Simons Summer Research Program vs SMART Scholarship Program
Comparing two highly competitive STEM opportunities. Simons Summer Research Program is a summer program while SMART Scholarship Program is a scholarship.
| Simons Summer Research Program | SMART Scholarship Program | |
|---|---|---|
| Prestige Tier | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive |
| Type | Summer Program | Scholarship |
| Organization | Simons Foundation | Department of War (DoW) |
| Acceptance Rate | Approximately 11-12% (40 fellows selected from ~350 applicants annually as of 2015) | Unknown - not publicly available |
| Applicants | Approximately 350 per year | Unknown - not publicly available |
| Deadline | Rolling | Rolling |
| Cost to Apply | Free | Free |
| US Only | Yes | Yes |
| Grades | High school students (primarily juniors and seniors) | Appears to be for college-bound students (exact grade level unclear from available information) |
| 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 ... | Theoretical impact: A full DoD-sponsored SMART Scholarship would demonstrate significant academic achievement and military/government alignment, potentially valuable for certain college applications. ... |