Broad Summer Scholars Program guide | RISE Research

The Broad Summer Scholars Program is one of the most competitive biomedical research opportunities available to high school students in the United States. This complete Broad Summer Scholars Program guide covers what the program involves, how selective it is, what students actually produce, and what to do if you want a guaranteed research outcome regardless of which selective programs accept you. Our deadline is closing soon.

What is the Broad Summer Scholars Program and who is it for?

The Broad Summer Scholars Program is a competitive paid research internship hosted by the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is designed for high school students with a strong interest in genomics, computational biology, and biomedical science. Students work directly with Broad Institute researchers on active projects.

The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard is one of the world's leading genomics and biomedical research institutions. It has contributed to landmark projects including the Human Genome Project and CRISPR research. The Broad Summer Scholars Program places a small cohort of high school students inside this environment for several weeks each year.

The program targets students in grades 10 through 12 who have a demonstrated interest in biology, chemistry, computer science, or related fields. Students are matched with a Broad Institute research group and contribute to ongoing scientific work under the supervision of a researcher or graduate student mentor.

The program is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and is in-person and residential in nature. It is not available as a remote or online option. Students who are accepted receive a stipend for their participation, which distinguishes it from many other selective programs that charge tuition fees.

The official program page is available at broadinstitute.org/education/summer-scholars.

How competitive is the Broad Summer Scholars Program?

The Broad Summer Scholars Program is extremely competitive. The Broad Institute accepts a very small number of students each year from a national applicant pool. Acceptance rates are not publicly published, but the program is widely regarded as one of the most selective high school research placements in the country.

The program receives applications from high-achieving students across the United States. Successful applicants typically have strong academic records in science and mathematics, prior exposure to biology or computational fields, and the ability to articulate a specific research interest rather than a general curiosity about science.

The application requires a personal statement, academic transcripts, and teacher recommendations. Students who can demonstrate familiarity with genomics, data analysis, or laboratory methods have a stronger application profile. Geographic diversity is considered, but proximity to Cambridge is not a requirement.

Because the program accepts so few students, many highly qualified applicants are not selected. This is not a reflection of their potential. It reflects the limited number of available research placements at the institute.

RISE Research accepts students based on research readiness and genuine intellectual curiosity rather than prior prestige or location. The RISE admissions outcomes show a 90% publication success rate across all enrolled scholars, and the program is open to any qualified student regardless of where they live.

What does the Broad Summer Scholars Program actually involve?

Students in the Broad Summer Scholars Program work full-time inside a Broad Institute research lab for several weeks. They contribute to real ongoing research in areas such as genomics, single-cell biology, or computational biology. The program includes seminars, mentorship sessions, and a final research presentation.

A typical week in the program involves laboratory or computational work alongside a research team. Students do not run independent projects. They contribute to existing studies under direct supervision. This gives students genuine exposure to how professional scientific research operates, including data collection, analysis, and interpretation.

At the end of the program, students present their work to peers and institute staff. This presentation is a meaningful experience, but it does not result in a peer-reviewed published paper. The output is a research presentation and a program certificate.

For college applications, the Broad Summer Scholars Program carries significant name recognition. The Broad Institute's association with MIT and Harvard gives the program strong credibility. However, a presentation and certificate are not independently verifiable research outputs in the same way that a published paper is.

A peer-reviewed publication appears directly in the Common App Activities section as an externally verified contribution to a field. A program certificate signals participation. Both have value, but they signal different things to admissions officers at selective universities.

How RISE Research compares for students targeting biomedical and genomics fields

RISE Research is the option for students who want a guaranteed research outcome, whether or not they are accepted into a program like Broad Summer Scholars.

RISE is a selective 1-on-1 mentorship program where high school students conduct original research under PhD mentors from Ivy League and Oxbridge institutions. The program is fully online, which means it is available to any student in any location. There is no residential requirement and no geographic restriction.

The 10-week program results in a peer-reviewed published paper submitted to one of 40 or more academic journals. The RISE publications record shows a 90% publication success rate across all scholars. That paper appears directly in the Common App Activities section as an independently verified research contribution.

RISE scholars targeting top universities show significantly stronger admissions outcomes than the general applicant pool. The RISE results page documents an 18% Stanford acceptance rate for RISE scholars, compared to 8.7% for the general applicant pool, and a 32% UPenn acceptance rate compared to 3.8% for general applicants.

Published research is the strongest research signal in a college application because it is externally verified. Any admissions officer can look up the paper. That level of verification is not available for a program certificate or a lab presentation.

Our deadline is closing soon. Book a free Research Assessment to find out what is achievable in your timeline.

RISE Research is open to students targeting biomedical, genomics, and computational biology fields. 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 Broad Summer Scholars Program

If you are not accepted into the Broad Summer Scholars Program, RISE Research is the strongest next step. RISE produces a peer-reviewed published paper in your chosen field through 1-on-1 mentorship with a PhD researcher, with a 90% publication success rate. It is fully online and open to all qualified students.

Rejection from the Broad Summer Scholars Program is common. The program accepts a very small number of students from a large national pool. Not being selected does not reflect your academic potential or your readiness to conduct research.

RISE Research accepts students based on research readiness and intellectual curiosity. The RISE mentor network includes over 500 PhD researchers across fields including biology, genomics, computational science, and biomedical research. Students are matched with a mentor whose expertise aligns with their specific research interest.

The RISE program produces a published paper that appears on your college application as an independently verified research contribution. This is a stronger and more specific signal than a program certificate, and it is available to any student who is accepted into the RISE program regardless of where they live or which other programs they applied to.

Other verified options for students interested in biomedical research include the NIH High School Scientific Training and Enrichment Program (HiSTEP), available at training.nih.gov, and the Research Science Institute (RSI) at MIT, available at cee.org. Both are highly selective. RISE remains the most accessible option with a guaranteed verifiable research output.

You may also find it useful to review guides to other selective research programs, including the Garcia Summer Research Program at Stony Brook and the Barrett Summer Scholars Program, to understand how these programs compare.

Frequently asked questions about the Broad Summer Scholars Program

How do I apply to the Broad Summer Scholars Program?

Applications are submitted through the Broad Institute website at broadinstitute.org/education/summer-scholars. The application requires a personal statement, academic transcripts, and teacher recommendations. Check the official site for the current application window, as it opens and closes each year.

The personal statement should address your specific interest in genomics or biomedical research and your academic background in relevant subjects. Generic statements about loving science are not competitive. Specificity about a research question or a scientific problem you want to understand is more effective.

Is the Broad Summer Scholars Program free or paid?

The Broad Summer Scholars Program provides a stipend to accepted students. There is no tuition fee. Students are paid for their participation, which distinguishes this program from many other selective high school research placements that charge significant tuition costs.

Students are responsible for their own travel and housing arrangements. The program is in-person in Cambridge, Massachusetts, so students from outside the Boston area need to arrange accommodation for the duration of the program.

Does the Broad Summer Scholars Program help with college admissions?

Yes. The Broad Summer Scholars Program carries strong name recognition in college admissions because of its association with MIT and Harvard. Participation signals genuine engagement with biomedical research at a high level. However, the program produces a presentation and certificate rather than a published paper.

A published peer-reviewed paper is an independently verifiable research output that appears directly in the Common App Activities section. Students who combine selective program participation with a published paper through RISE have the strongest possible research profile for college applications. See the RISE admissions outcomes for specific acceptance rate data.

What do I do if I do not get into the Broad Summer Scholars Program?

RISE Research is the first and strongest alternative. RISE produces a peer-reviewed published paper through 1-on-1 mentorship with a PhD researcher, with a 90% publication success rate. It is fully online, available to any qualified student, and the published paper appears directly in the Common App.

Rejection from the Broad Summer Scholars Program is not a barrier to a strong research profile. Many RISE scholars who were not accepted into other selective programs have gone on to publish original research and gain admission to top universities. Book a free Research Assessment to find out what is achievable in your timeline.

Can international students apply to the Broad Summer Scholars Program?

The Broad Summer Scholars Program primarily targets students based in the United States. International students face additional visa and eligibility requirements. Check the official program page at broadinstitute.org/education/summer-scholars for current international applicant guidance before applying.

International students who want a guaranteed research outcome in biomedical or computational fields should consider RISE Research, which is fully online and open to students in any country. The RISE projects portfolio includes research across biology, genomics, and computational science from scholars in multiple countries.

Conclusion

The Broad Summer Scholars Program is one of the most respected high school research placements in the country. It offers genuine access to world-class biomedical research at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. It is also extremely competitive, in-person only, and does not produce a published paper as a verifiable output.

RISE Research is the program that produces a peer-reviewed published paper regardless of which selective programs accept you. It is fully online, available to any qualified student, and carries a 90% publication success rate across 40 or more academic journals. RISE scholars show significantly stronger acceptance rates at top universities than the general applicant pool.

Whether you are applying to the Broad Summer Scholars Program or looking for a strong alternative, a published paper is the most verifiable research signal you can put on a college application. Our deadline is closing soon. If you are a student interested in biomedical research and want a real published research outcome on your application, schedule a free Research Assessment and we will tell you exactly what is achievable in your timeline.