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HiSTEP 2.0 - 8 Reasons Why You Should Apply as a High School Student

Writer's picture: Kieran LoboKieran Lobo

If you are a high school student planning a career in biology and medicine, then spending a summer doing research and gaining lab experience can be a great way to boost your profile, gain valuable skills, and dive deeper into a subject of interest. 


Summer programs are a great way to show a demonstrated interest in a subject, something college admissions offices value highly. In this blog, we will review the High School Scientific Training and Enrichment Program 2.0 (HiSTEP 2.0), offered by the National Institute of Health’s Office of Intramural Training and Education. We’ll cover the program’s salient points, including eligibility, curriculum, deadlines, and cost, and give you eight reasons to apply!


Note: The following information is based on the most recent program, with dates subject to change but generally similar from year to year.



What is HiSTEP 2.0 all about?


The National Institute of Health (NIH) offers HiSTEP 2.0 to current high school seniors to conduct biomedical centers at one of its Institutes and Centers (IC) in the NIH Intramural Research Program, which conducts cutting-edge research in cancer, cell, chromosome, developmental, and computational biology, as well as in fields like genetics, immunology, infectious diseases, and more. The program runs for eight weeks in the summer and you are expected to work full-time, 40 hours per week. 


The program is conducted at the NIH’s main campus in Bethesda, Maryland, and is offered to students from low-income backgrounds. NIH also encourages students from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, who identify as LGBTQ+, and have disabilities to apply.


Do not confuse HiSTEP 2.0 with HiSTEP, a similar-sounding but separate program the NIH offers. HiSTEP is aimed at rising high school seniors interested in biomedical research at NIH. It is part-time, serves as a broader introduction to the work done by the NIH, and prepares students for college. 


To know more about HiSTEP, read our review here!



Who is eligible to apply?


To apply, you must meet the following criteria:


  • Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident

  • Be a current high school senior

  • Come from a school where at least 30% of the student body participates in the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program

  • Have little to no prior research experience working in a laboratory

  • Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0. NIH accepts applicants with a GPA between 2.75 and 3.0 if the student has shown steady improvement in their grades

  • Live in Washington DC, Maryland, or Virginia, which is within 40 miles of the main NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland



What are the important dates?


HiSTEP 2.0 runs for eight weeks in the summer. The dates are June 10 to August 2. NIH expects interns to work 40 hours per week to successfully complete the program. 


The deadline will likely be in the second week of January.



Is HiSTEP 2.0 prestigious?


HiSTEP 2.0 is run by NIH, an organization at the forefront of biomedical research in the U.S. and globally. You also get to work with researchers on ongoing projects, which makes the program quite prestigious and would add great value to your college application.



What is the application process like?


There are many parts to submitting a complete application to HiSTEP 2.0 and we recommend you pay close attention to each. You must apply through the NIH’s Student Application Center and choose the correct program. Be careful to choose HiSTEP 2.0 and not HiSTEP (a related, but different program for high school students). 


When submitting your application, be sure to upload the following documents:

  • A list of coursework taken in high school and your grades in each subject

  • CV/resume which lists out your education history, extracurricular activities, etc. (you can view NIH’s sample CV here for information on the format to follow)

  • Names and contact information of two referees. These should ideally be people who can attest to your aptitude for STEM, your lab/research skills, analytical nature, attention to detail, and any other qualities that NIH researchers might be looking for

  • A cover letter that talks about your experience, career goals, and interests. This letter should also address the following questions: why are you applying to HiSTEP 2.0, How has your unique life experience shaped your goals for the future? Include hardships you have overcome, How have you been a leader at your school and in your community? and if you participated in HiSTEP, how did that program impact you?  



8 Reasons Why You Should Apply to HiSTEP 2.0:


1. You get to work with NIH researchers

The NIH Intramural Research Program conducts some of the world’s leading research in biomedical healthcare. Research projects conducted here include investigating molecular markers to determine biological age and prevent diseases, improving the success rate of stem cell transplants, brain mapping to help cure Alzheimer’s Disease, curing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, using nanoparticles to kill cancer cells, and much more. As part of the program, you get to work alongside researchers, which would be a unique and rewarding experience.


2. You will add value to your college profile

HiSTEP 2.0 is a prestigious program that gives you the opportunity to conduct lab work alongside some of the top biomedical researchers in the U.S. and globally. Showcasing your skills and experience gained here will help your college application stand out, likely increasing your chances of getting into a top university.


3. Your chances of getting in are higher if you come from a low-income neighborhood

The program is aimed at students from high schools where at least 30% of students participate in the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program, thereby giving economically disadvantaged students an opportunity that may otherwise be inaccessible to them.


4. You can apply under NIH’s diversity and inclusion policy

The NIH encourages students from underrepresented backgrounds to apply. These include racial and ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, students eligible for Pell Grants, students who will attend tribal colleges, community colleges, Hispanic-focused institutions, and Historically Black Colleges; students who identify as LGBTQ+, and students who have faced adverse life circumstances.


5. You receive a stipend

The NIH pays all its interns, whether you are a high school, undergraduate, postgraduate, or doctoral student. High school students participating in HiSTEP 2.0 receive a monthly stipend between $2570 and $2,840.


6. You could receive a valuable recommendation letter

Working with a researcher can be challenging — you need to add value to their ongoing project while simultaneously learning on the job. If you do this well and demonstrate steady progress during the internship, you could score a valuable recommendation by the end of the program, which would help your college application.


7.  You do not need exceptional grades to apply

NIH mandates a minimum GPA of 3.0. However, they also accept students with GPAs between 2.75 and 3.0 who have shown steady progress. Do not hesitate to apply if you are passionate about the program and can show improvement in your academic performance. 


8.  You can participate in leadership and professional development sessions

NIH uses the HiSTEP 2.0 program to prepare students for college and the world beyond. You can avail of mentorship opportunities as well as dedicated sessions to build leadership skills and manage teams, expand your professional network, and maintain mental well-being.




One Other Option — the Lumiere Research Scholar Program


If you’d like to participate in a rigorous research program open to high schoolers, you may want to consider the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, a selective online high school program for students founded by researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.


Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!


Kieran Lobo is a freelance writer from India.


Image Source: NIH logo




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