STEM and engineering
ASPIRE
ASPIRE is a Summer, 30 to 40 hours per week on site commuter program run by Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. Open to: high school juniors and seniors.
- Last cycle's deadline
- Not posted
- 2027 date not posted yet
- Cost
- Free
- Who can apply
- Grades 11 to 12
- current grade when applying
- Length
- Summer, 30 to 40 hours per week on site
- Commuter
What students do
Students are paired with staff mentors at the Applied Physics Laboratory and work on site on technical projects during the summer. The internship is unpaid.
- STEM
- Engineering
- Technical projects
Key facts
- Run by
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
- Where
- Laurel, MD (commuter)
- Who can apply
- High school juniors and seniors
- Dates
- Not posted
- Cost
- Unpaid internship
- Deadline
- Not posted
- Selectivity
- The site gives an acceptance rate of less than 10% for new students.
Official program siteOfficial application pageJohns Hopkins University admissions profile
What the application asks for
- Essays or short answers
- Teacher recommendation
- Resume or activities list
One required essay of 200 to 350 words about a project, an additional short essay of 250 to 300 words, one teacher recommendation, and a 1 to 2 page resume or summary of experience; a work sample is optional.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASPIREHarvey Mudd College | Claremont, CAResidential | Rising 10th, 11th, or 12th graders | Paid | March 31, 2026 (priority deadline; rolling admission afterward until full)Last cycle’s date |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| MITESMIT Introduction to Technology, Engineering, and Science (MITES) | Cambridge, MAResidential | 11th graders | Free | February 1, 11:59 pm PST |
Frequently asked questions
When is the ASPIRE application deadline?
The program has not posted a deadline. Check the official site.
How much does ASPIRE cost?
Unpaid internship.
Who can apply to ASPIRE?
High school juniors and seniors.
What does the ASPIRE application require?
Essays or short answers, Teacher recommendation, Resume or activities list. One required essay of 200 to 350 words about a project, an additional short essay of 250 to 300 words, one teacher recommendation, and a 1 to 2 page resume or summary of experience; a work sample is optional.
How hard is it to get into ASPIRE?
The site gives an acceptance rate of less than 10% for new students.
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.
