We’ve discussed summer programs many times before (and will do so many times again); summer is a key time for high school students to show off for colleges, and one of the most important things we do when working with younger students is helping them find the kind of summer programs that will help them exemplify their passions and interests, and set them up to apply to top colleges.Ìý In this article, we’re going to explore another such program: (SSP). We’re going to look at what this program is, who it’s for, and how you can apply to it. We’re also going to look at why programs of this sort are so valuable when applying to top colleges, especially when compared to other ways you can spend your summer. Let’s jump right in!
What is JAX SSP?
Jackson Laboratory, often abbreviated simply as JAX, is an independent non-profit biomedical research laboratory. Such things are rare; most are corporate run or attached to universities, but JAX has proved quite successful in its research over the years (founded in 1929), and has made numerous contributions to the fields of biology and medicine.
Their Summer Student Program is an outgrowth of their core mission, a way to give bright and talented students a taste of the research process, and give them proper hands-on experience working in a research laboratory. Students are paired with a research mentor at the lab, and join an ongoing project, while also having a chance to pursue independent investigations related to the overall goals of that project.
At the end of the summer, students are given a chance to present this research, both to their peers and researchers at the program, and to invited family members, in a mini-conference. The goal is to teach students what work as a professional scientist looks like, and to give a sense of the careers that are available in the sciences more broadly.
JAX pirates numerous laboratories around the world, and this specific program is hosted by two separate campuses, with students attending one or the other: Bar Harbor, Maine, and Farmington, Connecticut. Room and board are provided by the program, and the entire thing is free of charge to students. Indeed, students who participate receive a $7,000 stipend. The program lasts for ten weeks each summer, and you must commit to all ten.
How to Join JAX SSP
The program is for both high school seniors and current undergraduate students. The Bar Harbor campus accepts both, while the Farmington campus only admits current undergraduate students. High school students must meet the following criteria:
- Be 18 years of age
- Have graduated high school prior to the start date of the program
- Be a US citizen or permanent resident
Students may apply to the program from states across the US without limit, and the program will subsidize your travel expenses to get there for the summer. They are looking to admit students who embody the following traits:
- A deep desire to conduct an independent research project in the field of genetics and genomics
- Significant academic achievement, and a solid grounding in the sciences
- Demonstrated curiosity and passion for the sciences
- Maturity, resilience, responsibility, and the ability to work well both independently and as part of a larger team
All applications for the program must be submitted . Applications are due on January 26. The online application requires the following:
- Demographic and academic information; who you are, the school you attend, etc
- Two letters of recommendation. These should come from people who know you well, and who can speak to the quality of your academic work.
- An informal or unofficial transcript
- A list of all science, technology, engineering, and computer science courses you have taken over the past three years
- Your current CV or resume
- A ranked list of your top three research interests or labs. They advise thoroughly reviewing their before composing this list
- A written description of your research itnerests and your top three choices form the above point
- Answers to the following short answer questions. Responses are limited to 3,000 characters, including spaces:
- What questions in the field of biomedical science are you curious about and what do you know about JAX that makes it a good place to start answering those questions?
- Describe your role in a recent research project you have done in your coursework, as part of a science fair, in a research position or a part of your work with a community organization. The project you describe need NOT be lab-based – you can describe a project in which you synthesized what others have said in answer to a question (as in a research paper/literature review), a survey you designed, a citizen science project, and/or an investigation to learn about school or community needs around an issue (playground, waste, climate action plan, etc.).
- Discuss the personal qualities you bring to a team or project environment. Provide a specific example of a contribution you made to a collaborative project. If applicable, please describe a collaboration with someone whose customs, habits, and/or traditions are different from your own. What did you learn?
- Please tell us more about yourself by giving us information about what you do when you are not in classes or studying? Are you a reader, a baker, a dancer a musician or something else? Do you play a sport? Do you have a job? Describe what you enjoy about this activity and what glimpse into who you are this activity shows.
Answering These Questions
As with most summer programs of this kind, your answers to these short answer questions are the most important part of your application. You need high grades to be qualified of course, as a demonstration that you have a solid academic grounding in order to tackle the material you are faced with, but it is through these essays they will determine your passion and drive for the subjects at hand.
When answering these questions, you should be both very specific, and try to demonstrate your passion for the sciences. Your answer to the second question, on a research project, need not be related to genomics research. Indeed, they welcome students who have never done any genetics or genomics research before. The point is to showcase your experience with research as a process, and to show off your enthusiasm for it.
The first question is about demonstrating your interest in the fields of genetics and genomics as a whole. This is especially important for students who are not majoring in biology. Students from all scientific disciplines are welcome to apply, but you should use this essay to explain how this program, and the research opportunities it affords, will support your own scientific goals.
The third question seeks to understand how you operate in a collaborative environment. You will have the chance to pursue independent research, but lab work is done as part of a team, and they are looking for clear indications of your maturity and ability to function as part of a team while working towards a larger goal. They look for a previous time you have done this, as past experience is the best possible indicator for how you will handle similar issues in the future.
The final question is a chance for you to introduce yourself, and to show off your passions. What these passions are matters less, and they do not have to be related to the field in question. There are other questions for that, this one seeks instead to understand what drives you, and to see how you will fit into the environment of the lab. Answer this question honestly and earnestly; what they are looking for is genuine passion and excitement for what you do, and you should let that shine through your writing.
The Purpose of JAX SSP
JAX SSP is different from most other summer programs we’ve talked about, in that in most cases it will have zero impact on your college admissions journey. This is a program you can only apply to as a graduating senior, most every student who participates will have already accepted a place at a college by the time they set foot in a JAX lab. There are rare exceptions of course, those students who decide to take gap years, but on the whole, this summer program won’t impact your odds of getting into college at all, and indeed cannot.
This doesn’t make it worthless, far from it, but does recontextualize it, compared to so many of the other programs we discuss on this blog. Summer programs in high school have their own merits, and plenty of them, but the real reason students attend many of them is for the college application benefits. College applications are a looming and inescapable thing, dominating all thought during high school for many students, and this extends to how you spend your summers.
Many students therefore take the last summer between high school and college as a break, hitting a wall and stopping entirely for a spell, a last hurrah. This is an understandable impulse, though we do advise at least some structure, even if you are relaxing the whole time. A summer spent traveling with friends, even within your own city, will bring more joy than one spent solely on your phone.
A program like this, however, is far more forward looking, and far more work. The truth is that getting into college is not the end of your educational journey. It can certainly feel like it, especially with the amount of emphasis put on college admissions, but for many students it is simply an intermediary step. An important one, and a big one, but not the last one.
This program gives you the kind of lab research experience it’s hard to get in high school. Other summer programs do this as well of course, but more experience is more experience, and since it happens after high school, it can stay on your resume for longer. Thus, when you apply for future lab positions, in college and beyond, you have something to point to.
Lab work is a complicated thing, with many safety and protocol steps that must be learned. Research is similar; it is something that sounds easy in theory, but the practice is complicated and fiddly. Getting experience with both now, before you ever set foot on a college campus, gives you a major leg up for all of the work you will be doing at college, and beyond.
This isn’t the right program for everyone, and we fully understand why you may not want to spend your summer after high school doing something like this. It is a valuable opportunity however, the kind of thing which can prepare you for future success in scientific endeavors.
Final Thoughts
How you spend your summers matters in high school, but this remains the case, and indeed becomes even more important in college. The internships, jobs, and experiences you get during your summers at college are what prepare you for your next steps, in education and career. The JAX SSP program is one example of what these look like, and one that allows high school students to get a jump on this next step of their journey.
If you are looking for advice on applying to college in the first place, or on how to spend your summer, regardless of where you are in your own academic journey, then ³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø can help. Our mentors have a depth of experience in helping students make the most of their limited time, and connecting you with the opportunities which will best support your needs. Schedule a free consultation today to learn more about how we can help you.
