| Application deadline | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Cost | Unconfirmed — check official site | $6,450–$14,950 (2027 cycle) | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Financial aid | Unconfirmed — check official site | Need-based tuition discount: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. 10–80% off online tuition or 10–50% off San Francisco tuition; no full-ride scholarships; parents' income statements for the last 12 months are required. (2027 cycle) | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Expenses and aid conditions | Unconfirmed — check official site | Non-refundable deposit (counts toward tuition): $700. Due within 14 days of acceptance; the remaining tuition is charged 14 days after the deposit.; Need-based tuition discount: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. 10–80% off online tuition or 10–50% off San Francisco tuition; no full-ride scholarships; parents' income statements for the last 12 months are required. (2027 cycle) | 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; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Additional eligibility | Minimum age 16; Residency: San Diego County resident attending a REACH partner school; Requirement: Open to grades 9–12; Requirement: Completed the most recent semester of high school at a REACH partner school (Barrio Logan College Institute, Crawford, Del Lago Academy, Escondido, Hoover, Lincoln, Madison, Morse or Orange Glen); Requirement: At least 16 by the start of the pre-program boot camp; Requirement: At least one year each of high school chemistry and biology; Requirement: Minimum GPA of 3.0; Requirement: Commit to 40 hours per week, missing no more than 3 days; Requirement: Legally eligible to work in the United States, with a work permit if under 18; Requirement: Have not done the REACH summer internship before | Ages 14–17; Requirement: Must currently be in high school; not open to college students or other adults | Ages 13–17 |
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| Session dates or duration | Last year's cycle (2026): Starts June 22, 2026; Ends August 7, 2026; 7 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Catalog terms: 4 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Format | In person | In person / Online | 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 | Non-residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Location | La Jolla, CA | Berkeley, CA | Apple Valley, MN |
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| Selection and application | Selection: Only students at nine partner schools/programs were eligible in 2026. Finalists were interviewed and placements depended on laboratory/mentor capacity; no applicant total, cohort size or acceptance rate is published. Application materials: Virtual interview for finalists | Selection: Leangap reviews applicants for fit using motivation, initiative, collaboration, problem solving, skills, and impact. Each 2026 format was limited to 40 seats, but no applicant count or acceptance rate is published. Application materials: Parents' income statements for the last 12 months (financial aid applicants) | 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. |
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| Official sources | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-08-21Source 3 · checked 2026-08-21 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-10-24Source 3 · checked 2026-10-24Source 4 · checked 2026-10-24Source 5 · checked 2026-08-21Source 6 · checked 2026-08-20 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24 |
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