Simons Summer Research Program vs MLH Fellowship

Comparing two highly competitive STEM opportunities. Simons Summer Research Program is a summer program while MLH Fellowship is a internship.

Simons Summer Research Program MLH Fellowship
Prestige Tier Tier 2 — Highly Competitive Tier 2 — Highly Competitive
Type Summer Program Internship
Organization Simons Foundation Major League Hacking (MLH)
Acceptance Rate Approximately 11-12% (40 fellows selected from ~350 applicants annually as of 2015) Not publicly disclosed; competitive program but exact rate unknown
Applicants Approximately 350 per year Not publicly disclosed; appears to have multiple cohorts annually
Deadline Rolling Rolling
Cost to Apply Free Free
US Only Yes No / International
Grades High school students (primarily juniors and seniors) College students and above (program appears designed primarily for undergraduates; high school eligibility unclear)
College Impact 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 ... Highly valued in college admissions and recruiting. Shows: (1) Real-world experience with production-grade code, (2) Demonstrated commitment to open-source/collaborative development, (3) Recognition b...