Simons Summer Research Program guide | RISE Research
Simons Summer Research Program guide | RISE Research
RISE Research
RISE Research
TL;DR: The Simons Summer Research Program at Stony Brook University is one of the most selective science research programs in the United States for high school students. It places rising seniors in university labs for a six-week paid research experience. Acceptance is extremely competitive and limited to Long Island residents. Students who want a guaranteed published research outcome regardless of location should consider RISE Research as a strong alternative. Our deadline is closing soon.
Introduction
The Simons Summer Research Program at Stony Brook University has placed hundreds of Long Island high school students in active research labs since 1984, making it one of the longest-running high school science research programs in the country. This Simons Summer Research Program guide covers everything you need to know: what the program involves, how competitive it is, what students actually produce, and what your options are if you want a verified research outcome for your college application.
The challenge most students face is this: programs like Simons are geographically restricted, accept only a small number of students each year, and are available only to rising seniors. If you do not live on Long Island, you cannot apply. If you are in Grade 9, 10, or 11, you are not eligible. And if you are not accepted, you are left without a research credential at a critical point in your application timeline.
RISE Research is the alternative that produces a peer-reviewed published paper regardless of which selective programs a student is accepted into. It is fully online, open to students in Grades 9 through 12 worldwide, and carries a 90% publication success rate.
What is the Simons Summer Research Program and who is it for?
The Simons Summer Research Program is a six-week paid research experience at Stony Brook University for high school students who are Long Island residents entering their senior year. Students are matched with faculty mentors and conduct original research in STEM fields. It is funded by the Simons Foundation and is free to accepted students, who also receive a stipend.
The program is run by Stony Brook University's Office of Educational Outreach and is open only to students who are rising seniors (entering Grade 12) and who live in Nassau or Suffolk County on Long Island, New York. Students work directly in university research labs alongside graduate students and faculty. Subject areas span biology, chemistry, physics, computer science, mathematics, and engineering.
The program runs for approximately six weeks and is conducted in person on the Stony Brook University campus. Accepted students receive a stipend for their participation. At the end of the program, students present their research at a formal symposium. The official program page is available at stonybrook.edu/commcms/simons.
This program is specifically designed for students with a strong science background who are ready to contribute to active university research. It is not a course or a workshop. Students are embedded in real labs and are expected to contribute meaningfully to ongoing faculty research projects.
How competitive is the Simons Summer Research Program?
The Simons Summer Research Program is extremely competitive. It accepts approximately 25 students each year from a pool of hundreds of applicants. Because eligibility is limited to Long Island rising seniors, every qualified student in that geographic area is competing for the same small number of spots.
Stony Brook does not publish an official acceptance rate, but the program consistently receives far more applications than it can accommodate. Successful applicants typically have strong academic records, demonstrated interest in scientific research, letters of recommendation from science teachers or research supervisors, and a clear sense of what research question they want to pursue.
The application requires a personal statement, academic transcripts, teacher recommendations, and a description of research interests. Students who have prior exposure to research methods, lab work, or science competitions tend to have stronger applications.
For students outside Long Island, or for students in Grades 9 through 11, this program is not an option. RISE Research accepts students based on research readiness and genuine intellectual curiosity rather than geography or grade level. The RISE admissions outcomes show a 90% publication success rate across all enrolled scholars, with mentors drawn from Ivy League and Oxbridge institutions.
What does the Simons Summer Research Program actually involve?
Accepted students spend six weeks working in an active Stony Brook University research lab. Each student is paired with a faculty mentor and works alongside graduate students on a real research project. The experience is hands-on and lab-based, not classroom-based.
Students attend weekly seminars, participate in scientific writing workshops, and develop their research skills throughout the program. At the end of the six weeks, every student presents their findings at the Simons Research Symposium, a formal event attended by faculty, mentors, and families.
The program does not guarantee a published paper. Students contribute to faculty research projects, which means the output depends on the stage and nature of the lab's work. Some students co-author papers that are eventually published, but this is not a standard outcome and is not within the student's control.
The symposium presentation and program certificate are the verifiable outputs most students take away. These are meaningful credentials, but they are different from a peer-reviewed published paper. In a college application, a published paper in an independent academic journal is an externally verified contribution that can be listed directly in the Common App Activities section. A program certificate signals participation; a published paper signals original contribution.
How does the Simons Summer Research Program compare to doing research with RISE?
Both the Simons Summer Research Program and RISE Research offer high school students access to real research under expert mentors. They are different paths to the same goal, and they suit different students.
Simons is residential and in-person, located on the Stony Brook campus, and available only to Long Island rising seniors. It places students in active faculty labs, provides a stipend, and produces a symposium presentation as the primary student output. It is free to attend and carries strong prestige in the New York academic community. Spots are extremely limited.
RISE Research is fully online and open to any student in Grades 9 through 12 anywhere in the world. Each student works 1-on-1 with a PhD mentor from an Ivy League or Oxbridge institution over a 10-week program. The guaranteed output is a peer-reviewed published paper in one of 40 or more independent academic journals. The RISE publications record shows a 90% publication success rate. That paper appears directly in the student's Common App Activities section as an externally verified research contribution.
RISE scholars have achieved an 18% acceptance rate to Stanford (versus 8.7% for the general applicant pool) and a 32% acceptance rate to UPenn (versus 3.8% for the general applicant pool). These outcomes reflect what a published research credential does for an application.
RISE is the stronger option for students who want a guaranteed verifiable output, for students outside Long Island, and for students in Grades 9 through 11 who cannot yet apply to Simons. Many students use RISE as their primary research program whether or not they also apply to Simons.
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 Simons Summer Research 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 Simons Summer Research Program
Rejection from Simons is common. The program accepts roughly 25 students per year. Not being selected does not reflect your potential as a researcher. It reflects the math of an extremely small program with geographic restrictions.
RISE Research is the strongest immediate alternative. It is open to all qualified students, fully online, and produces a peer-reviewed published paper through 1-on-1 mentorship with a PhD mentor. The 90% publication success rate means the outcome is not dependent on lab availability, faculty schedules, or institutional politics. You can explore the RISE mentor network to see the depth of expertise available across STEM fields.
Other verified alternatives for Long Island and New York students include the Garcia Summer Research Program at Stony Brook, which focuses on materials science and polymer chemistry and is also hosted at Stony Brook University. The Regeneron Science Talent Search accepts original research projects from high school seniors and is open to students nationwide. The Davidson Fellows program recognizes significant original research from students under 18.
For a broader view of what is available nationally, the best research programs for high school students guide covers verified options across subject areas. RISE remains the only option on that list that guarantees a published paper as the student output.
Frequently asked questions about the Simons Summer Research Program
How do I apply to the Simons Summer Research Program?
Applications are submitted through the Stony Brook University Office of Educational Outreach. The application requires academic transcripts, a personal statement describing your research interests, and letters of recommendation from science teachers or research supervisors. Full application details and the official portal are available at stonybrook.edu/commcms/simons. Only students who are Long Island residents entering Grade 12 are eligible to apply.
The application process is rigorous. Students who have prior research exposure, a clear research interest, and strong academic records in science and mathematics are the most competitive applicants. Starting your application materials early and securing strong recommendation letters from teachers who know your scientific work will strengthen your submission.
Is the Simons Summer Research Program free or paid?
Yes. The Simons Summer Research Program is free to attend and provides accepted students with a stipend for their participation. There is no tuition cost. The program is funded by the Simons Foundation, which supports scientific research and education. Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from the Stony Brook campus each day.
This makes Simons one of the few high-quality, no-cost research programs available to high school students. For students who want a comparable research experience without geographic restrictions, RISE Research is available online. Contact the RISE team for current program investment details.
Does the Simons Summer Research Program help with college admissions?
Yes. Participation in the Simons program demonstrates genuine research engagement in a university lab setting, which is a meaningful signal in a college application. The program's association with Stony Brook University and the Simons Foundation adds credibility. Students who present at the symposium have a concrete activity to describe in their application.
That said, the strongest research signal in a college application is a peer-reviewed published paper, because it is externally verified by an independent journal. RISE scholars who publish original research can list that paper directly in their Common App Activities section. RISE scholars are accepted to top universities at rates significantly higher than the general applicant pool, as shown on the RISE results page.
What do I do if I do not get into the Simons Summer Research Program?
RISE Research is the first and strongest alternative. It is open to all qualified students in Grades 9 through 12, fully online, and produces a peer-reviewed published paper through 1-on-1 mentorship. The 90% publication success rate means the research outcome is not dependent on a competitive admissions process. Our deadline is closing soon. Book a free Research Assessment to find out what is achievable in your timeline.
Other alternatives include the Garcia Summer Research Program at Stony Brook (materials science focus), the Regeneron Science Talent Search for seniors with completed research projects, and the Davidson Fellows program for students with significant original research. RISE is the only option among these that provides guaranteed 1-on-1 mentorship and a published paper as the student output.
Can international students apply to the Simons Summer Research Program?
No. The Simons Summer Research Program is restricted to students who are residents of Long Island, New York. International students are not eligible to apply, and students from other US states are also ineligible. The program is specifically designed to serve the local Long Island student community.
International students who want a comparable or stronger research experience should consider RISE Research, which is fully online and open to students in any country. RISE scholars from outside the United States have published original research in peer-reviewed journals and earned admission to top universities globally. You can review the RISE research projects to see the range of subjects and outcomes available to international students.
Conclusion
The Simons Summer Research Program is a prestigious and genuinely valuable program for the small number of Long Island rising seniors who are accepted each year. It offers real lab experience, expert mentorship, and a formal research presentation. For students who are eligible and competitive, it is worth applying to.
For the majority of high school students, including those outside Long Island, those in Grades 9 through 11, and those who want a guaranteed published research output, RISE Research is the stronger path. RISE is fully online, open to students worldwide, and has guided students to publication in over 40 peer-reviewed journals with a 90% success rate. RISE scholars are accepted to top universities at rates that significantly exceed the general applicant pool.
If you want to understand what a published research credential does for a college application, read more in our guide to what research mentorship programs actually involve and explore the best Simons Summer Research alternatives for students at every grade level.
Our deadline is closing soon. If you are a student targeting top universities and want a real research outcome on your application, schedule a free Research Assessment and we will tell you exactly what is achievable in your timeline.
TL;DR: The Simons Summer Research Program at Stony Brook University is one of the most selective science research programs in the United States for high school students. It places rising seniors in university labs for a six-week paid research experience. Acceptance is extremely competitive and limited to Long Island residents. Students who want a guaranteed published research outcome regardless of location should consider RISE Research as a strong alternative. Our deadline is closing soon.
Introduction
The Simons Summer Research Program at Stony Brook University has placed hundreds of Long Island high school students in active research labs since 1984, making it one of the longest-running high school science research programs in the country. This Simons Summer Research Program guide covers everything you need to know: what the program involves, how competitive it is, what students actually produce, and what your options are if you want a verified research outcome for your college application.
The challenge most students face is this: programs like Simons are geographically restricted, accept only a small number of students each year, and are available only to rising seniors. If you do not live on Long Island, you cannot apply. If you are in Grade 9, 10, or 11, you are not eligible. And if you are not accepted, you are left without a research credential at a critical point in your application timeline.
RISE Research is the alternative that produces a peer-reviewed published paper regardless of which selective programs a student is accepted into. It is fully online, open to students in Grades 9 through 12 worldwide, and carries a 90% publication success rate.
What is the Simons Summer Research Program and who is it for?
The Simons Summer Research Program is a six-week paid research experience at Stony Brook University for high school students who are Long Island residents entering their senior year. Students are matched with faculty mentors and conduct original research in STEM fields. It is funded by the Simons Foundation and is free to accepted students, who also receive a stipend.
The program is run by Stony Brook University's Office of Educational Outreach and is open only to students who are rising seniors (entering Grade 12) and who live in Nassau or Suffolk County on Long Island, New York. Students work directly in university research labs alongside graduate students and faculty. Subject areas span biology, chemistry, physics, computer science, mathematics, and engineering.
The program runs for approximately six weeks and is conducted in person on the Stony Brook University campus. Accepted students receive a stipend for their participation. At the end of the program, students present their research at a formal symposium. The official program page is available at stonybrook.edu/commcms/simons.
This program is specifically designed for students with a strong science background who are ready to contribute to active university research. It is not a course or a workshop. Students are embedded in real labs and are expected to contribute meaningfully to ongoing faculty research projects.
How competitive is the Simons Summer Research Program?
The Simons Summer Research Program is extremely competitive. It accepts approximately 25 students each year from a pool of hundreds of applicants. Because eligibility is limited to Long Island rising seniors, every qualified student in that geographic area is competing for the same small number of spots.
Stony Brook does not publish an official acceptance rate, but the program consistently receives far more applications than it can accommodate. Successful applicants typically have strong academic records, demonstrated interest in scientific research, letters of recommendation from science teachers or research supervisors, and a clear sense of what research question they want to pursue.
The application requires a personal statement, academic transcripts, teacher recommendations, and a description of research interests. Students who have prior exposure to research methods, lab work, or science competitions tend to have stronger applications.
For students outside Long Island, or for students in Grades 9 through 11, this program is not an option. RISE Research accepts students based on research readiness and genuine intellectual curiosity rather than geography or grade level. The RISE admissions outcomes show a 90% publication success rate across all enrolled scholars, with mentors drawn from Ivy League and Oxbridge institutions.
What does the Simons Summer Research Program actually involve?
Accepted students spend six weeks working in an active Stony Brook University research lab. Each student is paired with a faculty mentor and works alongside graduate students on a real research project. The experience is hands-on and lab-based, not classroom-based.
Students attend weekly seminars, participate in scientific writing workshops, and develop their research skills throughout the program. At the end of the six weeks, every student presents their findings at the Simons Research Symposium, a formal event attended by faculty, mentors, and families.
The program does not guarantee a published paper. Students contribute to faculty research projects, which means the output depends on the stage and nature of the lab's work. Some students co-author papers that are eventually published, but this is not a standard outcome and is not within the student's control.
The symposium presentation and program certificate are the verifiable outputs most students take away. These are meaningful credentials, but they are different from a peer-reviewed published paper. In a college application, a published paper in an independent academic journal is an externally verified contribution that can be listed directly in the Common App Activities section. A program certificate signals participation; a published paper signals original contribution.
How does the Simons Summer Research Program compare to doing research with RISE?
Both the Simons Summer Research Program and RISE Research offer high school students access to real research under expert mentors. They are different paths to the same goal, and they suit different students.
Simons is residential and in-person, located on the Stony Brook campus, and available only to Long Island rising seniors. It places students in active faculty labs, provides a stipend, and produces a symposium presentation as the primary student output. It is free to attend and carries strong prestige in the New York academic community. Spots are extremely limited.
RISE Research is fully online and open to any student in Grades 9 through 12 anywhere in the world. Each student works 1-on-1 with a PhD mentor from an Ivy League or Oxbridge institution over a 10-week program. The guaranteed output is a peer-reviewed published paper in one of 40 or more independent academic journals. The RISE publications record shows a 90% publication success rate. That paper appears directly in the student's Common App Activities section as an externally verified research contribution.
RISE scholars have achieved an 18% acceptance rate to Stanford (versus 8.7% for the general applicant pool) and a 32% acceptance rate to UPenn (versus 3.8% for the general applicant pool). These outcomes reflect what a published research credential does for an application.
RISE is the stronger option for students who want a guaranteed verifiable output, for students outside Long Island, and for students in Grades 9 through 11 who cannot yet apply to Simons. Many students use RISE as their primary research program whether or not they also apply to Simons.
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 Simons Summer Research 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 Simons Summer Research Program
Rejection from Simons is common. The program accepts roughly 25 students per year. Not being selected does not reflect your potential as a researcher. It reflects the math of an extremely small program with geographic restrictions.
RISE Research is the strongest immediate alternative. It is open to all qualified students, fully online, and produces a peer-reviewed published paper through 1-on-1 mentorship with a PhD mentor. The 90% publication success rate means the outcome is not dependent on lab availability, faculty schedules, or institutional politics. You can explore the RISE mentor network to see the depth of expertise available across STEM fields.
Other verified alternatives for Long Island and New York students include the Garcia Summer Research Program at Stony Brook, which focuses on materials science and polymer chemistry and is also hosted at Stony Brook University. The Regeneron Science Talent Search accepts original research projects from high school seniors and is open to students nationwide. The Davidson Fellows program recognizes significant original research from students under 18.
For a broader view of what is available nationally, the best research programs for high school students guide covers verified options across subject areas. RISE remains the only option on that list that guarantees a published paper as the student output.
Frequently asked questions about the Simons Summer Research Program
How do I apply to the Simons Summer Research Program?
Applications are submitted through the Stony Brook University Office of Educational Outreach. The application requires academic transcripts, a personal statement describing your research interests, and letters of recommendation from science teachers or research supervisors. Full application details and the official portal are available at stonybrook.edu/commcms/simons. Only students who are Long Island residents entering Grade 12 are eligible to apply.
The application process is rigorous. Students who have prior research exposure, a clear research interest, and strong academic records in science and mathematics are the most competitive applicants. Starting your application materials early and securing strong recommendation letters from teachers who know your scientific work will strengthen your submission.
Is the Simons Summer Research Program free or paid?
Yes. The Simons Summer Research Program is free to attend and provides accepted students with a stipend for their participation. There is no tuition cost. The program is funded by the Simons Foundation, which supports scientific research and education. Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from the Stony Brook campus each day.
This makes Simons one of the few high-quality, no-cost research programs available to high school students. For students who want a comparable research experience without geographic restrictions, RISE Research is available online. Contact the RISE team for current program investment details.
Does the Simons Summer Research Program help with college admissions?
Yes. Participation in the Simons program demonstrates genuine research engagement in a university lab setting, which is a meaningful signal in a college application. The program's association with Stony Brook University and the Simons Foundation adds credibility. Students who present at the symposium have a concrete activity to describe in their application.
That said, the strongest research signal in a college application is a peer-reviewed published paper, because it is externally verified by an independent journal. RISE scholars who publish original research can list that paper directly in their Common App Activities section. RISE scholars are accepted to top universities at rates significantly higher than the general applicant pool, as shown on the RISE results page.
What do I do if I do not get into the Simons Summer Research Program?
RISE Research is the first and strongest alternative. It is open to all qualified students in Grades 9 through 12, fully online, and produces a peer-reviewed published paper through 1-on-1 mentorship. The 90% publication success rate means the research outcome is not dependent on a competitive admissions process. Our deadline is closing soon. Book a free Research Assessment to find out what is achievable in your timeline.
Other alternatives include the Garcia Summer Research Program at Stony Brook (materials science focus), the Regeneron Science Talent Search for seniors with completed research projects, and the Davidson Fellows program for students with significant original research. RISE is the only option among these that provides guaranteed 1-on-1 mentorship and a published paper as the student output.
Can international students apply to the Simons Summer Research Program?
No. The Simons Summer Research Program is restricted to students who are residents of Long Island, New York. International students are not eligible to apply, and students from other US states are also ineligible. The program is specifically designed to serve the local Long Island student community.
International students who want a comparable or stronger research experience should consider RISE Research, which is fully online and open to students in any country. RISE scholars from outside the United States have published original research in peer-reviewed journals and earned admission to top universities globally. You can review the RISE research projects to see the range of subjects and outcomes available to international students.
Conclusion
The Simons Summer Research Program is a prestigious and genuinely valuable program for the small number of Long Island rising seniors who are accepted each year. It offers real lab experience, expert mentorship, and a formal research presentation. For students who are eligible and competitive, it is worth applying to.
For the majority of high school students, including those outside Long Island, those in Grades 9 through 11, and those who want a guaranteed published research output, RISE Research is the stronger path. RISE is fully online, open to students worldwide, and has guided students to publication in over 40 peer-reviewed journals with a 90% success rate. RISE scholars are accepted to top universities at rates that significantly exceed the general applicant pool.
If you want to understand what a published research credential does for a college application, read more in our guide to what research mentorship programs actually involve and explore the best Simons Summer Research alternatives for students at every grade level.
Our deadline is closing soon. If you are a student targeting top universities and want a real research outcome on your application, schedule a free Research Assessment and we will tell you exactly what is achievable in your timeline.
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