Application selection process

The students who are selected will require a letter of reference explaining why the student would be a good fit for the program followed by a short survey.

Students and their parents will have to complete the application survey and return the completed form via Qualtrics or email the form to Go4Brains@umn.edu

Enrollment deadline is on Monday, March 10, 2025.

The selection process will be assessed by an admission committee. Each application will be scored by three committee members. This score will determine if the student meets all the qualifications. 

The students and parents will be notified of their acceptance into the program via email in April 2025.

Qualifications/Eligibility/Restrictions

We aim to increase the broadest possible participation in Neuroscience by strongly encouraging all students, especially those from groups that have been historically underrepresented in the US biomedical workforce, are encouraged to apply by taking an enrollment survey. The student must be in 9th, 10th, or 11th grade. The required enrollment form must be completed, signed, and returned before the March 10th deadline.

Program Details

1. Short lectures (30 min) with hands-on activities to introduce students to the brain and exciting topics in neuroscience.

2. Career skills sessions to provide students with practical advice on CV writing, applying for college, learning about scholarship opportunities, how to apply for financial help, writing, speaking and interviewing skills.

3. Research experience with hands-on experimental skills and visit to the neuroscience research laboratories. Students will be provided with the possibility to arrange future paid research internships if interested (through available programs such as StepUp).

4. Long term mentoring program that will match each student with one professor, graduate, and undergraduate student to guide students during the week of the program and continue in this role providing advice, guidance and networking to students in future.

5. Duration of the program is one week.

6. This program is free. In addition, each student will receive a $400 stipend and a public transportation pass.

7. Twelve lucky students who enroll in the summer program will be selected from Twin Cities schools with recommendations/nominations from their science teachers.

8. We aim to increase the broadest possible participation in Neuroscience by strongly encouraging all students, but especially those from diverse, underrepresented and historically marginalized backgrounds, are encouraged to apply on our website by taking an enrollment survey and returning the completed signed form back to us by Monday, March 10, 2025. Students will be notified in April 2025 of their acceptance into the program.