Frequently Asked Questions
The cost of the STaR Program is a non-refundable program acceptance fee of $4000, and then a $500 monthly fee for 12 months from the start (June) until the end of competition season (the following May).
This fee covers mentorship/project consultation for the duration of the program. This includes project selection; study design; research strategy planning; workshops; educational seminars (as needed); competition planning & coaching; presentation organization; manuscript preparation.
The STaR Program is a remote research mentoring and training program designed to provide high school junior and seniors with valuable experience and tangibles to enhance their competitiveness for college and scholarship applications.
- The Program consists of 3 parts, with an optional summer experience
- Part 1 (June – August, Year 1) involves educational workshops, project selection and design, resource identification, and analytical strategy formation for each STaR mentee participating in the program
- Part 2 (September – December, Year 1) Data analysis and begin drafting manuscript for competition submission deadlines in November and January)
- Part 3 (January – May, Year 2) Competition season! STaR Program mentees are required to submit to three competitions, i.e. the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, and the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair; manuscript finalization.
- *Optional – Part 4 (June – August, Year 2) – Lab Techniques (wet lab experience and training) and/or Specialized Training
- (Rising) Juniors – starts in June after finishing their sophomore year
- (Rising) Seniors – starts in June after finishing their junior year
- The Program runs from June (Year 1) – May (Year 2)
Yes! There are select opportunities for STaR Program mentees to complement their project the following summer with wet lab work, or week-long experiences with collaborators at other institutions.
No. The STaR Program is outside of school hours and is flexible according to each student’s schedule. In the past we’ve worked with students after hours and some time on the weekends.
Mentees in the STaR Program each have unique time commitments, and the STaR Program is designed to work with each student’s schedule to ensure their success. In this regard, the STaR Program has adopted a flexible milestone system where students focus on completing work at a pace that suits them to reach specific weekly and/or monthly milestones for their project. In addition, each student is given a weekly one-hour “touch base” time with Program Directors to discuss their project and other academic needs. This hour is always theirs to use if needed and is theirs to schedule in a way that works for all involved.
