Simons Summer Research Program Essays Guide 2026

The Simons Summer Research Program is an ultra-competitive and intensive summer research program that accepts only exceptional high school juniors who have already demonstrated immense aptitude for research. Its inclusion on an applicant's resume can, by itself, be enough to sway admission officers at the most elite universities to accept the applicant on the spot. As a result, it is an opportunity that all high school juniors with prior research experience or top placements in academic competitions such as the Science Olympiad or AMC should pursue. This article will tell you how to approach the numerous essays that they ask you to write as part of your application.

1. Why do you want to participate in the Simons Summer Research Program at Stony Brook University? Be specific about your goals and aspirations for the summer. (300 words or less)

You should begin this essay by vividly portraying yourself, in the first person, working through a STEM-related problem. This could involve conducting technically demanding research, competing in an academic competition, or pursuing an independent or recreational scientific project, such as an at-home experiment or an AI project. As you describe yourself engaging with this problem, clearly demonstrate the technical skills you were using. Focus on one or two technical challenges that you found particularly difficult to apply in pursuit of a solution.

From there, explain how this experience revealed that you still have room to grow as a budding scientist, mathematician, or engineer, specifically in terms of the technical mastery required to succeed in your idealized career path. For instance, a STEM experience might expose the need to strengthen your ability to navigate peer-reviewed literature; understand how statistical methods extract insight from data and assess the reliability or significance of those insights; communicate scientific findings effectively to both technical and nontechnical audiences; identify problems that genuinely spark your curiosity because of their depth and complexity; develop greater mathematical maturity; or more effectively account for known phenomena when building models, while also recognizing which non-obvious factors should be considered.

I may have overlooked other valid goals and aspirations, but these examples illustrate a broader principle: the strongest motivations are deeply rooted in the research process itself. The goal is not to cram all of these motivations into a short 300-word essay. Rather, you should select the reasons that matter most given your lived experiences and show the reader a brief but vivid snapshot of those moments to establish a compelling and personal motivation.

2. What are your long-term academic and career aspirations/ goals? (300 words or less)

For this essay, I suggest starting with an anecdote that highlights a personal motivation driving your long-term academic and career aspirations. As with the first essay, it is crucial to articulate a very clear vision of your goals. Specifically, you should mention the highest degree you intend to pursue, your subject area of focus, the type of career you aim to achieve with that degree, and how pursuing this career will enable you to make a significant positive impact on the world.

The purpose of this essay is to provide a compelling personal reason for your ambitions, to clearly state your goals, and to demonstrate the meaningful impact that can result from your success. The aim is to inspire the reader to root for you as you work toward achieving these objectives.

For the conclusion, paint a vivid picture of how achieving your goals will translate into improvements in real, tangible people's lives, whether through physical betterment or through a deeper understanding of themselves and their place in the universe. The key is to make your aspirations and goals, and the outcomes of achieving them, something the reader can root for and would like to see come to fruition.

3. How do you spend your free time? Please briefly describe up to 3 significant interests/activities, including any employment or volunteer experiences. (300 words or less)

Don't let this prompt mislead you. Avoid including anything frivolous or spontaneous here. The objective is to demonstrate how deeply you engage with the scientific method or quantitative reasoning in your everyday life. Highlight activities that not only bring you joy but also benefit from your application of scientific or mathematical thinking. For instance, if you enjoy reading science fiction, you could delve into how it inspires you to use your knowledge of physics to analyze and explain the plausibility of the feats described in the story. Alternatively, if you're passionate about playing card games like Yu-Gi-Oh, you might discuss how you use statistics to optimize your deck, ensuring the best possible chance of drawing a balanced hand.

4. What problem or project have you tackled recently? Give a specific example that best conveys your problem-solving skills or talents. You may describe problem-solving experiences outside research/ science. (300 words or less)

This essay is essentially one extended personal anecdote, but it should center on you solving a problem. The problem doesn’t have to be STEM-related, but it should highlight your ability to deviate from merely following textbook approaches. It should demonstrate your comfort in situations where you don’t immediately know the answer and your capacity for original, yet critical, thinking. As you describe how you tackled the problem, aim to convey the emotions you experienced as you confronted each challenge, grappled with uncertainties, and gradually pieced together the solution. This essay is designed to assess both your critical thinking skills and your passion for solving challenging problems. You want to come across as someone who would thrive at Simons, fully embracing the rigorous research opportunities and relishing the journey of discovery you’ll embark on there.

5. If you have previous research experience in STEM, briefly summarize the experience. Include dates/location and relevant details highlighting your role / responsibilities. What did you learn from this experience? (300 words or less)

Truth be told, if you are a competitive applicant for this program, you likely have extensive research experience and advanced computer or mechanical skills, leaving little room for anecdotes. In such cases, it’s best to be straightforward when describing your research experience. The key is to clearly convey your roles and responsibilities, highlight your personal contributions and accomplishments, and explain the outcomes of your research endeavors. For each experience you mention, make sure to specify the exact questions your group was addressing.

When discussing programming languages, be sure to mention the specific packages you are proficient in, such as PyTorch or NumPy, and explain the types of mathematical calculations or models you can build using those skills.

Don't just list your skills, show the reader how you've applied them to advance research projects or create meaningful work. Equally important is demonstrating how you acquired new skills through research, academic competitions, or independent projects.

6. What drives your interest in the field of research you intend to pursue (e.g. biology, chemistry, computer science, neurobiology, physics, etc.)? Why are these current scientific questions, problems, or inquiries exciting or important to you? (300 words or less)

Shame on Simons for this poorly worded question. A couple of years ago, they asked a much clearer prompt, paraphrased as: What contemporary scientific problems in the areas of research for which you are choosing mentors do you find most important, and why? This is essentially the same question, just phrased far more awkwardly.

For this essay, you should identify contemporary, unsolved STEM problems. up to the number of distinct fields represented by the research of your chosen mentors.

The key is not necessarily to select the problems that intellectually excite you the most. Instead, focus on problems that are in or adjacent to the research areas of your three chosen mentors and that meaningfully intersect with your lived experiences. Ideally, the problems you select will have clear personal relevance in your life.

Begin the essay with a strong anecdote that establishes a personal connection to one or more of these unsolved contemporary problems. Then explain how you first became aware of the problem(s), followed by a clear explanation of what the problem(s) actually are. If the problems you choose are in disparate fields or stem from different personal motivators, make sure that each problem has a deep personal reason, not just an intellectual reason, behind your interest in it. You want the reader to feel invested in you solving these problems personally, rather than being satisfied if someone else equally enthusiastic were to solve them instead.

From there, discuss how your intended field of research will equip you with the specific tools needed to tackle these problems. Finally, conclude by illustrating the real-world impact you envision through your efforts to address them. Make the reader want to root for you as you attempt to solve the unsolved.

If you want help applying to Simons or any other summer research program, or would just like someone to help you strengthen your overall extracurriculars, schedule a free consultation with us below.