Student applicants must be nominated by an educator or guidance counselor within their academic community. We encourage Nominators to give preference to students who are currently juniors, but accept nominees from any grade level, as long as they will be at least 16 years old by June 15.
No particular prior science experience is necessary; no past experience helping conduct science research is allowed. Students with limited economic or cultural opportunities for other types of educational enrichment will be favored.
Student applicants must be enrolled in high school (or be officially home-schooled) in the United States. Seniors are eligible to apply and may participate in a SCAP Expedition in the summer after they graduate.
Successful applicants are:
- Avid and enthusiastic learners
- Creative and critical thinkers
- Effective communicators
- Thoughtful nonconformists
- Respected by teachers and peers
Nominators should be confident in a student's ability to handle the social and intellectual challenges of working—perhaps far away from home—on a small research team composed of talented high school students, graduate students, and scientists.
Students may not apply without a Nominator. We rely on Nominators to identify students who best fit the nomination criteria.