The Ultimate Guide to MIT THINK Scholars for High School Students

If you are navigating the competitive world of high school STEM research, you are probably already familiar with the major programs: the Research Science Institute (RSI), the Anson L. Clark Scholars Program, and the Simons Summer Research Program. These programs are highly prestigious and follow a traditional model where you join an existing lab and contribute to ongoing research. While valuable, this model sometimes limits your ability to drive a project from pure conception to execution.

The MIT THINK Scholars Program takes a different approach. Run by MIT undergraduates as part of a longstanding educational outreach initiative, THINK is a great option for students who already have a project idea and want the support to develop it further. Instead of joining a lab, you propose an original STEM project and, if selected, receive funding, mentorship, and structured guidance to move your idea from concept to execution. 

A quick overview – what is the MIT THINK Scholars Program?

The MIT THINK Scholars Program (Technology for Humanity guided by Innovation, Networking, and Knowledge) is a student-led initiative under MIT TechX. It is designed for high school students who have thoroughly researched the background of a potential project and seek guidance and resources to bring it to life.

The program operates on a semester-long hybrid model. You submit a proposal in the fall/winter. If selected, you receive mentorship and funding during the spring semester to build your project remotely, culminating in a final presentation and a potential trip to MIT’s campus. This structure allows you to balance the program with your regular high school coursework.

Fast facts:

Location: Remote (Project development) + In-person (4-day long, all-expenses-paid trip to MIT in Cambridge, MA).

Duration: February – June

Eligibility: Full-time high school students (Grades 9–12) with permanent US residency.

Application Deadline: January 1

Tuition: Free

Funding: Up to $1,000 in project funding.

What does MIT THINK teach you?

The MIT THINK curriculum is project-based and self-directed. Unlike a summer school where you attend lectures, the “academic” content here is the rigorous process of engineering and research management. The program focuses on the often-overlooked early stages of research: ideation, literature review, and feasibility planning. You will spend the semester moving from a theoretical proposal to a functional prototype or completed study.

Some key skills you can expect to learn in this process include:

1. Technical communication: You will learn to write a proposal like those submitted by undergraduate students for grant applications. You must write an Abstract, clearly extrapolate your Idea, detail your Plan, all while citing relevant literature in the APA format to contextualize your work.
2. Conducting a feasibility analysis: A major component of the program is scoping. You will learn to differentiate between a good idea and an executable project. You must determine if your project can be completed within a specific timeframe (one semester) and budget ($1,000).
3. Budgeting and resource management: You are responsible for allocating your $1,000 grant. You will learn to source materials, estimate costs for sensors, reagents, or cloud computing credits, and justify these expenses to your mentors.
4. Iterative prototyping: Whether you are building a machine learning model or a mechanical device, you will engage in the engineering design cycle—prototyping, testing, failing, analyzing data, and iterating.

To understand the academic depth, consider the caliber of past projects:

• Green Tech: A low-cost institutional sunscreen detection system.
• Biotech: Novel chitosan-bioactive glass-coated origami lumbar disc replacements.
• Robotics: Deployment of autonomous micro-drone swarms for 3D reconstruction of destroyed buildings.

How does the admissions process work, and who is eligible?

Admissions to MIT THINK are highly competitive. The program selects only six finalists annually from a pool of applicants across the United States. There is also a Semifinalist stage and an Honorable Mention designation for high-quality proposals that do not advance to the final round.

To be able to apply, you must:

• Be a full-time high school student (public, private, or home school) at the time of application.
• Be a U.S. resident (permanent residency required) during the academic year. US citizenship is not strictly required, but you must reside in the US.
• Either apply as an individual or a team of two students.
• Not submit more than one proposal per academic year.

Applications are due January 1, semifinalists are notified January 30, and finalists are confirmed in February.

The application is purely proposal-based. Your proposal consists of the following:

1. Title and Abstract: This is the executive summary of your project, limited to 250 words. Concisely explain the project mission, the motivation behind it, the problem it addresses, the proposed solution, and the expected outcomes.
2. Idea: A deep dive into the problem you’re addressing. You must present all background information to contextualize the issue, demonstrate its importance, and explain how your project addresses this problem uniquely. This section needs to be supported by relevant scientific literature and research to contextualize your work within the existing body of knowledge.
3. Plan: Outline how you intend to execute your project. List the milestones, resources required (whether it be funding, materials, or mentorship), and the proposed timeline for development. The technical feasibility needs to be highlighted, and a clear path from idea to implementation must be charted. Discuss potential challenges and how you plan to overcome them, showing a well-thought-out approach to achieving your project goals.
4. Personal: Unlike typical research proposals, this section adds a personal dimension, asking you to share your academic background, interests, and the individual motivations behind your project. It’s an opportunity to connect with the judges on a personal level, sharing your journey and passion for the field.
5. References: All consulted sources must be cited in APA format, ensuring that your proposal is grounded in credible research and acknowledges the contributions of others to your field of study.

Judges will assess your proposal on the following criteria:

• Impact: Does the problem matter? Is the solution significant?
• Innovation: Is the approach novel, or is it just a rehash of an existing tutorial?
• Clarity: Is the proposal SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound)?
• Feasibility: Can you actually build this with $1,000 and a few months?
• Benefit: How much will this project benefit from THINK funding and mentorship?

You can find more details on the proposal structure and the admissions process in the Program Guide.

How much does MIT THINK cost?

There is no cost to applying to MIT THINK. As long as you meet the eligibility criteria, you are free to submit your project proposal. Should you be selected, you will receive up to a $1,000 research grant to purchase necessary technology, software, or lab equipment. 

If you are selected as a finalist to visit the MIT campus, THINK covers the cost of your trip, including airfare, accommodation, and food. This accessibility ensures that financial barriers do not prevent talented engineers and scientists from participating. If you have a great idea but cannot afford the parts, THINK exists to solve that problem.

What do past students have to say about MIT THINK?

The student experience in MIT THINK is defined by mentorship and autonomy. Once selected, you are paired with mentors who are current MIT undergraduate students. These mentors act as your sounding board. You will have weekly meetings to discuss technical roadblocks. The capstone of the experience is the all-expenses-paid trip to the MIT campus, which alumni report featured extensive lab tours, faculty interaction, and community-building activities. 

Kevin Meng, a past finalist, noted that the program “turns the science fair paradigm on its head” by funding ideas rather than judging finished work. He emphasized the supportive culture, mentioning that even random students in the dorms were willing to help him with physics homework during his visit. Other students have highlighted the thrill of “turning a random idea born out of a solid black rectangle into something real.”

Completing MIT THINK sets you up for:

• College admissions: Being a THINK Scholar is a high-level honor. It demonstrates to admissions officers that you can handle independent research, manage a budget, and pass a rigorous peer-review process.
• Major science fairs and competitions: Alumni frequently go on to win additional competitions such as ISEF or the Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS), and many matriculate at top-tier STEM universities, including MIT.

Strengths & Considerations

Strengths

1. There’s a strong focus on the ideation process: Most competitions require a finished board. THINK funds the entire process, making it accessible if you have not started building.
2. The material resources grant can be game-changing: The $1,000 grant is substantial for a high school project. It allows you to use professional-grade sensors or APIs rather than hacking together subpar substitutes.
3. It’s an excellent networking experience: Access to the MIT TechX network and undergraduate mentors provides a realistic look at life at MIT.

Considerations

1. It is extremely selective: With only six finalists, the acceptance rate is incredibly low. You should have a contingency plan for your project if you are not selected.
2. Requires a structured, self-driven schedule: The remote nature of the build phase means no one is hovering over you. If you struggle with time management or procrastination, you will fall behind on your milestones.
3. Potential for scope creep: A common pitfall is proposing too much. You must be disciplined enough to scope your project down to something achievable in one semester.

Verdict: Is MIT THINK for you?

The MIT THINK Scholars Program is best suited for the builder and the entrepreneurial scientist. If you’re a student with a notebook full of invention ideas but limited funds to buy the parts, this program can be a great fit for you, especially if you’re technically curious and resilient. If you prefer a structured environment where a professor hands you a dataset and a procedure (like in some traditional summer research programs), THINK might be too open-ended for you. But if you want to prove that your idea has merit and you have the drive to execute it, there are few better platforms.

One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program

If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!

Image Source – Horizon Academic logo