TL;DR
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program is a seven-week summer research program at Texas Tech University for 12 rising high school seniors and recent graduates. Students work with university faculty on research, live on campus, attend weekly seminars, and complete a research project report. There is no program participation fee, and Texas Tech covers on-campus room, meals, and program activities. Students who complete their research report receive a $750 stipend. The program is open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents who meet its age and graduation-year requirements. With 12 places each summer, it is a program where you should have other options in your application plan. If you are looking for a research experience with more subject choices and an online format, you can also explore the Horizon Academic Research Program.
If you are considering research during high school, Clark Scholars is worth looking at because of the amount of time you spend working on a research project. The program runs for seven weeks at Texas Tech, and the research areas include biology, cancer biology, chemistry, computer science, economics, electrical and computer engineering, mechanical engineering, and physics. Before applying, think carefully about the field you want to explore and the type of research question that interests you. This guide on how to choose a research topic as a high school student can help you narrow a broad subject into a workable question.
What is the Anson L. Clark Scholars Program?
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program is a summer research program hosted by Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. Each summer, 12 students spend seven weeks working with university faculty on research. The program also includes weekly seminars, discussions, field trips, social activities, and time with the other students in the cohort.
For the current program, the dates are June 21 to August 6. The deadline keeps changing, so students considering a future cycle should check the official site for an update.
Anson L. Clark Scholars Program at a glance
| Detail | Current information |
| Duration | 7 weeks |
| Location | Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas |
| Program participation fee | None |
| Housing and meals | On-campus room, board, and meals are provided |
| Stipend | $750 after successful completion of the research project report |
| Cohort size | 12 students |
| Citizenship | U.S. citizens and permanent residents |
| Minimum age | 17 by the program start date |
| Program dates | June 21 to August 6 |
| Application deadline | February 16 at 11:59 PM CT |
How selective is the program, and who gets in?
The Clark Scholars Program selects 12 students each summer. The applicant pool is very competitive, and students are selected based on academic accomplishments, teacher recommendations, and career objectives. The average SAT score of the 12 participants each summer is usually in the 99th percentile.
Academic performance is one part of the application. Your essays, research interests, recommendations, activities, and goals also form part of the materials reviewed by the program. If you are preparing applications for programs with small cohorts, this guide on applying to high school research programs covers ways to present your research interests clearly.
What is the application process and timeline?
The Clark Scholars application usually closes mid-February. The official page has not yet posted a deadline for the next cycle.
The application requires an online application, short essays, high school transcripts, standardized test scores, three recommendations, and a list of your five main activities or accomplishments. At least a PSAT or PACT score is required when SAT or ACT scores are unavailable by the deadline. AP test scores can also be uploaded.
Three recommendations are required. At least two must come from teachers. The third can come from a teacher, research mentor, principal investigator, or volunteer organization. The recommendations are completed through an online questionnaire. They are not traditional recommendation letters.
The application also asks you to describe your primary research interests and possible project ideas. Texas Tech states that this information helps with matching students to research professors. An optional second research interest can also be submitted.
Who is eligible to apply?
For the Clark Scholars Program, applicants have to be at least 17 years old by the start of the program and expected to graduate in either 2026 or 2027. This covered students attending during the summer before senior year and students attending during the summer immediately after high school graduation.
Applicants must also be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. International students who do not meet one of these citizenship or residency requirements are not eligible under the current rules.
If location or citizenship makes Clark Scholars unavailable to you, you can look at online summer research programs for high school students that have different eligibility requirements.
What can you research at Clark Scholars?
The available subjects depend on the faculty research areas offered for a particular year. For summer this year, Texas Tech listed the following areas:
- Biology, Cellular and Microbiology
- Cancer Biology
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Economics
- Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering with a focus on Cancer Bioimaging
- Physics
Your application asks you to describe your primary research interests and potential project ideas. This information is used to help match applicants with a research professor. That means it helps to enter the application with a clear area of interest and a few questions you may want to investigate. You do not need to arrive with a finished research project.
Is the program free, or are there hidden costs?
There is no participation fee for the Clark Scholars Program. Texas Tech provides on-campus meals, room and board, weekend activities, and program activities.
There are still expenses you need to plan for. A $25 application fee, travel to and from the program, personal expenses, and medical expenses are costs that the program does not cover.
Students receive a $750 stipend after completing their research project report.
So, calling Clark Scholars completely free can hide some costs. There is no program participation fee and the major on-campus expenses are covered, but applicants and participants can still have application, travel, medical, and personal expenses.
How does Clark Scholars compare with other summer research programs?
Clark Scholars has a small cohort and a seven-week residential format. Other research programs use different structures, so the comparison matters when you are deciding where to apply.
| Program | Duration | Cohort size | Research structure | Format |
| Anson L. Clark Scholars Program | 7 weeks | 12 | Faculty-guided research | In person at Texas Tech |
| Research Science Institute | 6 weeks | About 80 | Research in science, mathematics, and engineering | In person at MIT |
| Rockefeller Summer Science Research Program | 7 weeks | 32 | Team-based mentored laboratory research | In person at Rockefeller University |
RSI receives about 3,000 applications each year and selects around 80 students for its six-week program. Rockefeller’s SSRP accepts approximately 32 students into a seven-week program built around research teams and laboratory work.
These programs also differ in eligibility, research fields, housing arrangements, costs, and application requirements. Check each program’s current official page before building your application list.
Pros and cons of the Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Pros
You spend seven weeks working on research. The program is built around research with Texas Tech faculty and ends with a research project report.
The cohort has 12 students. The small group means you spend the summer with a limited number of other scholars while working with university faculty.
There is no participation fee. Room, board, meals, and weekend programming are provided.
You receive a stipend after completing the research report. Students who complete the report receive $750.
Several academic fields are available. The current list includes subjects in science, engineering, computer science, and economics.
Cons
You need to commit to seven weeks on campus. The program runs for seven weeks, which can limit your ability to take part in other summer programs or commitments during the same period.
Only 12 students are selected. The applicant pool is very competitive, so you should have other research or summer options in your plan.
Your research choices depend on the areas available that year. The application asks for research interests to help match students with a research professor, and the available research areas are set by Texas Tech for each cycle.
Some expenses remain your responsibility. Travel, the $25 application fee, personal expenses, and medical expenses are not covered.
Eligibility is limited. You must meet the age and graduation requirements and be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
Our review of the Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Clark Scholars makes sense for students who meet the eligibility requirements, can spend seven weeks at Texas Tech, and want to work closely with university faculty on a research project.
The biggest consideration is the cohort size. There are only 12 places, and Texas Tech describes its applicant pool as very competitive. Applying can still make sense if the research areas fit your interests, but your summer plan should not depend on one application.
The program also asks for a clear description of your research interests during the application. Spend time identifying the questions you actually want to investigate before writing your essays. This list of summer research programs for high school students can also help you compare Clark Scholars with other research formats while building a broader application list.
What students ask about the Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
You can describe your primary research interests and potential project ideas in your application, and Texas Tech uses that information to help match you with a research professor. The final research experience will also depend on the research areas and faculty available for that year’s program.
The official eligibility and application pages do not list previous research experience as a requirement. The application focuses on your academic record, essays, research interests, test scores, recommendations, and activities.
Scholars live on campus, with room, board, and meals provided by the program. The experience also includes weekly seminars, social activities, discussions, field trips, and weekend programming alongside the research work.
Not under the current eligibility rules. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and must also meet the program’s age and graduation-year requirements.
You can apply to other research programs or pursue a project through an online mentorship format. The Horizon Academic Research Program offers mentored research across STEM, social sciences, and humanities for high school students who want to develop an independent research project.
Image source: Texas Tech University