Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program in Biomedical Sciences vs Simons Summer Research Program
Comparing two elite STEM opportunities. Both are summer programs for high school students.
| Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program in Biomedical Sciences | Simons Summer Research Program | |
|---|---|---|
| Prestige Tier | Tier 1 — Elite | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive |
| Type | Summer Program | Summer Program |
| Organization | MD Anderson Cancer Center, School of Health Professions | Simons Foundation |
| Acceptance Rate | Approximately 5-10% based on estimated 60-120 applications for 6 spots (highly competitive but not as selective as top national programs like RSI or TASP) | Approximately 11-12% (40 fellows selected from ~350 applicants annually as of 2015) |
| Applicants | Estimated 60-120 annually (exact numbers not disclosed by MD Anderson) | Approximately 350 per year |
| Deadline | Rolling | Rolling |
| Award | $7,200 | — |
| Cost to Apply | $0 | Free |
| US Only | No / International | Yes |
| Grades | High school seniors only (current seniors during spring semester before program start) | High school students (primarily juniors and seniors) |
| College Impact | This program has SIGNIFICANT positive impact on college admissions, especially for students pursuing health professions. Admissions officers view it as: (1) Evidence of serious commitment to healthcar... | Highly positive impact on college admissions. Summer research programs, especially prestigious ones like the Simons program, are viewed very favorably by college admissions officers because: (1) They ... |