What Is the Clark Scholars Program and Why Is It So Selective?
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program is a seven-week residential research program at Texas Tech University for high school juniors and rising seniors. Named for Anson L. Clark, a World War I pilot, physician, and oil-industry philanthropist, the program has run for more than thirty years and admits exactly twelve scholars each summer from a national and international applicant pool of roughly seven hundred.
| Clark Scholars Program at a Glance | Detail |
|---|---|
| Host institution | Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX |
| Founded | Over 30 years ago, funded by the Anson L. Clark legacy |
| Acceptance rate | Approximately 2% (12 admits from ~700 applicants) |
| Cohort size | 12 students per year (firm cap) |
| Eligibility | Rising seniors or recent graduates; 17 by start date; graduating 2026 or 2027 |
| Citizenship | US and international students; international applicants arrange own visa |
| Cost | Fully funded (tuition, room, board, activities) |
| Stipend | $750 tax-free on successful completion of research report |
| Application deadline | February 16, 2026, 11:59 PM CT (for 2026 cohort) |
| Program dates | June 21 to August 6, 2026 (7 weeks) |
| Format | 1:1 faculty-mentored independent research project |
| Application materials | Essays, transcripts, 3 recommendations, test scores (PSAT/PACT minimum) |
The selectivity comes from a structural constraint: each scholar works one-on-one with a Texas Tech faculty mentor on an independent research project, and the program is limited by the number of faculty willing to commit to mentoring a high school student for the full seven weeks. The result is a roughly 2% acceptance rate, placing Clark Scholars in the same tier of selectivity as RSI but with substantially less name recognition outside research circles.
What Research Areas Does the Clark Scholars Program Offer?
For 2026, Clark Scholars accepted research in eight disciplines: biology and cellular microbiology, cancer biology, chemistry, computer science, electrical and computer engineering, history, mechanical engineering, and physics. The breadth across STEM and select social sciences is unusual for a research program of this caliber, allowing humanities-leaning students with a research bent (history) to apply alongside STEM applicants.
Students do not select a faculty mentor directly on the application; mentors are assigned based on research interests and availability after admission. High school students are explicitly forbidden from contacting Texas Tech faculty about Clark Scholars mentorships before applying.
How Does the Clark Scholars Application Work?
The application has five components: an online form, a series of short essays with specific character limits, a high school transcript (unofficial accepted), at least one standardized test score (PSAT or PACT acceptable if SAT or ACT are not yet available), and three recommendations submitted through an online questionnaire. The recommendations are not traditional letters; recommenders complete a structured form, and the third recommender can be a teacher, research mentor, principal investigator, or volunteer organization leader.
Applicants must also submit a list of their top five activities or accomplishments. Importantly, neither a resume nor an additional activity list is permitted; one of the essay prompts asks about the applicant’s most fulfilling service experience, which functionally allows a sixth activity to be discussed in narrative form. Supplemental materials beyond what is requested are not accepted.
How to Prepare a Competitive Clark Scholars Program Application
The average accepted Clark Scholar has SAT scores around the 99th percentile. Strong applicants begin demonstrating research aptitude in 9th and 10th grade through independent investigation, science fair projects (ISEF, regional fairs), or coursework in advanced disciplines. By the time the application opens in late fall of junior year, competitive candidates have a body of intellectual work to point to: research papers, competition results, or sustained engagement with a research question.
The essays carry significant weight in selection. Because the program is small enough that the selection committee reviews every application closely, generic responses fail quickly. Strong essays describe specific problems the student has wrestled with, books or papers that have shaped their thinking, and the texture of their intellectual interests.
Recommendations from teachers who can speak to research aptitude and intellectual depth (rather than general academic strength) matter more than recommendations from teachers who know the student broadly. Applicants should request recommendations six to eight weeks before the deadline and provide recommenders with specific examples and context they can reference.
What Happens During the Clark Scholars Program?
Scholars arrive at Texas Tech in late June and live in university housing for seven weeks. Each scholar is matched with a faculty mentor and joins that faculty member’s active research group. The expectation is sustained daily research work, not classroom instruction.
In addition to research, the program runs weekly seminars on research ethics, academic communication, and university life. Weekend activities include hiking, camping trips, and other outings designed to build cohort cohesion and give students from across the country a sense of Texas Tech’s setting in the southern plains.
The program culminates in a research project report. Scholars who complete a successful report receive the $750 tax-free stipend. The research often continues beyond the seven weeks; many Clark alumni publish their work, present at national competitions like ISEF, or co-author papers with their faculty mentors.
How Does Clark Scholars Compare to RSI, SSP, and Simons?
Clark Scholars sits in the same selectivity tier as RSI (Research Science Institute at MIT) but with key structural differences. RSI is a six-week structured program with a one-week intensive courses phase followed by mentored research; Clark Scholars is seven weeks of immersive research from day one. RSI has stronger name recognition at top universities; Clark Scholars is less well known but equally rigorous in research methodology.
Compared to the Summer Science Program (SSP), Clark is more discipline-flexible (eight fields versus SSP’s four) but less collaborative; SSP students work in teams of three on a shared problem set, while Clark Scholars work individually with their mentor. Simons Summer Research at Stony Brook is comparable in research intensity but admits roughly 40 students versus Clark’s 12, making Clark more selective by a wide margin.
For families weighing which program to target, Clark Scholars is a strong fit for students who want a one-on-one faculty research relationship and are comfortable in a smaller cohort. Students who prefer team-based research or a stronger peer network might find SSP or Simons more appealing. For a broader comparison across all the most prestigious summer programs for high school students, see our complete rankings and how to get in guide.
What Are Clark Scholars Alumni Outcomes?
The program does not publish formal college admissions statistics, but its alumni network is consistently strong. Scholars regularly matriculate at Ivy League schools, MIT, Stanford, Caltech, and other top research universities. The program’s small size means a Clark Scholars credential signals exceptional research capacity to admissions officers who recognize it.
Beyond college admissions, many Clark Scholars continue research with their faculty mentor during the school year, publish in peer-reviewed journals, or use their summer project as the foundation for science fair competitions. The depth of the faculty mentorship is the program’s most enduring value.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Clark Scholars Program
The Clark Scholars Program acceptance rate is approximately 2% (12 students admitted from roughly 700 applicants annually).
Yes. Tuition, room, board, and program activities are fully covered. Scholars receive a $750 tax-free stipend after completing their research report. Applicants pay only travel to and from Lubbock, Texas, and personal expenses.
Yes. The program is open to both US and international high school students. International applicants must arrange their own visas; the program does not provide visa support.
The 2026 application deadline was February 16, 2026 at 11:59 PM Central Time. Applications for 2027 will open in fall 2026.
Applicants must be at least 17 by the program start date and graduating in 2026 or 2027. This typically means rising seniors (summer before senior year) or recent high school graduates (summer after senior year).
No. Clark Scholars does not award formal college credit. The program produces a research project report and (often) a publishable paper, but no transcript-level credit is issued.
Test scores are required. At minimum, a PSAT or PACT score is required if SAT or ACT scores are not yet available. The average accepted scholar scores around the 99th percentile.
Clark is more selective than Simons (12 spots vs ~40) and comparably selective to RSI (~2-3%). Clark offers one-on-one faculty mentorship across STEM and history; RSI is six weeks at MIT with broader STEM scope; Simons is at Stony Brook with focused STEM research.
Sources: Clark Scholars Program official site, Texas Tech University, NCES College Navigator (Texas Tech), IPEDS, NACAC 2024 State of College Admission, College Board BigFuture, and independent analysis of summer program admissions impact.
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