Application Process

For Summer 2026, the online application will be available beginning January 6, 2026. The entire application does not have to be completed in one session (it is possible to return at a later time, before the application deadline, to complete it). In preparation to complete the application process, students are advised to review the process and prepare responses for the information the application requires. 

• Guidance counselor and teacher recommendations must be submitted online by the application deadline. 
• Academic records must be uploaded to the application portal or mailed by the guidance office or registrar of the student’s school.

Application Components

Click here to access the application checklist.

Counselor/Teacher Recommendations and Academic Records

Applicants must ask a guidance counselor to complete the counselor recommendation form, a teacher to complete the teacher recommendation form, and their school to send in their academic records. 

Counselor Recommendations 
The applicant must give his/her guidance counselor the instructions for the counselor to complete the online recommendation. 

Teacher Recommendations
The applicant must select a high school STEM teacher who has taught or is currently teaching him/her to provide a recommendation. The applicant must give the teacher the instructions in order for the teacher to complete the online recommendation.

Academic Records
The counselor (or registrar) will also need to send a copy of the applicant’s academic records to the INSPIRE Program. The applicant’s academic records must include each semester’s grades, beginning with the applicant’s 9th grade year through the Fall 2025 semester and cumulative GPA (weighted and unweighted). Official school transcripts should be uploaded to the application portal or mailed (postmarked by March 5, 2026) to:

NCSSM
INSPIRE Program
Attention: Dr. Gerri Cole
1219 Broad Street
Durham, NC 27705

Selection Process

After the application deadline, all completed applications will be reviewed by a committee. Good grades, teacher and counselor recommendations, and the students’ responses to application questions are considered when selecting program participants.

For Summer 2026, acceptance notifications will be emailed on April 6, 2026. Please understand that all decisions are final and there is no appeals process. Furthermore, the INSPIRE staff does not go over applications with or provide feedback on applications to students or families as the INSPIRE staff is not involved in the application review process.

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Key Dates for Summer 2026:

• January 6, 2026: Application portal opens
• February 12, 2026: INSPIRE Virtual Information Session 
• March 5, 2026: Application portal closes
• April 6, 2026: Acceptance decisions emailed
• April 10, 2026: Deadline for acceptance contracts to be submitted
• June 21-26, 2026: INSPIRE at NCSSM-Morganton

INSPIRE Virtual Information Session:

The INSPIRE Virtual Information Session is a free event, providing an overview of the program. The event will take place on February 12, 2026 at 7:00 pm. (Registration is closed.)

INSPIRE Virtual Office Hours:

The purpose of the INSPIRE Virtual Office Hours is to answer any questions that parents, students, and/or educators may have about the INSPIRE application process. The dates/times for this application season are as follows:

• January 20, 2026: (4:30 pm – 6:30 pm)
• February 24, 2026: (4:30 pm – 6:30 pm)

To sign up for a virtual office hour time slot, please click here. Please note that sign-ups are on a first come, first serve basis. 

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