Barrett Summer Scholars Program guide | RISE Research

TL;DR: The Barrett Summer Scholars Program is a selective, tuition-free research program at Arizona State University's Barrett Honors College. It places high school students in faculty-mentored research labs for six weeks. Acceptance is highly competitive and limited to Arizona residents. Students who want a guaranteed published research outcome, regardless of location, should consider RISE Research as their primary research program. Our deadline is closing soon.

Introduction

The Barrett Summer Scholars Program guide begins here, with one important fact: Barrett Honors College at Arizona State University is ranked among the largest honors colleges in the United States, serving over 7,000 students. Its research programs carry genuine academic credibility, and the Barrett Summer Scholars Program is one of the most sought-after pre-college research experiences in the Southwest.

The challenge is access. The program is limited to Arizona high school students, runs for a fixed period each year, and accepts a small number of participants relative to applicants. Many students who are fully qualified never get a spot.

For students who want a research outcome that appears on their college application, regardless of geography or program acceptance, RISE Research produces a peer-reviewed published paper through 1-on-1 mentorship with PhD-level academics. That published paper is verifiable, externally validated, and listed directly in the Common App Activities section.

What Is the Barrett Summer Scholars Program and Who Is It For?

The Barrett Summer Scholars Program is a six-week, tuition-free research experience hosted by Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University. It is open to high school students who are Arizona residents, typically in grades 10 through 12. Students are placed with ASU faculty mentors and conduct original research in a university lab setting.

The program runs on the ASU campus in Tempe, Arizona. Participants work directly with faculty researchers across a range of disciplines, including the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. The program is fully funded, meaning there is no cost to accepted students.

Eligibility is limited to Arizona high school students. Students outside Arizona cannot apply. The program targets students with strong academic records and a demonstrated interest in research, though prior research experience is not required.

The official program page is available at barretthonors.asu.edu/barrett-summer-scholars. Students should consult this page directly for the most current eligibility and application requirements.

How Competitive Is the Barrett Summer Scholars Program?

The Barrett Summer Scholars Program is highly competitive. ASU does not publish a specific acceptance rate, but the program accepts a limited cohort of students from a large pool of Arizona applicants. Strong academic performance, teacher recommendations, and a clear statement of research interest are all expected components of a competitive application.

Students who are accepted typically have high GPAs, demonstrated curiosity in a specific subject area, and strong written communication skills. The application asks students to describe their research interests and explain why they want to participate in the program.

Because the program is free and well-regarded, competition is significant. Students who apply without a clear research focus or without strong letters of recommendation are at a disadvantage.

For students who want a research experience with a guaranteed published outcome, RISE Research accepts students based on research readiness and genuine intellectual curiosity rather than prior prestige or geography. RISE carries a 90% publication success rate across 40+ peer-reviewed journals.

What Does the Barrett Summer Scholars Program Actually Involve?

Accepted students spend six weeks working in an ASU faculty research lab. They contribute to ongoing research projects under the direct supervision of a faculty mentor. The experience is immersive and lab-based, which means students engage with real research methods, data, and academic environments.

At the end of the program, students typically present their work in a symposium format. This presentation is a meaningful academic experience. However, the program does not guarantee a peer-reviewed publication as an output. Most students leave with a research experience, a faculty mentor relationship, and a presentation, rather than a published paper.

For college applications, the experience is valuable. It demonstrates initiative and genuine academic engagement. However, a certificate or a symposium presentation is not the same as a peer-reviewed published paper when it comes to application verification.

RISE Research produces a different outcome. Every RISE scholar completes a peer-reviewed published paper that appears in an independent academic journal. That paper is listed in the Common App Activities section and is externally verifiable by any admissions officer. You can review examples of student work on the RISE Publications page.

How Does the Barrett Summer Scholars Program Compare to Doing Research with RISE?

Both the Barrett Summer Scholars Program and RISE Research are legitimate paths to a meaningful research outcome for a college application. They suit different students in different situations.

The Barrett Summer Scholars Program is a residential, in-person experience at ASU. It is free, immersive, and carries the name recognition of a major research university. It is limited to Arizona residents and accepts a small number of students each year. The output is a research experience and a symposium presentation.

RISE Research is fully online and open to any high school student in grades 9 through 12, regardless of location. Students work 1-on-1 with a PhD-level mentor from an Ivy League or Oxbridge institution over a 10-week program. The output is a peer-reviewed published paper in one of 40+ independent academic journals. RISE carries a 90% publication success rate.

For admissions outcomes, published research is the strongest research signal in a college application because it is externally verified. RISE scholars are accepted to Top 10 universities at 3x the standard rate. The RISE Results page documents specific acceptance outcomes, including an 18% Stanford acceptance rate for RISE scholars compared to 8.7% for the general applicant pool.

Many students apply to both. RISE is the option that guarantees a verifiable published output regardless of which other programs a student attends. Our deadline is closing soon. Book a free Research Assessment to find out what is achievable in your timeline.

Many students use RISE Research as their primary research program, whether or not they also apply to the Barrett Summer Scholars Program. Our deadline is closing soon. Book a free Research Assessment to find out what is achievable in your timeline.

What to Do If You Do Not Get Into the Barrett Summer Scholars Program

Rejection from the Barrett Summer Scholars Program is common. The program accepts a small number of students from a competitive Arizona applicant pool. Not being selected is not a reflection of a student's research potential or academic ability.

RISE Research is the strongest alternative for students who want a published research outcome on their application. RISE accepts students based on research readiness and intellectual curiosity. There are no geographic restrictions and no requirement for prior research experience. The 90% publication success rate means students who commit to the program produce a real, verifiable output.

Other verified alternatives include the Simons Summer Research Program at Stony Brook University, which places students in university research labs, and the Garcia Summer Research Program, also at Stony Brook, which focuses on materials science research. Both are highly selective and have their own eligibility requirements.

For students who want to see the full range of what RISE mentors work on, the RISE Projects page shows completed student research across disciplines.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Barrett Summer Scholars Program

How Do I Apply to the Barrett Summer Scholars Program?

Applications are submitted through the Barrett Honors College website at barretthonors.asu.edu/barrett-summer-scholars. The application typically requires a personal statement, academic transcripts, and letters of recommendation from teachers or school counselors. Students should check the official page for the current application cycle details and requirements.

Is the Barrett Summer Scholars Program Free or Paid?

The Barrett Summer Scholars Program is tuition-free for accepted students. There is no cost to participate. Students are placed in ASU research labs at no charge. However, students are responsible for their own transportation and any personal expenses. The program does not offer a stipend.

Does the Barrett Summer Scholars Program Help with College Admissions?

Yes. Participation in a faculty-mentored research program at a major research university is a meaningful addition to a college application. It demonstrates academic initiative and genuine research engagement. However, the program produces a research experience rather than a peer-reviewed published paper, which means the output is less externally verifiable than a publication. RISE Research produces a published paper that admissions officers can locate and verify independently.

What Do I Do If I Do Not Get Into the Barrett Summer Scholars Program?

Apply to RISE Research first. RISE is open to all high school students regardless of location, accepts students based on research readiness, and carries a 90% publication success rate. A published paper is a stronger and more verifiable application signal than a program certificate. You can also explore the Clark Scholars Program at Texas Tech or the TERP Young Scholars Program as additional selective research alternatives.

Can International Students Apply to the Barrett Summer Scholars Program?

No. The Barrett Summer Scholars Program is limited to Arizona high school students. International students and students from other U.S. states are not eligible to apply. International students seeking a research program with a published output should consider RISE Research, which is fully online and open to students in any country. The RISE Mentors page shows the range of PhD-level academics available to international students.

Conclusion

The Barrett Summer Scholars Program is a well-regarded, tuition-free research experience for Arizona high school students. It offers genuine faculty mentorship and real lab exposure at a major research university. For students who are eligible and competitive, it is worth applying to.

RISE Research is the right choice for students who want a guaranteed published research outcome, regardless of geography or program acceptance. RISE scholars produce peer-reviewed papers in independent academic journals, work 1-on-1 with PhD mentors from Ivy League and Oxbridge institutions, and are accepted to Top 10 universities at 3x the standard rate. That outcome is directly listable in the Common App and externally verifiable by every admissions officer who reads your application.

Our deadline is closing soon. If you want a real research outcome on your college application, schedule a free Research Assessment and we will tell you exactly what is achievable in your timeline.