Summer program
Secondary Student Training Program (SSTP)
University of Iowa - Belin-Blank Center
Cost
$7,500 program fee (covers room, board, materials, and 3 semester hours of credit); financial aid can cover up to 95% of cost
Deadline
~Feb 16, 2027
Estimated; confirm on sponsor site
The Secondary Student Training Program is a five-and-a-half week residential research program at the University of Iowa's Belin-Blank Center, pairing academically talented students in grades 10-11 with UI faculty mentors across roughly 16 departments. Participants earn three semester hours of university credit for their supervised research work.
Eligibility
- Grade levels
- High school sophomore, High school junior
- Citizenship
- Any
- Fields of study
- Research, Natural sciences, Engineering, Business, Social sciences, Communications
- Essay
- Required
Application requirements
- Submit the online application with demographic and background information
- Pay the $95 non-refundable application fee
-
Write two essays (750 words maximum each)
Essay prompts
- Briefly describe each of your research areas of interest. This is used to help determine which faculty mentors will be sent your application materials. If you have particular interests, technical skills, or experience with a research method this is the appropriate place to highlight those talents. 750 words maximum
- Why are you applying to the Secondary Student Training Program? Describe your career aspirations and explain what you hope to gain from the SSTP experience. 750 words maximum
- Submit a current high school transcript
- Provide two letters of reference (one academic, one character)
- Submit SAT or ACT scores (optional but recommended)
Verified Jul 8, 2026 · View official source