Duke STAR Program Essay Guide 2026

Duke’s Summer Training in Academic Research (STAR) program has just opened. This 5-week, in-person program, where students work with Duke faculty on frontier research problems in medicine and the biological sciences, is a highly competitive opportunity that truly moves the needle in college admissions. Given its hands-on nature, it is an excellent use of one’s summer. High school students receive a $4,000 stipend. To maximize your chances of getting into this program, and, in turn, into your dream school, we will explain how to approach the sole essay required for the application.

1. What I want to be, and how I'm going to make it happen?" (300-500 words)

Skip the childhood origin story. They have only one essay they can use to evaluate you . Based on this single piece of writing, they need to envision who you are now. They need to picture you collaborating with a Duke Professor, assess how much you will benefit from the opportunity, and determine how your presence will elevate the experience of other participants.

Instead, open with a vivid, first-person account of a high school experience that either solidified your career ambitions or reinforced your professional goals. From there, explain how this moment planted the seed for your future career path.

Next, avoid hypotheticals like "I’ll go to medical school" or "I’ll get a PhD." Instead, demonstrate that you will make it happen by continuing your current trajectory. Show them, don't just tell them, what you are already doing. To be competitive for this selective, intensive program, your current actions should demonstrate academic rigor and a commitment to serving others. Vividly depict yourself pushing your academic limits and using your talents to help people. Ensure the tangible, real-world impact you’ve had is clearly conveyed.

Importantly, explain exactly how the STAR program will help you achieve your dream career. A program like STAR can do this by teaching you how to navigate peer-reviewed literature, by helping you understand how statistics can generate meaningful insights from data, by strengthening your ability to communicate scientific findings to both experts and general audiences, by exposing you to complex problems that spark your imagination, and fostering the desire to push your limits, academically or personally, by tackling problems that have yet to be solved.

Select one or two of these benefits and provide short, vivid anecdotes from your life to explain why STAR is the specific catalyst you need.

To conclude, paint a picture of the positive impact you hope to make on the world. Allow the committee to visualize the human impact you will create if given the chance to pursue your goals through the STAR program.

If you want help applying to STAR or any other summer research program, or would just like someone to help you strengthen your overall extracurriculars, schedule a free consultation with an admissions expert today.