Science IS-U Scholars Program

Who are the Scholars?

Program Structure

Year 1: Students participate in the 6-week early arrival program. During early arrival, students will engage in community building, learn about the student resources ISU offers, engage in Level-Up Math, and complete the general education course, IDS 119: The Civically Engaged Scientist (tuition free). Scholars will move into the co-sciences-themed living/learning floor during the early arrival program and continue to reside on this floor for their first two years of college. Scholars recieve a $10,000/year housing credit for participation in the living-learning community (up to two years). Participation includes living on the themed-living floor as well as engaging in community building and professional development programming with your scholars cohort. During the fall and spring semesters, scholars continue to participate in community building and professional development, learn about the research opportunities on campus, and are matched with a research mentor.

Year 2: During the summer between year 1 and year 2, scholars participate in an 8-week paid research internship. As part of this internship, scholars participate in the Science IS-U showcase where they will have the opportunity to present on their research projects and provide mentorship to the incoming scholars cohort (starting their year 1). During the fall & spring semesters, scholars continue to particpate in their co-sciences-themed living/learning floor's community building, professional development, and cohort-to-cohort mentoring. Scholars are also be enrolled in the Science IS-U seminar course (1 credit hour). 

Years 3 & 4: By this time, Scholars are leaders within their degree programs. They continue to participate in community-building, professional development, and cohort-to-cohort mentoring. Years 3 & 4 are focused on prepping scholars for applying to REUs (Research Experiences for Undergraduates), participating in career exploration, and becoming prepared for applying to graduate programs and/or positions that will launch their STEM careers.

Throughout the 4 years, scholars will be provided the opportunity to participate in community building, professional development, and career exploration alongside their scholar cohort and STEM peers.

Application

We are now accepting applications for first-year students beginning ISU in Fall 2025. Please note, if accepted into the Science IS-U STEM Scholars program, you will be required to participate in the 6-week bridge program that occurs June 29 - August 10, 2025. In order to be considered for the STEM Scholars program, you must apply and be admitted into one of the eligible STEM degree programs (below). 

Step 1: Illinois State University applications for Fall 2025 are now open! Apply to an eligible ISU degree program by following the button below.

Visit these links to learn about the eligible STEM degree programs at ISU: Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Geography, Geology, & the Environment, Mathematics, and Physics.

Apply to a STEM degree program

Step 2: Once you have applied and been accepted into one of the STEM degrees listed above, you wil recieve an email with a link to the Scholars application. The Science IS-U Scholars program uses a rolling admission process. Applications will first be reviewed on December 2 and biweekly thereafter until all cohort openings have been filled. Applicants who receive admittance will be allowed one month to accept the offer or ask for an extension. Unaccepted offers will be extended to other qualified applicants. The 2025 cohort of Science IS-U Scholars will have 10 openings. Prospective Science IS-U Scholars should submit their application as soon as they are able and no later than February 15, 2025.