About

Founded in 1958, the High School Honors Science, Math and Engineering Program (HSHSP) at Michigan State University is the oldest continuously running summer research program for high school students in the U.S. Over seven weeks, rising seniors live on campus and conduct full-time research with MSU faculty across STEM disciplines. HSHSP is residential, academically rigorous, and tuition-based, although financial aid is available and many students attend at reduced or no cost.

HSHSP enrolls about 24 students each year, selected from a competitive national pool. The program does not release admissions statistics but the likely range is somewhere between single digits and low teens. Applicants must be rising seniors and U.S. citizens or permanent residents. The application requires essays, transcripts, recommendations, and demonstration of strong academic preparation, especially in science and math.

Participants spend seven weeks working in MSU labs or research groups in areas such as biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, engineering, and computer science. Students design and carry out projects under the guidance of faculty mentors and graduate students, learning both technical and scholarly skills. HSHSP emphasizes the full research process: literature review, experimental design, data collection, and writing. The program culminates in a research paper and symposium presentation. Residential life adds seminars, workshops, and a close-knit community of peers.

Alumni of HSHSP frequently use their projects in science competitions such as Regeneron STS and ISEF, and many later pursue advanced study and research careers. The program’s half-century of continuous operation has produced a large, active alumni network. While HSHSP is not free like RSI or Simons, its prestige comes from history, rigor, and authentic immersion in real, unsolved, faculty-led projects. Unsurprising given its long history, HSHSP is known and respected by admissions offices around the country.