STEM and engineering
ASPIRE (Advanced STEAM Pre-Collegiate Immersion for Research and Exploration)
ASPIRE is a 2-week residential program run by Harvey Mudd College. Open to: rising 10th, 11th, or 12th graders.
- Last cycle's deadline
- March 31, 2026
- 2027 date not posted yet
- Cost
- Paid
- Who can apply
- Grades 9 to 11
- current grade when applying
- Length
- 2 weeks
- Residential
What students do
Students live at Harvey Mudd for two weeks and take hands-on STEAM courses with labs and design challenges taught by faculty and alumni. The program adds college preparation workshops, undergraduate mentors, and visits to Southern California companies.
- STEAM
- Labs
- Design challenges
- College preparation
Key facts
- Run by
- Harvey Mudd College
- Where
- Claremont, CA (residential)
- Who can apply
- Rising 10th, 11th, or 12th gradersOpen to domestic and international students who can participate fully in English-language coursework.
- Dates
- July 12 to July 24, 2026These are the 2026 dates. 2027 dates are not posted yet.
- Cost
- $5,500 total, includes instruction, course materials, lodging, all meals, field trips, weekend excursions, and roundtrip airport transportation; $25 application fee
- Deadline
- March 31, 2026 (priority deadline; rolling admission afterward until full)This was last cycle’s deadline. The 2027 date is not posted yet.Application opens January 15, 2026.
Official program siteOfficial application pageHarvey Mudd College admissions profile
What the application asks for
- Essays or short answers
- Transcript
- Application fee
A 300 to 500 word response, an unofficial transcript, and a non-refundable $25 application fee.
How a mentor helps with your ASPIRE application
- Decide whether ASPIRE fits, and which similar programs to apply to alongside it.
- Work backward from the deadline so essays, recommendations, and forms are not left to the last week.
- Draft and revise the essays or short answers with one-on-one feedback.
Email me the ASPIRE deadlines and requirements
A link to this page, plus our list of similar programs.
Similar programs
| Program | Where | Who can apply | Cost | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BSASUC Berkeley GLOBE (Global Learning and Outreach from Berkeley Engineering) | Berkeley, CACommuter | High school students ages 15 to 17 by the start of the program | Paid, aid available | March 31, 2026Last cycle’s date |
| COSMOSUniversity of California | CAResidential | Rising 9th through rising 12th graders | Paid, aid available | February 5, 2027 |
| EPICCal Poly College of Engineering | San Luis Obispo, CAResidential | Currently in grades 6 to 11 | Paid, aid available | March 31, 2027 |
| Nanoscience Lab Summer InstituteCalifornia NanoSystems Institute at UCLA | Los Angeles, CACommuter | High school students, grade 9 and up, at least 15 years old | Paid, aid available | Not posted |
| ASPIREJohns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory | Laurel, MDCommuter | High school juniors and seniors | Free | Not posted |
| BWSIMIT Beaver Works (MIT Lincoln Laboratory and MIT School of Engineering) | Cambridge, MACommuter | Students entering their senior year of high school | Paid, aid available | March 31 (prerequisite online course registration); teacher recommendation due April 2 |
All stem and engineering programsPrograms in CaliforniaEvery program
Frequently asked questions
When is the ASPIRE application deadline?
The 2027 deadline has not been posted. Last cycle's deadline was March 31, 2026 (priority deadline; rolling admission afterward until full), and most programs keep a similar date from year to year.
How much does ASPIRE cost?
$5,500 total, includes instruction, course materials, lodging, all meals, field trips, weekend excursions, and roundtrip airport transportation; $25 application fee.
Who can apply to ASPIRE?
Rising 10th, 11th, or 12th graders. Open to domestic and international students who can participate fully in English-language coursework.
What does the ASPIRE application require?
Essays or short answers, Transcript, Application fee. A 300 to 500 word response, an unofficial transcript, and a non-refundable $25 application fee.
Read from the program’s own site and last checked 2026-10-09. Programs change dates, fees, and requirements each year, so confirm on the official site before you apply. Dewey Smart is not affiliated with this program.
