How to Apply and Timeline

Eligibility

• Current Stanford frosh and first-year transfer students who have completed 3 quarters of coursework at Stanford by the program start date
• Students who do not have other work or course commitments during the program and can commit to a full-time SSFP schedule
• No prior research experience is required; applicants with no prior research experience are strongly encouraged to apply

Who Should Apply

SSFP aims to bring together a dynamic group of students with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences. Ideal candidates will benefit most from the program’s emphasis on introductory research experiences, academic support, and community. Such candidates may:

• Be the first in their families to attend college
• Want support understanding and accessing the resources and opportunities available at Research 1 institution
• Want to engage in an undergraduate research project but don’t know where to start
• Have had no or limited access to research opportunities and experiences prior to attending Stanford
• Wish to complete the PWR2 requirement to focus on other major and/or academic requirements during the academic year
• Be seeking to explore potential majors and discover academic pathways with the support of advisors and mentors
• Have planned to take on a summer job unrelated to academic aspirations
• Otherwise not have the resources to dedicate a summer to exploring research

Timeline

Priority Deadline: January 23, 2026

Final Deadline: February 13, 2026

Interviews: Winter Quarter Weeks 6-9

Decision Release: March 6, 2026

Commitment Deadline: March 20, 2026

Move-in: June 17-20, 2026

Program Dates: June 20, 2026 - August 15, 2026