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)
Entry into the Program is competitive, so not all who apply will be selected.
The application process starts with completing the online form. Make sure you take the time to provide clear and thoughtful responses that reflect who you are. Submission of completed application forms (including reference letters and academic history) will be reviewed after which candidates will be contacted to schedule interviews. Acceptance into the program will be based on the completed application and interview responses. Candidates will be contacted beginning late February/early March, with final notifications no later than March 20th.
Students will receive a final notification no later than March 20th following submission of their application.

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.

All interactions with STaR mentees are live! We use an array of 1:1 meetings, group chats, and live workshops to facilitate interaction and discussion and promote the development of a greater sense of ownership and collegiality.
No. If a student begins as a Junior, the one-time program acceptance fee covers their enrollment in the STaR Program. The only fees paid for a second year STaR mentee will be the Project Consultation fee.

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.

The STaR Program is a unique remote mentoring and research experience based on a data science, bioinformatics and data mining approach.
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