FAQ

SPRINT is an intensive ten-day program in the last two weeks of July. Attendance is mandatory, so please be mindful of the time and capacity you have for participation.

SPRINT usually runs in the last two weeks of July, Mondays to Fridays, 10 AM to 4 PM. Exceptions apply, as the program schedule may be changed or extended for additional activities.

SPRINT is held in person at the University of Toronto, St. George campus.

No, SPRINT is free for our participants! However, there may be expenses outside of the program (e.g., commute, food). If these expenses pose a barrier to your participation, we may be able to offer partial financial assistance. 

High school students who participate in SPRINT will have the opportunity to learn about a wide range of topics in psychology through lectures, live demonstrations, and interactive panels, similar to early-stage undergraduate students in higher education. You will also have the opportunity to meet current researchers in the field, learn about new ground-breaking studies, and gain hands-on experience by creating a research project proposal. As well, you will connect with current undergraduate students, who can answer questions about university life. Finally, you will meet other high school peers with a shared common interest in psychology. It's a great way to make new connections!

All high school students studying in Ontario, Canada are eligible to apply and participate, as long as your application is complete, meets the word count, and demonstrates your strong interest in psychology and research. Also, you must not be a former Research Stream participant.

Please note that upper-year high school students who identify as Indigenous, Black, and racialized and/or members of other historically underrepresented social groups (e.g., gender-minority, first-generation university students) will be prioritized in the application selection process. Former SPRINT applicants are also prioritized. Please visit our Apply page for full details.

While we greatly appreciate international interests in our program, SPRINT is only open to students enrolled in a high school in Ontario, Canada due to:

1. Considerations for distance, given the program takes place in person at the University of Toronto, St. George campus; and 

2. A commitment to supporting and giving back to local Indigenous, Black, and racialized (IBR) communities.

SPRINT was launched as an anti-racist initiative to provide Indigenous, Black, and racialized (IBR) high school students with access to psychology content and research experience. We seek to center Black and Indigenous students, which is well-aligned with the recommendations of the University of Toronto Anti-Black Racism Task Force and the Steering Committee for University of Toronto Response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. The legal framework that allows for certain identities to be prioritized in diversity initiatives has been summarized by the Ontario Human Rights Commission.

In 2024, SPRINT also began prioritizing applicants from other historically underrepresented groups in psychology and higher education, such as gender-minority and first-generation university students, to more comprehensively address the issues of equity, diversity, and inclusivity in Canada.

Meanwhile, we prioritize upper-year high school students to ensure those who will no longer be eligible to apply to future SPRINT  iterations have the opportunity to access it this year. We also prioritize previous applicants who were not selected to recognize their continued interest in the program. 

High school participants in SPRINT will learn from psychology trainees at the University of Toronto a range of topics related to psychological research and experimental design, including but not limited to:

• Areas of psychology research (e.g., Social, Cognitive, Developmental, Clinical, Neuroscience, Animal Behaviour)

• Experimental Methods and Statistical Analyses

• Writing and Communication 

• Degrees and Careers in Psychology

• Open Science and Diversity

SPRINT typically runs from Mondays to Fridays, 10 AM to 4 PM. 

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM: Lecture 1

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Lecture 2

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Tutorial or Panel

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Tutorial or Panel

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Research Project Group Meeting (Research Stream only)

Exceptions apply, as the program schedule may be changed or extended for additional activities.

In 2023, SPRINT introduced two program streams, a Lecture Stream and a Research Stream, to broaden participation, while accommodating the different interests and goals of participating students. High school participants are selected into one of the two program streams based on their indicated preference and program capacity.

Focusing on introductory content, the Lecture Stream is a course-based experience from 10 AM to 3 PM*. If you are interested in psychology broadly and wish to learn more about the discipline before deciding whether to pursue it in higher education, the Lecture Stream is for you!

Focusing on mentorship and applied group work, the Research Stream is the full SPRINT experience from 10 AM to 4 PM*. If you plan to pursue psychology and research in higher education and wish to build a strong foundation through hands-on practice, the Research Stream is for you!

If you selected "Research Stream, with Lecture Stream as backup" in your application when asked which program stream you would prefer to enter, you may be selected in the Lecture Stream if the Research Stream was full at the end of the application selection process. That said, should a Research Stream participant withdraw their acceptance into the program, you may be asked to join the Research Stream.

As SPRINT has a capacity of 60 participants, we are unable to accept everyone who applied. That said, we have a waitlist of 30 applicants every cycle, so should accepted participants withdraw, the spot can be filled by a waitlist applicant. 

The organization and delivery of SPRINT rely on the help of undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral volunteers from the University of Toronto.  Volunteers with different levels and areas of expertise in and related to psychology are always welcome to join the team! Available roles include executive members, lecturers, tutorial leaders, panelists, mentors, and session supporters. If you are interested, please apply during our recruitment period or contact us at uoftpsycomm@gmail.com.

Although SPRINT is trainee-led, we are grateful to have the support of faculty, staff, librarians, and community members, who contribute by:

• Offering their expertise in teaching, mentorship, and more for volunteer training;

• Advising our recruitment strategies, application selection process, and program policies;

• Supporting our applications for funding;

• Connecting us with partners who may be interested in our initiative; and

• Just advocating for SPRINT and equity-advancing initiatives like ours!