| 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 | $10,200 (2027 cycle) |
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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 | Need-based financial aid: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. About 40% of students receive aid; average award is 70% of tuition; awards include free or reduced-price gear rental and top packages include flights. (2027 cycle) |
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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 | Summer Term 2027 student account deposit: $500. Returned if unused.; Need-based financial aid: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. About 40% of students receive aid; average award is 70% of tuition; awards include free or reduced-price gear rental and top packages include flights.; Clarity financial aid application fee: $65. Only for aid applicants; automatically waived below a certain family income, or on request. (2027 cycle) |
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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 10–11 when applying; summer rising grade is one higher | Grades 6–12 (provider uses rising grades) | Grades 10–12 (provider uses rising grades) |
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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 | Ages 14–18; Requirement: Open to rising grades 10–12; Requirement: Willing to spend extended periods (10 days) outdoors in wilderness settings; no previous outdoor experience is required |
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| Session dates or duration | Starts June 20, 2027; Ends June 25, 2027 (2027 cycle) | Unconfirmed — check official site | Starts June 27, 2027; Ends July 24, 2027; 4 weeks (2027 cycle) |
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| Format | In person | Online | 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 | Austin, TX | Available to U.S. registrants; kits may be shipped to a home or picked up at a DNALC location | Leadville, CO |
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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: HMI describes a typical cohort of 12-20 students; it does not publish a current applicant count or acceptance rate. Application materials: Summer Term application with two essay questions; Two teacher recommendations (at least one from a core academic teacher); 15-30 minute interview with the admissions team |
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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 2026-10-24Source 4 · checked 2026-08-22Source 5 · checked 2026-08-22Source 6 · checked 2026-08-22 |
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