MIT THINK Scholars Program: What It Is and How to Apply

By Dr. Harman Brah, MD · Judge, California Science & Engineering Fair

MIT THINK is a STEM research and innovation program, run by MIT students, where high school students apply with a proposal for a project they have not done yet. You apply by writing up an idea that can be finished in one semester on a $1,000 budget, and finalists get mentorship from MIT professors and researchers plus funding to build it.

The 2026-27 dates have not been posted yet. That gives a student time to choose the idea and think the plan through before the application opens.

What makes THINK different

Most research competitions judge finished work. THINK judges a plan.

You do not need results, a lab or a past project to apply. You need a clear idea and a realistic way to carry it out.

That is why it suits a student who has a good question but has not yet had the chance to work on it.

What kinds of projects fit

The range is wide. Proposals can run from green technologies and practical devices to software applications.

The real limit is scope. Whatever you propose has to be doable in one semester with no more than $1,000.

A project that needs a year of work or expensive equipment will not fit, however good the idea is.

What a strong proposal shows

THINK says a good proposal has “an insightful idea, clearly defined goals, and a well thought-out procedure for implementation.”

Each of those is worth taking on its own.

The idea. Say what problem you are solving and why your approach is worth trying. One clear question is stronger than a long list of ambitions.

The goals. Define what success looks like. A reader should be able to tell, at the end of the semester, whether you got there.

The procedure. Lay out the steps in order, what you will build or test at each one, and roughly when. This is where most of the thinking goes.

The budget. List what you will need and what it costs, and keep the total within $1,000. A careful budget shows the plan is real.

What finalists receive

Finalists get:

• mentorship from MIT professors and researchers
• check-ins with the THINK team
• up to $1,000 in project funding
• an all-expenses-paid trip to MIT, if circumstances permit

Finalists then carry out the project, finish it by June and present their results.

How the timeline worked last cycle

The 2025-26 cycle gives a sense of the rhythm. Applications opened November 1, 2025 and were due January 1, 2026.

Semifinalists were announced and interviewed on January 30, 2026, and finalists were announced in February 2026.

The 2026-27 dates were not posted as of October 31, 2026. Check the THINK site for this year’s dates rather than assuming last year’s.

Preparing for the interview

Semifinalists are interviewed, so the student needs to know the plan inside out.

Be ready to explain why you chose each step, what could go wrong and what you would do if it did. A student who wrote the plan can answer those questions without a script.

The student does the work

The idea, the plan and the writing should all be the student’s. That is what the interview tests, and it is what makes the semester of building go well.

A mentor can help a student pressure-test the procedure and the budget: is the scope right for a semester, is each step realistic, does the cost add up. The student still makes the choices and writes the proposal.

What to do now

Start with the idea. Write down the problem in one or two sentences and what you would build or test to address it.

Then draft the steps and a rough budget. If the plan does not fit one semester and $1,000, narrow it now, while there is time.

Our physician-led mentors help students shape and pressure-test research plans while the student does the work. See our science fair and research mentorship, or read about finding a science fair project idea in high school.

FAQ

Does my child need to have already done research to apply to MIT THINK?

No. THINK asks for a proposal for a project that has not been done yet, so the application is judged on the idea and the plan, not on past results.

How much money can a THINK project use?

The project has to be doable with a $1,000 budget, and finalists receive up to $1,000 in funding to carry it out.

When is the MIT THINK deadline for 2026-27?

It has not been posted. Last cycle, applications opened November 1, 2025 and were due January 1, 2026, so check the THINK site for the new dates.

What happens if my child is selected as a finalist?

Finalists work with MIT professors and researchers, check in with the THINK team, receive project funding and, if circumstances permit, a trip to MIT. They finish the project by June and present the results.

What kind of project should we propose?

Anything in STEM that can realistically be finished in a semester on $1,000, from green technology and practical devices to software. A narrow, well-planned idea is a safer choice than an ambitious one that cannot fit the time or budget.