepted-student registration was first-come, first-served. ASC did not publish applicant count, acceptance rate, or detailed judging rubric. | 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: Capacity- and fit-based enrollment rather than a single selective cohort. A completed application and payment reserve a space subject to trip availability, documentation, health and conduct requirements. |
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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 2026-08-20Source 2 · checked 2026-08-20Source 3 · checked 2026-08-20 | Source 1 · checked 2026-08-22Source 2 · checked 2026-08-22Source 3 · checked 2026-08-22Source 4 · checked 2026-08-20 |
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