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Garcia Summer Research ProgramGarcia

Garcia is a seven-week program at Stony Brook's polymer center in which high school students do polymer and interface research under center mentors. It charges a $4,000 laboratory fee, offers no aid and publishes no admission rate, which sets it apart from free, highly selective research programs.

Any status, must study in the US
Tuition

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Eligibility: Any status, must study in the US
Cost: Tuition
Latest deadline: TBA

Garcia at a Glance

Host: Garcia Center for Polymers at Engineered Interfaces, Stony Brook University
Field: Polymers and interfaces, including polymer blends, composite materials, polymer/inorganic surfaces and interfaces, protein and DNA surface interactions, and polymer recycling
Grades and age: High school students; 2026 applicants had to be at least 16 on or before July 4, 2026, with no exceptions. The website does not specify a grade level.
Citizenship and residency: International students are accepted, but the program cannot support visa applications; applicants must already hold documents to be legally present in the US for the program period. Academic requirements: an unweighted GPA of 95/100 (3.8/4.0); PSAT, SAT, ACT, AP, IB or New York Regents scores at the 60th percentile or above; and at least 3 of English, chemistry, math, physics and biology, with honors, AP or IB preferred.
Cost: Tuition-based with no aid. In 2026 the laboratory usage fee was $4,000, plus a non-refundable $50 registration fee; the optional campus housing package cost $2,599 for a double room, with a $66 student health services fee. The official FAQ states that the program is unable to offer financial aid or scholarships.
Dates and format: Seven-week intensive research program; the 2026 session ran June 24 to August 7, entirely in person on the Stony Brook campus. Students work on projects with guidance from Garcia Center faculty, students and staff. Campus housing is optional, and commuters must be able to reach campus every day.
Application dates: Applications for 2026 are closed and the website lists no deadline; 2027 dates have not been announced. All applications are reviewed together after the deadline rather than on a rolling basis, and decisions typically come out in early April.
Application materials: Application Parts 1 and 2; a transcript sent by the school; three letters of recommendation, one of them from a science teacher; and a non-refundable $50 registration fee.
Size and selectivity: The admission rate and annual enrollment are not published. The center says over a thousand high school students have taken part in the mentor program, and participants have won awards at science competitions including LISEF, NYCSEF, NYSSEF and ISEF.

Verified against official pages on 2026-10-06 · stonybrook.edu/commcms/garcia/summer_program/program_description.php

About Garcia

The Garcia Summer Research Program is run by the Garcia Center for Polymers at Engineered Interfaces at Stony Brook University and takes high school students, undergraduates and teachers. High school students work on polymer and interface projects with guidance from center faculty, students and staff. The program lasts seven weeks; the 2026 session ran June 24 to August 7, entirely in person on the Stony Brook campus, with the option to live on campus or commute.

Garcia’s bar is academic: applicants must be at least 16, hold a 3.8/4.0 unweighted GPA and have test scores at the 60th percentile or above. The admission rate and number admitted are not published. The program charges a $4,000 laboratory fee, plus $2,599 for campus housing, and states that it offers no financial aid or scholarships. International students are accepted, but the program does not support visa applications.

The center says over a thousand high school students have taken part, and some have won awards at competitions such as the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). Because it charges fees and publishes no admission rate, EDUBUS recommends treating Garcia as a paid research option and evaluating it separately from free programs such as Simons and RSI.

How to Apply to Garcia

Garcia has firm academic requirements: a 3.8 unweighted GPA, test scores at the 60th percentile or above, and at least 3 of the listed subjects. Check each one before deciding to apply.
One of the three recommendations must come from a science teacher. Ask a chemistry, physics or biology teacher, and explain your interest in polymer research ahead of time.
The program offers no aid, and the 2026 laboratory fee alone was $4,000, plus $2,599 for housing. Compare cost and requirements against free or stipend-paying research programs before deciding.

Application Support for Garcia

EDUBUS starts with an assessment of grades, competitions and research, then decides which programs to aim for and which to hold as back-ups. We then guide each application form, essay, qualifying problem set and interview, and help turn the summer into part of the college application.

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Listed by MIT AdmissionsSummer Programs Recommended by MIT AdmissionsThis program is one of the 23 selective summer programs listed by MIT Admissions. See the full list with eligibility, cost and selectivity for each.

Garcia: Frequently Asked Questions

Can an international student studying in Irvine on a student visa apply to Garcia?

Yes. Garcia accepts international students but cannot support visa applications, so applicants must already hold documents to be legally present in the US for the program period. An international student in Irvine should first confirm with the school that issued the I-20 that summer status is not a problem.

What grades does an Irvine high school student need to apply to Garcia?

The official requirements are an unweighted GPA of 95/100 (3.8/4.0), test scores at the 60th percentile or above, and at least 3 of English, chemistry, math, physics and biology. An Irvine student can check the unweighted GPA on the transcript directly against this standard.

How much does Garcia cost?

In 2026 the laboratory usage fee was $4,000 and the registration fee $50; campus housing in a double room added $2,599 plus a $66 student health services fee. The program states that it does not offer financial aid or scholarships.

Is Garcia a top-tier research program?

The public data does not support that label. The program charges fees, offers no aid and does not publish an admission rate. EDUBUS recommends treating it as a paid research program with academic requirements, and comparing it separately from free programs that publish admission data.

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Sources4 sources · checked 2026-10-06

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