Mason Science ASSIP (Aspiring Scientist Summer Internship Program) and Aspiring Inventors Programs

Grades

High school students and early undergraduate students (no maximum age as long as not yet graduated from university)

Age

Minimum 15 years old by June 18 for remote internships and in-person computer lab work; Minimum 16 years old by June 18 for wet-lab internships (safety requirement with no exceptions)

Citizenship

No citizenship restrictions mentioned; applicants from 6 countries have been accepted

Prerequisites

No specific GPA requirement stated, but strong academic background in STEM is beneficial; no transcripts or letters of recommendation required

Steps

1. 1. Pay $25 non-refundable application fee (waivable for financial need)
2. 2. Complete application form (no transcript or letter of recommendation required)
3. 3. Select and rank top 3 preferred mentors from prospective mentor list
4. 4. Submit application by deadline (typically early-mid February)
5. 5. If shortlisted, participate in interviews with selected mentors (typically March)
6. 6. Receive notification of mentor selections (early April)
7. 7. Accept internship offer and pay $1,299 tuition for 3 college credits (waivable for financial need)
8. 8. Attend orientation and begin internship (mid-June)

Materials Needed

• Application form
• List of 3 preferred mentors ranked by preference
• Statement of interest or motivation (specific format not detailed in sources)
• $25 application fee (or fee waiver request with documentation)
• $1,299 tuition payment upon acceptance (or tuition waiver request)

Timeline

Applications typically open in Fall/early Winter; deadline usually early-mid February; interviews in March; acceptance notifications early April; internship runs June 18-August 12/13 (approximately 8 weeks); final poster presentation mid-August

Cost

$25 application fee (waivable); $1,299 tuition for 3 college credits upon acceptance (waivable). Program itself is completely free otherwise. Financial aid available for both fees.

What Judges Look For

• Genuine passion for STEM and research
• Demonstrated intellectual curiosity and drive to contribute to scientific research
• Strong academic foundation in STEM subjects
• Motivation and commitment to rigorous 8-week full-time internship
• Specific interest aligned with available mentor research areas
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with faculty mentors
• Research potential and ability to conduct hypothesis-driven investigations
• Fit between student interests and mentor's research focus

Scoring

Specific rubric not publicly detailed. Selection involves mentor review of applications (February) and interviews with interested mentors (March). Mentors directly select interns based on their research needs and perceived fit with applicants.

Common Mistakes

• Not researching mentors thoroughly before selecting top 3 choices
• Selecting mentors whose research doesn't align with genuine interests
• Weak or generic statements about interest in science without specificity
• Failing to communicate why specific mentor/research area appeals to you
• Not being aware of age requirements for wet-lab vs. computer lab positions
• Underestimating competitiveness and applying late
• Geographic limitations: not considering whether internship format (remote/hybrid/in-person) is feasible
• Expecting no commitment after acceptance (program requires full acceptance and tuition payment)

Acceptance Rate

Highly competitive; specific acceptance rate not publicly disclosed. Program has expanded to support 272 total participants with 70+ mentors as of 2023, suggesting significant selectivity. Limited spots due to one-on-one mentorship model.

Applicants

Not publicly disclosed; 2023 applicants came from 33 states and Washington DC, plus 6 countries, suggesting national/international reach and substantial applicant pool

Winners / Selected

272 total participants across program history (as of 2023); likely 40-50+ selected per year in recent years based on expansion trend

• Start researching mentors and their research areas 2-3 months before application deadline
• Read mentor publications and research summaries to understand their work deeply
• Choose your 3 mentor preferences strategically: 1 reach (very competitive mentor), 1 target (aligned fit), 1 safety (mentor likely to take interns)
• Clearly articulate in your application why each mentor's research interests you specifically—avoid generic STEM statements
• Research should align with your genuine intellectual interests, not just 'impressive-sounding' topics
• Verify age requirements early (15 for computer labs, 16 for wet labs) to avoid last-minute disqualification
• Demonstrate familiarity with their research methodology and recent publications
• Highlight any prior STEM coursework, projects, or achievements relevant to your chosen research area
• Show understanding of what a hypothesis-driven research process entails
• Be specific about what research skills you want to develop
• Emphasize commitment to full-time (30 hours/week) intensive work for 8 weeks
• If applying for fee waiver, submit supporting documentation clearly showing financial need
• Prepare for mentor interviews by being able to discuss their research in depth and articulate why you're a good fit
• Follow application instructions precisely; mentors review dozens of applications and attention to detail matters
• Apply early rather than last-minute to avoid technical issues
• Consider geographic constraints: if internship is in-person, ensure you can commute to Fairfax, VA or arrange accommodation
• For hybrid/remote options, verify you have reliable internet and workspace for conducting research
• Look for opportunities to mention previous research experience, science fair participation, or relevant coursework
• Be authentic; mentors can tell if you're genuinely interested vs. just padding college applications

How to Prepare

• Strengthen foundation in relevant STEM subjects through advanced coursework (AP Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science)
• Read scientific literature and research papers in your area of interest to build vocabulary and understanding
• Learn about the research methodologies used in your chosen field (wet lab techniques, computational modeling, field work, etc.)
• Familiarize yourself with George Mason University's research focus areas and faculty by browsing their website
• Research faculty profiles and publications on Google Scholar to understand who conducts research aligned with your interests
• Participate in any available research experiences at your school or local university to build foundational skills
• Develop strong scientific writing and communication skills through essays and presentations
• Take science electives or specialty courses that showcase depth in your STEM interest
• Attend science seminars or webinars in your field of interest to stay current on research trends
• Practice explaining complex scientific concepts clearly to both experts and non-experts
• If available, seek mentorship from your school's science teacher or local scientists
• Review past ASSIP abstracts (available in Mason Journal of Student Scientists Research) to understand research quality expectations
• Create a list of 10-15 potential mentors and read their recent work in depth before narrowing to top 3
• Prepare for potential interviews by practicing articulating your research interests and questions for mentors

Resources

• George Mason University College of Science website: science.gmu.edu
• ASSIP official page: science.gmu.edu/assip
• Mason Journal of Student Scientists Research (past 2019-2025 abstracts)
• Google Scholar: for researching faculty publications and research areas
• ResearchGate: to find faculty profiles and connect with researchers
• PubMed/ScienceDirect: for reading scientific papers in biology and medicine fields
• arXiv.org: for physics, computer science, and related fields preprints
• Individual mentor lab websites: most faculty have dedicated pages describing their research
• YouTube: search for Mason faculty seminars or research overviews
• College board forums and r/ApplyingToCollege for general summer program advice
• Lumiere Education: publishes blog posts about research program applications
• Ladder Internships blog: provides insights on competitive internship selection

Time Needed

Begin preparation 4-6 months before application deadline (approximately October-November for February deadline). Intensive mentor research: 4-6 weeks. Application and statement preparation: 2-3 weeks. Interview preparation (if selected): 2-3 weeks. Total timeline from start to internship: approximately 7-8 months.

Successful ASSIP participants typically demonstrate strong passion for STEM with specific research interests rather than general science enthusiasm. They have taken advanced STEM coursework (AP Bio, Chemistry, Physics, etc.) and show strong academic performance. Many have prior research experience through science fairs, school projects, or other summer programs. Successful applicants are intellectually curious about the mentor's specific research area and can articulate why that particular research matters to them. Winners come from diverse geographic backgrounds (33+ states, 6 countries) suggesting geographic diversity is not a barrier. Post-program, alumni continue to distinguished STEM careers, pursue competitive universities, have research published in scientific journals, and some have filed patents. Notable achievement: one participant filed 3 patents during/after their ASSIP experience. Successful applicants balance academic excellence with genuine passion and demonstrable commitment to their field.

Summer research internships like ASSIP are highly valued in college admissions, particularly for STEM-focused applicants and students applying to research-intensive universities. Admissions officers view these programs as evidence of: (1) genuine STEM commitment beyond classroom work, (2) ability to handle rigorous academic challenges, (3) initiative and drive to pursue opportunities, (4) capacity for independent work and intellectual maturity, (5) specific knowledge of research processes and potential research career. ASSIP's prestige is enhanced by: affiliation with established university (George Mason), one-on-one mentorship model (demonstrates selectivity), 8-10 week intensity (shows serious commitment), publication/conference presentation potential (tangible outcomes), and explicit connection to Aspiring Inventors Fellowship (demonstrates innovation). Research publications and patents from ASSIP work are particularly impressive on college applications. The program signals to admissions committees that the student is serious about STEM and has real experience in the field. Most valuable for students applying to: research universities (MIT, Caltech, Stanford, etc.), STEM-specialized programs (bioengineering, physics, neuroscience), and competitive liberal arts colleges with strong STEM programs. Having completed ASSIP demonstrates commitment that distinguishes applicants from peers with only classroom-based achievements.

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