Whether you’ve known since middle school that you want to become a biomedical engineer or you’re just starting to fall in love with coding or chemistry, becoming a strong STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) applicant requires an eye-catching and well-developed hook. STEM is a vast and rapidly evolving field, encompassing everything from computer science and artificial intelligence to environmental engineering and applied mathematics. But with so many paths to explore, it can be difficult to know where to begin—or what experiences will make the biggest impact. Additionally, because STEM includes such a diverse range of disciplines, applicants with generalized and unfocused profiles will blend in with thousands of other applicants.
A strategic STEM “hook” will provide a clear throughline in your application materials—from your activities list to coursework to essays and awards—that makes your profile cohesive and compelling to admissions officers. The best STEM hooks are those that combine a student’s unique interests and background to articulate a creative and original approach to their intended subdiscipline. But developing a bespoke hook requires more than just participating in Science Bowl and taking low-level coding classes (though these are great starting points!); it takes time, effort, and strategy to develop a holistic profile that will wow admissions officers.
If you want to begin crafting your standout hook in STEM, read on for our Senior Mentors’ insider tips and strategic guidance!
Participate in Clubs & Competitions
Joining clubs at your school is a great way to explore your interests in STEM outside of classes. Whether you have already discovered your niche STEM interests or are still exploring new ones, check out some of these clubs at your school in order to get hands-on experience and connect with other students who share your passions:
Science Bowl
Science Bowl is a fast-paced academic competition that tests your knowledge in a wide variety of scientific subjects, from biology to energy policy.
Science Olympiad
In the Science Olympiad, students compete in team-based events ranging from building bridges and helicopters to analyzing forensic evidence.
Science National Honor Society
The Science National Honor Society recognizes academic excellence and fosters student-led STEM service projects, outreach, and academic events.
FIRST Robotics
This renowned international program combines engineering, design, and programming in hands-on robot-building competitions.
Importantly, nationally recognized clubs such as these offer opportunities to put your skills to the test through competitions and contests. Winning these competitions can add notable accolades to your applicant profile, an additional benefit of participation beyond the connections and practice that these clubs facilitate. Awards and honors from nationally respected competitions show colleges that you can succeed in rigorous, high-pressure environments and demonstrate that the caliber of your skills has been recognized by experts in your field.
KEY TIP:
If your school does not offer extracurriculars that align with your interests, take the initiative to spearhead your own club or organization! Doing so can be a great opportunity to develop leadership skills, create opportunities for peers who share your interests, and give back to your school community. Check out our complete guide to establishing your own club to get started!
Intern in Your Field
Internships can be a powerful way to explore your interests, develop new skills, gain hands-on experience, and begin building your professional network. However, part of the reason these opportunities are so impactful on an application is that they are difficult for high school students to source and secure.
STEM internships fall into two primary categories:
Formal Programs
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
NASA offers internships in which students can work on research and engineering projects with NASA scientists and engineers. Opportunities are available for students interested in aerospace engineering, astrophysics, and data science.
Department of Defense (DoD) Internship Opportunities
The DoD offers a wide range of internships and apprenticeships for high school students interested in engineering, cybersecurity, biotechnology, and more. Hosted through a variety of different organizations, students can find internships through the DoD website that offer hands-on research, technical training, or mentorship by STEM professionals, providing students with a deep dive into applied science and cutting-edge defense projects.
MIT and Harvard’s Broad Summer Scholars Program (BSSP)
Hosted by the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, this program allows high school juniors from diverse backgrounds to work in teams and conduct genomics research.
Individual opportunities
Individual internships require students to reach out to professionals in their area of interest to form connections and request an internship opportunity. For STEM students, individual internship opportunities may include research with a college professor or professional experience at a company in their intended field.
Whether you are planning to find an internship through a program or individually, here are some of the steps you can take to secure an impressive STEM internship:
Start with research
Many of the formal high school STEM internship programs have age requirements and strict application deadlines, so it’s important to do your research early on to avoid any missed opportunities. Similarly, if you’re pursuing individual internship opportunities, demonstrate to your potential mentor that you have put in the effort to understand their work to the best of your ability and you have a genuine curiosity about their field. If you’re reaching out to professors, try to read some of their research papers and reference them in your initial outreach email.
Cast a wide net
High school internships, whether through a program or individually sourced, can be very competitive. Particularly if you’re going the independent internship route, you should be prepared to hear “no” from some (if not most!) of the people you reach out to. To prepare for this, make a robust list of potential mentors and contact as many people as necessary in order to land that internship!
Be professional and curious:
Once you’ve successfully found an internship, remember to be professional and curious throughout the internship process. Ask questions to thoroughly understand what you’re doing, and remember that mentors can be great sources for letters of recommendation in the future!
KEY TIP:
Throughout your internship, keep a journal to reflect on your experience. Recording what you learn and the specific contributions you make can provide you with helpful ideas as you write college essays and prepare for interviews.
Start a Blog or Podcast
Demonstrating your STEM knowledge can happen outside of the lab, as well. If you are passionate about writing, teaching, or sharing ideas, a blog or podcast can be a powerful way to explore your interests while developing your communication skills. While researching content for your articles or episodes, you’ll learn more about your niche area of interest and how to share scientific information in an engaging way.
To get started, first consider what specific issues or topics in STEM most interest you. Maybe you’re curious about how AI will change medicine or want to explain quantum physics to middle schoolers. Your content doesn’t have to be advanced—it just has to reflect your curiosity and specific commitments within the broad STEM fields. If you are unsure of what content might appeal to you, start by researching popular blogs or podcasts that already exist in STEM, analyze what these podcasts or blogs have done successfully, and then consider how you could approach STEM-related topics from a different angle.
Here are some media platforms where students might find inspiration:
Podcasts
Science Vs
This podcast debunks myths and examines current events through a scientific lens. Students can gain insights into effective storytelling and how to connect science education to a variety of topics.
Her Stem Story
Her Stem Story highlights the diverse voices and career paths of women in STEM. It’s an excellent resource for students interested in exploring equity and representation in STEM fields.
Blogs
Science Friday | NPR
Known for its popular NPR radio show and podcast, SciFri also features blog posts, explainers, and activities that break down complex topics and recent news in biology, chemistry, space, and the environment.
What If | kcd
Inspired by Randall Munroe’s “What If?” blog and book series, this site explores far-fetched science questions with serious answers grounded in physics, math, and logic. It’s a great model for curiosity-driven, research-backed content.
There are countless topics to explore through your project, so find something that interests you and get started!
There are countless topics to explore through your project, so find something that interests you and get started!
One of the best ways to showcase hands-on engagement with your unique STEM-related interest is by conducting your own independent research or projects to explore your interests. Unlike classroom assignments or science fair projects, independent research gives you full control over what you’re investigating, how you design your approach, and how you analyze your results. If you’re interested in botany, you can start a garden and study the ideal conditions for different species that you plant. Or if you prefer engineering, you may rewire an old lamp to turn on and off with a remote switch. Taking the initiative to design and conduct unique projects such as these will show colleges that you are self-motivated, innovative, and prepared to dive into collegiate study in your field.
As you seek to develop your research project, these steps can help you get started:
Reach out to professors in your field
If you have a research idea you feel confident in, consider reaching out to professors whose work aligns with your interests. You might find opportunities for collaboration, mentorship, or pointers for building your independent project. Send a polite, well-crafted email expressing what you find interesting about their work and how you’d love to learn from or assist with their research. Be sure to reference specific papers or findings to show you’ve done your homework.
Find inspiration in graduate student research
While full professors are often very busy, you can also look into work that current graduate student researchers are working on for inspiration and reach out to expand your network. Browsing the graduate student profiles page on a department’s website is a great way to identify graduate researchers whose work interests you!
Bring a problem-solving approach to your community
One of the best ways to select a research topic is by considering needs in your community that you might contribute to solving through your STEM interests. Maybe your local park has poor drainage—study the soil absorption and propose solutions. If there’s poor lighting on neighborhood streets, consider researching solar-powered lighting systems. Perhaps you are concerned about the lack of tech literacy amongst young students—start an educational YouTube channel or in-person events teaching basic tech concepts to middle schoolers. Projects with tangible, local impact can be especially powerful on college applications.
Tip from a Senior Mentor:
“The “Research News” section on the webpage of a STEM department at a local or state university can be an invaluable place to identify research projects or professors that you may want to collaborate with. Students should also keep in mind that tenured professors are incredibly busy, so graduate researchers, assistant or associate professors, or postdoctoral fellows are more likely to respond to cold emails.”
For more information about sourcing research opportunities as a STEM student, check out our Q&A with Senior Mentors Jen, Charlotte, and Steph!
When you complete your research project, consider how you might share your findings—whether you send a paper to a research journal that accepts submissions from high school students, enter a STEM competition, or even post your results on a blog or video series. Disseminating your research not only strengthens your application—it also shows your ability to communicate scientific information clearly and creatively, which is a critical skill in STEM fields.
Take Classes Beyond Your High School
Many high schools have limited STEM offerings, and students should therefore seek opportunities outside of their high school to deepen their knowledge in their specific STEM discipline. Whether you’re interested in biochemistry, computer science, or applied physics, enrolling in college-level or other online courses shows initiative, intellectual maturity, and preparedness for rigorous college-level coursework.
Enroll in college courses
First and foremost, students can expand their learning by dual-enrolling in classes at a local community college or university. Doing so can allow students to explore their interests in more niche fields such as biomedical engineering or computational neuroscience.
Apply for Competitive Summer Programs
Beyond courses at school and online, competitive, academic summer programs can be ideal opportunities for students to both increase their knowledge and show colleges that their skills have been acknowledged by an expert third party in a competitive applicant pool.
At the same time, it’s important to note that not all summer programs are created equal. Broadly speaking, academic summer programs fall into two categories: pre-college programs and merit-based programs. Pre-college programs tend to be less competitive and rigorous, offering students the chance to experience college life, often in exchange for a steep fee. While these programs can be helpful for younger students to get a taste of campus life, they will not necessarily stand out as compelling evidence of a student’s academic capability. Merit-based programs, on the other hand, are highly competitive and often funded through generous scholarships. Students applying to these programs will go through a rigorous application process and should therefore build a list of reach, match, and safety programs to maximize their odds of admission.
Tip from a Senior Mentor:
“One of the easiest ways to tell the difference between these two types of programs is to ask: is there a rigorous application process? Do they accept most students if they are willing to pay or is there a competitive screening process? The more selective the program is, the more likely it is to be more valuable and reputable. I also tell parents that the amount of detail and description provided on a program’s website can tell you a lot about how rigorous it is—rather than simply stating that the program is in robotics, does the informational material list subfields that students will be engaging with? Deliverables and outcomes that they will produce? Teaching schedules or pedagogical approaches that will guide their learning? Reading the fine print is key.”
For more information about selecting the right STEM summer program, check out our Q&A with Senior Mentors Jen, Charlotte, and Steph!
Here are some of the most prestigious STEM summer programs for students to apply to:
CEE’s Research Science Institute
(RSI) is one of the most competitive and respected STEM programs for high school students in the world. Admitted students complete a week of STEM coursework followed by five weeks of original scientific research under the guidance of an experienced mentor.
Emory Summer Scholars Research Program
Enables students to join oncology research for six weeks during the summer months. Whether or not you want to pursue a career in oncology, gaining exposure to the cycle of translational research is crucial to understanding how medical treatments are created, from origin to development to trial, all the way through to the phase during which they reach the market and are sold to patients.
Jackson Laboratory’s Summer Science Program
Offers students the opportunity to spend the summer in Bar Harbor, Maine conducting biomedical research. The program is ideal for students interested in molecular biology, genetics, and biomedical innovation, providing the opportunity to engage in independent research projects that culminate in a formal research presentation.
Memorial Sloan Kettering’s Human Oncology & Pathogenesis Program
Ideal for students interested in the intersection of medicine, biology, and public health. Hosted by one of the world’s top cancer research institutions, students in the HOPP program take part in meaningful, real-world research. In addition to conducting an independent project under the guidance of a faculty member, students attend lectures and tours that offer insight into both the clinical and laboratory sides of oncology.
KEY TIP:
Earning admission to many of these programs is more challenging than being admitted to the Ivy League—and students should therefore put time, strategy, and effort into their applications. If you’re interested in applying, start researching in the fall of your sophomore or junior year and prepare your materials with the same attention you would give to your college applications.
Samantha’s Success Story
When Samantha first came to Command Education as a rising junior, she was a bright, ambitious student from China with a passion for electrical engineering and computer science. She envisioned creating an accessible platform where middle and high school students could learn the basics of robotics and programming, but she lacked the resources or strategic vision to make the idea a reality.
Command Education Senior Mentor Charlotte worked closely with Samantha to refine and shape her initial idea, helping her think strategically about both the content and impact of her project. Together, they identified Samantha’s core goals: to make robotics education more accessible, to build a global student-led community, and to create a platform that showcased her passion and initiative to top universities. Her mentor guided her through the early stages of platform development, encouraging her to start small with a user-friendly website that featured a set of original video tutorials Samantha created herself, before creating a targeted plan to scale and expand her project throughout her high school career.
Alongside developing her independent project, Charlotte also helped Samantha identify competitive summer programs to apply to, and Samantha participated in the Emory Summer Scholars Program the summer before her senior year.
Throughout all of these activities, Charlotte encouraged Samantha to document her impact, providing guidance on how to track growth metrics, testimonials, and student outcomes—all of which played a key role in compiling an eye-catching activities list and dynamic supplemental essays.
Because of the strength of her independent project, research acumen, and defined STEM hook, Samantha was admitted to Stanford University, where she pursued a degree in Computer Science.
The representations made are compilations of real-life stories and experiences. Names, identifying information, stories, and experiences have been changed to protect privacy. We cannot guarantee a specific outcome, and your results may vary.
