Applications are open each winter to current high school juniors and exceptional sophomores who have completed the pre-requisites, and will be at least 15 years old, but not yet 19, during program operation. Current freshmen and seniors are not eligible.
To meet the prerequisite, a course must be taken for credit and a grade, and completed by June. Self-study does not qualify. If you have not taken the required classes, you are not eligible to apply.
| Research in | Year in school (when applying) | Coursework Prerequisites (completed or in progress) |
| Astrophysics | junior (11th grade) | calculus OR [physics AND precalculus] |
| Astrophysics | sophomore (10th grade) | calculus AND physics See the FAQs |
| Biochemistry | junior or sophomore | biology AND chemistry AND strong algebra skills |
| Genomics | junior or sophomore | biology AND Algebra II |
