| Application deadline | Unconfirmed — check official site | February 17, 2027 (2027 cycle) |
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| Cost | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Financial aid | Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Limited ESAP financial aid: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. 2026 aid was extremely limited, merit- and need-sensitive, and only for U.S. citizens/permanent residents; next-cycle terms unannounced.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Expenses and aid conditions | Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): 2026 enrollment deposit (historical): $1,500. Nonrefundable; aid-recipient deposit could differ. Part of the total program fee.; Limited ESAP financial aid: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. 2026 aid was extremely limited, merit- and need-sensitive, and only for U.S. citizens/permanent residents; next-cycle terms unannounced.; 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 | 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 | Minimum age 15; Requirement: For 2026, be a high-school student at least age 15 by program start; Requirement: Hold at least a 3.0 GPA or equivalent, with strong math/science preparation preferred; Requirement: Submit a complete official high-school transcript through the school; Requirement: Submit the required original essay and all supplements by the applicable deadline; Requirement: International applicants apply by the priority deadline and independently satisfy passport, visa, SEVIS, insurance, travel, and English-proficiency requirements; Requirement: Non-native English speakers meet the published TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo minimum or obtain the English-medium-school waiver; Requirement: Commit to the complete residential program and selected course; Exclusion: Applicants younger than 15 on the program start date under 2026 rules; Exclusion: Incomplete or late online/supplemental materials; Exclusion: International applicants applying after the priority deadline; Exclusion: International applicants seeking ESAP financial aid under the 2026 restriction; Exclusion: Assuming course credit automatically transfers, guarantees Penn admission, or improves Penn admission odds; Exclusion: Using 2026 requirements as guaranteed next-cycle terms |
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| Session dates or duration | Catalog terms: 8–10 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Catalog terms: 3 weeks; 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 | Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania 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: Very selective holistic review of academic interests, abilities, achievement, peer contribution, and potential benefit. Penn publishes no current applicant count or acceptance rate. Application materials: Essay no longer than two pages with required header and formatting under 2026 guidance |
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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 2026-10-09Source 2 · checked 2026-10-09Source 3 · checked 2026-10-09Source 4 · checked 2026-10-09Source 5 · checked 2026-10-09Source 6 · checked 2026-10-09Source 7 · checked 2026-10-09Source 8 · checked 2026-10-09Source 9 · checked 2026-10-09Source 10 · checked 2026-10-09Source 11 · checked 2026-08-20Source 12 · checked 2026-08-20 |
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