Program Overview

Introduction to the Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)

The Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) is a unique opportunity for students to engage in research projects and earn university course credit. After two years of pilot programming and excellent reviews, George Mason University is rolling out university course credit for participation in ASSIP.

Program Details

• The tuition cost is $1299 for each accepted intern, based on George Mason University's regular undergraduate tuition.
• The program provides students with the opportunity to work on research projects and earn three college course credits.
• The credits can be retained at George Mason or transferred to another college or university.

Tuition and Fees

• The total tuition cost is the same for all students, whether or not their home address is in Virginia.
• The tuition cost covers standard administrative and teaching costs, project-specific required materials, and research supplies.
• Weekly didactic training modules are included as part of the course credit, introducing students to topics such as reviewing scientific literature, writing scientific abstracts, and using AI responsibly in research.

Financial Aid and Waivers

• Tuition can be waived for financial need.
• Students who are on free or reduced lunch at their high school or receive Pell Grant aid for college may qualify for a 100% waived tuition.
• Alternative documentation may be accepted to determine eligibility for free tuition.

Scholarships and Additional Funding

• Currently, there are no additional scholarships available beyond waivers for financial need.
• Students who do not qualify for the financial need waiver but still find the tuition burden too high can discuss their situation with the program administrators.

Remote and Out-of-State Interns

• All interns, whether remote, hybrid, or in-person, will have access to synchronous didactic training, research budgets, institutional resources, and final poster session events.
• Remote interns will have a separate fully remote final poster session experience designed specifically for them.
• The total tuition cost is the same for all students, regardless of their domicile.

Current Students and Transfer Credits

• If a student is already enrolled at George Mason, they will participate in ASSIP for course credit, with reduced in-processing paperwork.
• If a student is enrolled at another university, they will participate in ASSIP for course credit and can transfer the credits to their own institution upon completion.
• Course credit earned at George Mason through ASSIP can be transferred to another university, although the receiving institution will determine how the credits are applied.

Transcript and Course Credit

• A transcript will show completion of 3 credits of a course entitled "COS120: Introduction to Research".
• The course is an independent study course, culminating in a research presentation, graded on the university undergraduate regular scale (A/B/C/D/F).

Enrollment and Application

• If a student is accepted as an ASSIP intern and is not already a George Mason student, they will submit transcripts and a non-degree application to George Mason as part of their in-processing paperwork.
• Participation in ASSIP without course credit is not possible, as all interns must be provided with the same level of institutional access and resources.