| Application deadline | February 1, 2027 (2027 cycle) | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
|---|
| Cost | Free attendance; check separate expenses (2027 cycle) | $10,200 (2027 cycle) | Unconfirmed — check official site |
|---|
| Financial aid | 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) | Unconfirmed — check official site |
|---|
| Expenses and aid conditions | On-campus boarding: $0. Covered by program funders.; Food: $0. Covered by program funders. (2027 cycle) | 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) | Last year's cycle (2026): Lunch and snacks (provided): $0; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
|---|
| Stipend or pay | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Fellowship completion stipend: $800; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
|---|
| Eligibility | Grades 10–11 when applying; summer rising grade is one higher | Grades 10–12 (provider uses rising grades) | Grades 9–12 (provider uses rising grades) |
|---|
| 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) | 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 | Residency: Live and attend school in Suffolk, Norfolk, Middlesex, Essex or Plymouth County, MA (Boston residents prioritized); Requirement: Open to rising grades 9–12; Requirement: Fellows may attend only every other year: once as an incoming freshman or sophomore and once as an incoming junior or senior |
|---|
| Session dates or duration | Starts June 20, 2027; Ends June 25, 2027 (2027 cycle) | Starts June 27, 2027; Ends July 24, 2027; 4 weeks (2027 cycle) | Last year's cycle (2026): Starts July 20, 2026; Ends August 7, 2026; 3 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
|---|
| Format | In person | In person | In person |
|---|
| Housing and supervision | 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 |
|---|
| Location | Austin, TX | Leadville, CO | Boston, MA |
|---|
| 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: 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 | Selection: Twenty fellows and a short alternate list were selected in 2026. GrubStreet publishes no applicant count, acceptance rate, scoring rubric, or guaranteed future cohort size. Application materials: Creative writing sample (2–10 pages, any genre; no academic essays); Personal statement (up to 600 words) |
|---|
| 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 2026-08-22Source 5 · checked 2026-08-22Source 6 · checked 2026-08-22 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-08-21Source 3 · checked 2026-08-21 |
|---|