| Application deadline | Unconfirmed — check official site | February 1, 2027 (2027 cycle) | February 15, 2027 (2027 cycle) |
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| Cost | Last year's cycle (2026): $3,900; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Free attendance; check separate expenses (2027 cycle) | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Financial aid | Last year's cycle (2026): Need-based scholarships for online and commuter students: 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): Non-refundable application fee: $60. A fee waiver can be requested.; Lab kit fee (estimated, plus taxes and shipping): $265. International students may incur customs fees.; Need-based scholarships for online and commuter students: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | On-campus boarding: $0. Covered by program funders.; Food: $0. Covered by program funders. (2027 cycle) | Last year's cycle (2026): Application fee: $25; On-campus room and board and meals: $0. Provided by the program.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Stipend or pay | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Stipend on completion of a successful research project report: $750; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Eligibility | Grades 9–12 when applying; check the provider's rules for graduating seniors | Grades 10–11 when applying; summer rising grade is one higher | Grade 12 and first-year college (provider uses rising grades) |
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| Additional eligibility | Requirement: Open to students currently in grades 9–12 when applying; Requirement: As and Bs in high school math and science classes; Requirement: Completed Algebra II; Requirement: Completed a course covering trigonometric functions; Requirement: Completed a full year of high school chemistry and/or physics with a lab (or a 4 or 5 on AP Chemistry or AP Physics 1); Requirement: Recent high school graduates may attend the summer before college | Residency: Texas high school students; Requirement: Open to students currently in grades 10–11 when applying; Requirement: Students enrolled in summer school during the program dates cannot participate (full-time attendance required) | Minimum age 17; Citizenship: US citizen; Citizenship: US permanent resident; Requirement: Open to rising grades 12–13; Requirement: Must be at least 17 years old by the program start date, with no exceptions; Requirement: Open to rising high school seniors and to students graduating from high school right before the program |
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| Session dates or duration | Catalog terms: 5–6 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Starts June 20, 2027; Ends June 25, 2027 (2027 cycle) | Starts June 20, 2027; Ends August 5, 2027; 7 weeks (2027 cycle) |
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| Format | Online | In person | 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 | Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Location | Worldwide synchronous participation, subject to Eastern Time attendance and lab-kit shipping/customs feasibility | Austin, TX | Lubbock, TX |
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| Selection and application | Selection: Completed applications are academically reviewed. Rising juniors and seniors are typical, talented rising sophomores may be considered, and older students receive priority when space is limited. Programs can fill before final deadlines; no acceptance rate is published. Application materials: One brief required essay and one brief optional essay; Teacher recommendation | Selection: McCombs describes desired qualities but publishes no current applicant count, cohort size, acceptance rate, fixed GPA cutoff, identity quota, geographic quota, scoring rubric, interview process, or waitlist policy. Historical cohort figures must not be treated as a future guarantee. Application materials: Essay(s); One letter of recommendation | Application materials: Short essays; Three recommendations via online questionnaire, at least two from teachers |
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| Official sources | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-10-24Source 3 · checked 2026-10-24Source 4 · checked 2026-10-24Source 5 · checked 2026-08-21Source 6 · checked 2026-08-21Source 7 · checked 2026-08-21Source 8 · checked 2026-08-21 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-08-20Source 3 · checked 2026-08-20 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-10-24Source 3 · checked 2026-10-24Source 4 · checked 2026-10-24Source 5 · checked 2026-08-21 |
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