MLH Fellowship - Software Engineering Track vs Simons Summer Research Program
Comparing two highly competitive STEM opportunities. MLH Fellowship - Software Engineering Track is a internship while Simons Summer Research Program is a summer program.
| MLH Fellowship - Software Engineering Track | Simons Summer Research Program | |
|---|---|---|
| Prestige Tier | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive |
| Type | Internship | Summer Program |
| Organization | Major League Hacking (MLH) | Simons Foundation |
| Acceptance Rate | Highly competitive (exact rate not disclosed); MLH notes 'overwhelming demand from students' and significantly more applicants than available projects | Approximately 11-12% (40 fellows selected from ~350 applicants annually as of 2015) |
| Applicants | Not officially published; described as receiving 'overwhelming demand' suggesting hundreds to thousands annually | Approximately 350 per year |
| Deadline | Rolling | Rolling |
| Cost to Apply | Free | Free |
| US Only | No / International | Yes |
| Grades | Open to high school students and early-career developers; no specific grade level restriction mentioned, but intermediate to advanced coding proficiency required | High school students (primarily juniors and seniors) |
| College Impact | Strong positive impact on college applications and career prospects: 1) Demonstrates real-world professional experience (not just school projects or tutoring), which top colleges value significantly; ... | 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 ... |