| Application deadline | February 1, 2027 (2027 cycle) | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Cost | Free attendance; check separate expenses (2027 cycle) | Catalog terms: $420; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Financial aid | Unconfirmed — check official site | Catalog terms: Need-based scholarship: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Requires household income documentation and a strong recommendation from a teacher, administrator or guidance counselor; one scholarship per student.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Expenses and aid conditions | On-campus boarding: $0. Covered by program funders.; Food: $0. Covered by program funders. (2027 cycle) | Catalog terms: Need-based scholarship: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Requires household income documentation and a strong recommendation from a teacher, administrator or guidance counselor; one scholarship per student.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Stipend or pay | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Catalog terms: Summer I fellowship award/stipend: $4,000; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site; Catalog terms: Summer II fellowship award: $4,000; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Eligibility | Grades 10–11 when applying; summer rising grade is one higher | Grades 6–12 (provider uses rising grades) | Grades 10–12 when applying; check the provider's rules for graduating seniors |
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| Additional eligibility | 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) | Residency: United States (no international On-Demand registrations); Requirement: Open to rising grades 6–12; Requirement: Fun with DNA: entering grade 6 or 7; Requirement: Forensic Detectives: entering grade 9 or 10; Requirement: DNA Barcoding: DNA Science alumni entering grades 10-12; Requirement: Genome Science: DNA Science alumni (or completed AP Biology) entering grades 11-12 | Requirement: Open to students currently in grades 10–12 when applying; Requirement: Family annual income must not exceed 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, documented by a 1040, free/reduced lunch, SNAP/WIC, TRIO participation or SAT/ACT fee-waiver eligibility; Requirement: Must have completed at least one high school chemistry course; Requirement: Must demonstrate an interest in science and/or chemistry; Requirement: Students under 18 need a parent or guardian's permission; Requirement: In the 2026 cycle, graduating high school seniors were also eligible |
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| Session dates or duration | Starts June 20, 2027; Ends June 25, 2027 (2027 cycle) | Unconfirmed — check official site | Catalog terms: 8–10 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Format | In person | Online | In person / Online |
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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 | Non-residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Location | Austin, TX | Available to U.S. registrants; kits may be shipped to a home or picked up at a DNALC location | Participating university, government, and industry research sites; virtual projects may also be offered |
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| Selection and application | 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 | Selection: Registration-based, subject to course prerequisites, kit availability, and U.S. shipping constraints; no competitive admission rate is published. | 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. |
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| Official sources | 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 2026-08-21 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-10-24Source 3 · checked 2026-08-20 |
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