Acing The Simons Summer Research Program Essays 2025

2025 Simons Summer Research Fellowship Program Prompts

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)

As with all essays of this nature, specificity is key. Being vague, silly, or whimsical for the sake of whimsy will not suffice for a serious research program like Simons. There are a limited number of valid goals and aspirations a young researcher should expect from this program. These include: learning how to navigate peer-reviewed literature; understanding how statistics can be used to generate insights from data and quantify how reliable or meaningful those insights are; learning to communicate scientific findings effectively to both colleagues and laypeople; identifying a problem that sparks your imagination due to the depth and complexity of its exploration and related challenges; and fostering the desire to push your limits by tackling problems that have yet to be solved.

I may have overlooked a few other valid motivations, but as you can see from the examples provided, the only truly valid ones are intimately tied to the research process itself. The key isn’t to cram all of these motivators into a short 300-word essay. Instead, focus on selecting the reasons that you prioritize the most given your lived experiences and show the reader a snippet of those experiences to establish a strong personal motivation for those reasons.

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, the subject area of focus, the type of career you aim to achieve with that degree, and how pursuing this career will contribute to making a significant positive impact on the world.

The purpose of this essay is to provide a compelling personal reason for your ambitions, clearly state your goals, and demonstrate to the reader 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.

Finally, I recommend concluding by discussing how Simons’ will play an indispensable role in helping you accomplish your goals. Be sure to reference how achieving the short-term goals described in your previous essay will serve as a foundation for reaching your long-term aspirations.

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. Briefly summarize any previous research experience (if applicable) and highlight your role/responsibilities. Please include research-oriented courses you may have taken (for ex.: CAD, labs, etc). Tell us about any computer/mechanical skills you have that may be helpful in a laboratory setting. (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.

If you’re applying to this program as a long shot and have only one formal research experience, take a cue from the earlier essay and describe that experience as vividly and passionately as possible. Instead of merely listing your skills, demonstrate how you used them in your research to solve problems and achieve results.

For all applicants, it is crucial to conclude the essay by reflecting on how the skills you’ve developed and the experiences you’ve gained have shaped your aspirations as a researcher.

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)

We are finally at the last question of this behemoth of an application. The purpose of this essay is to articulate why you are specifically interested in the mentors and research projects you have chosen. Strive to establish a unique, personal connection to an aspect of each project you selected. Once you’ve established these connections, demonstrate your understanding of how addressing the questions tackled by the research groups you’ve chosen contributes to advancing the broader field. Additionally, highlight the potential real-world applications that such discoveries could lead to. Conclude with a heartfelt reflection on what it would mean to you to witness the realization of these real-world applications or advancements within the broader fields of the research areas you have selected.

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.