Application Process

The ASPIRE internship application does not need to be completed in a single session, and you may save your progress.

Before You Apply

When completing your application, you will be asked to write one required essay of 200–350 words about a project you are proud of. You’ll also have an opportunity to tell us how you would further develop that project, if given the chance. There will be an additional, optional short essay, as detailed below.

ASPIRE essays should not be college-style essays or overly formal. Instead, they are your chance to share your personality and why you would make a great ASPIRE student. Please make sure to proofread and spell-check all essays. We strongly discourage the use of generative AI in your application.

New in 2026: There are additional fields on the ASPIRE application for summer 2026. Be on the lookout for these new elements:

• An additional short essay (250–300 words) asking you to share your favorite STEM experience or class and why it is your favorite. This could be about your favorite STEM class, something you learned, a competition you engaged in, etc. The subject matter of this essay should be different from the subject matter of the required ASPIRE essay, in which we invite you to tell us about a project you were proud of.
• A 1–2 page summary of experience or resume listing achievements and activities. This document should capture your most ASPIRE-relevant accomplishments, activities, experiences, extracurriculars, classes, skills, etc. You may also include job, internship, or volunteer experiences.
• (Optional) An example of work. You are invited to upload one example of work you’ve done to show mentors. This could be a GitHub link, a website you designed, a paper you wrote, a MESA project you were involved in, your final STEM Academy project, a presentation you uploaded to YouTube, etc. You may upload anything that you feel best shows your interests and experiences.
• A student policy acknowledgment. This field confirms that you have read and understood the basics of what the ASPIRE internship requires.
• A parent/guardian agreement. This ensures that your parent/guardian also understands the basics of what ASPIRE requires. You may send this to your parent/guardian while you are filling out your application.

Each application requires a recommendation from a teacher of your choice (preferably a science, technology, math, or engineering teacher). The recommender cannot be related to you. The recommendation form can be submitted while your application is still in progress. Only one recommendation is required, but there are two slots. We strongly recommend including a backup recommender. Multiple recommendations will not hurt your application.

Applying

Complete and submit the online application. Incomplete applications will not be considered. An application is considered complete when (1) it has been submitted, (2) the parent agreement form has been submitted, and (3) one recommendation form has been submitted.

The ASPIRE internship application does not need to be completed in a single session, and you may save your progress. However, you cannot edit your application after it has been submitted.

After submitting your application, a confirmation email will be sent to the email address on file. Do not use your school email because it may block outside communications.

You will receive an additional automated email when your recommendation has been submitted, and another if you make it to our selection pool. It is your responsibility to ensure that your recommender uploads their recommendation by the deadline. Check your emails diligently. Because of volume, beyond our automated emails, we are unable to reconfirm eligibility or recommendation receipt on a student-by-student basis.

Upon acceptance, students will be asked to download and sign the ASPIRE Student Contract and School Acknowledgment Form (SAF). You can preview the contract here and the SAF here.

All students will be notified of their final status by May 15.