First Name (can be your preferred/lived name or your legal name) Last Name Birthdate Month... January February March April May June July August September October November December Day... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Year... 2016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998199719961995199419931992199119901989198819871986198519841983198219811980197919781977197619751974197319721971197019691968196719661965196419631962196119601959195819571956 Personal Email - If you do not have an email address where you can be reached, please provide the email of your school counselor below and we will contact them with our decision Cell Phone - Make sure it is one where we can always reach you
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Address City State US State/Territory... Alabama Alaska American Samoa Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Guam Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Marshall Islands Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Micronesia Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Northern Marianas Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Palau Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virgin Islands Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Zip

Do you have current or prior work experience? It may be paid or volunteer. Please include ONLY non-scientific work.
Yes
No

Please provide the following information. Click "Add another experience" to add up to 4 experiences.


Employer Dates (MM/YYYY-MM/YYYY) Job Title Job Responsibilities Average Hours/Week Average Hours/Week... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 More than 40
Add another experience
Employer Dates (MM/YYYY-MM/YYYY) Job Title Job Responsibilities Average Hours/Week Average Hours/Week... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 More than 40
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Employer Dates (MM/YYYY-MM/YYYY) Job Title Job Responsibilities Average Hours/Week Average Hours/Week... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 More than 40
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Employer Dates (MM/YYYY-MM/YYYY) Job Title Job Responsibilities Average Hours/Week Average Hours/Week... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 More than 40

Have you participated in any programs or activities that focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)? These may include MESA, AVID, Science Fairs,
Yes
No

Please provide the following information. Click "Add another experience" to add up to 4 experiences.


Name of Program/Activity Dates (MM/YYYY-MM/YYYY) Description of Participation
Add another experience
Name of Program/Activity Dates (MM/YYYY-MM/YYYY) Description of Participation
Add another experience
Name of Program/Activity Dates (MM/YYYY-MM/YYYY) Description of Participation
Add another experience
Name of Program/Activity Dates (MM/YYYY-MM/YYYY) Description of Participation

Please list all of the science courses you have taken since 9th grade or are currently taking.


Please list all of the math courses you have taken since 9th grade or are currently taking.

The 4 SST courses being offered for Fall 2026 are:

Becoming a Mindbender: Exploring How Light Can Control Behavior
Content Area: Neuroscience, Biology, Computational Science
Instructor(s): Sanghun Jee

Building the Human Body: Using Computational Biology to Understand How Different Cell Types Emerge from a Single Cell
Content Area: Biology, Engineering, Computational Science
Instructor(s): Elisabeth Rothman, Dr. Varsha P. Desai

From Your Coffee Mug to the Universe: Exploring the Physics of Fluids
Content Area: Physics, Astronomy
Instructor(s): Zirui Chen, Ish Kaul

The Science of Chaos
Content Area: Physics, Quantum, Engineering, Materials Science
Instructor(s): Jack Tregidga, Ruben Saatjian

Please indicate which of these classes are your top 2 preferences (click here to see a description of the classes being offered in a new browser window). Also, briefly explain why you prefer these classes and/or instructors in particular. You must provide your top 2 choices in order for your application to be considered.

Please select your first choice from the dropdown menu: First Choice... Becoming a Mindbender: Exploring How Light Can Control BehaviorBuilding the Human Body: Using Computational Biology to Understand How Different Cell Types Emerge from a Single CellFrom Your Coffee Mug to the Universe: Exploring the Physics of FluidsThe Science of Chaos Please give your reasons for your first choice here:


Please select your second choice from the dropdown menu: Second Choice... Becoming a Mindbender: Exploring How Light Can Control BehaviorBuilding the Human Body: Using Computational Biology to Understand How Different Cell Types Emerge from a Single CellFrom Your Coffee Mug to the Universe: Exploring the Physics of FluidsThe Science of Chaos Please give your reasons for your second choice here:

Below are the dates for Fall 2026 SST. Please select all dates you CANNOT attend. If you expect to be at all 3 classes, please select the last option.

I cannot attend the class on Saturday, October 10, 2026
I cannot attend the class on Saturday, October 17, 2026
I cannot attend the class on Saturday, October 24, 2026
I expect to be at all 3 classes

How did you hear about the SST?
Friend or relative
High school teacher
Other:

Have you previously participated in the School for Scientific Thought?
Yes
No

Describe the prior SST class(es) you took.

How do you plan to get to and from the SST?


Please provide the name of your current science teacher.

The information below will not be viewed or considered for selection purposes, unless the program specifically requires the information to assess eligibility, such as US citizenship status. Please go to the SST website to review eligibility requirements. Aggregate data (i.e., "78% of applicants were Pell Grant eligible") may be shared for reporting or dissemination purposes.

Which of the following represents your status in the US?
I am a US citizen
I am a US permanent resident
I am an international student
None of the above

What is your gender identity?
Woman
Man
Decline to state

Are you of Hispanic/Latinx origin?
Yes
No
Unknown
Decline to state

Which of the following best describes your race? You may hover over each term for a definition. Select all that apply. For example, if you are of Hispanic/Latinx origin, you may be a mix of American Indian/Alaska Native as well as Caucasian. If you are not of Hispanic/Latinx origin, you may still be a mix of American Indian/Alaska Native as well as Caucasian. You may select "Unknown" if your race is unknown to you.

American Indian/Alaska Native Includes all indigenous people of North, Central, and South America

Asian Includes all indigenous people of East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Indian subcontinent

Black Includes all indigenous people of Africa

Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Includes all indigenous people of Pacific Islands, including Hawaii, Guam, Fiji, Philippines, Tonga, and Samoa

Caucasian Includes all indigenous people of Europe and Middle Eastern countries, including Spain, Italy, and Portugal

Unknown Your ancestry is unknown to you

Decline to state

What language(s) did you grow up speaking in your home?
English
Spanish
Other (please state):
Decline to state

Do you have any disabilities, defined as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities?
Yes
No
Decline to state

Which of the following programs have you ever participated in?
Advancement via Individual Determination (AVID)
Apprentice Researchers (AR)
Educational Opportunity Program (EOP)
Mathematics, Engineering, and Science Achievement (MESA)
I have not participated in any of the above programs.
Decline to state

Do you qualify for a free or reduced lunch?
Yes
No
Unknown
Decline to state

Are you eligible for the Pell Grant?
Yes
No
Decline to state

Are you from a single parent home?
Yes
No
Decline to state

Have you ever been in the foster care system?
Yes
No
Decline to state

Please provide the education level of the parents/guardians who you have lived with. You can enter up to 4 by clicking "Add another parent/guardian".

1. Education Level of Parent/Guardian #1 Please select... Did not finish high school High school graduate Attended college, but no degree Associate's Degree Bachelor's Degree Master's Degree Professional degree or credential Doctoral Degree (PhD) I don't know Decline to state
Add another parent/guardian
Education Level of Parent/Guardian #2 Please select... Did not finish high school High school graduate Attended college, but no degree Associate's Degree Bachelor's Degree Master's Degree Professional degree or credential Doctoral Degree (PhD) I don't know Decline to state
Add another parent/guardian
Education Level of Parent/Guardian #3 Please select... Did not finish high school High school graduate Attended college, but no degree Associate's Degree Bachelor's Degree Master's Degree Professional degree or credential Doctoral Degree (PhD) I don't know Decline to state
Add another parent/guardian
Education Level of Parent/Guardian #4 Please select... Did not finish high school High school graduate Attended college, but no degree Associate's Degree Bachelor's Degree Master's Degree Professional degree or credential Doctoral Degree (PhD) I don't know Decline to state

Will you be the first generation in your family to earn a bachelor's degree? (If your parents/guardians did not earn a bachelor's degree, then you are first-generation.)
Yes
No
Unknown
Decline to state

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