Who can apply to Step Up to STEM at ECSU?

The application is open to current eighth grade students who live in the following North Carolina counties: Beaufort, Bertie, Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Craven, Currituck, Dare, Edgecombe, Gates, Greene, Halifax, Hertford, Hyde, Martin, Nash, Northampton, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pitt, Tyrrell, and Washington.

Who can apply to Step Up to STEM at NCSSM-Durham?

The application is open to current eighth grade students who live in the following North Carolina counties: Alamance, Alexander, Alleghany, Anson, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Caswell, Catawba, Chatham, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Davidson, Davie, Durham, Forsyth, Franklin, Gaston, Graham, Granville, Guilford, Haywood, Henderson, Iredell, Jackson, Johnston, Lee, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Montgomery, Moore, Orange, Person, Polk, Randolph, Rockingham, Rowan, Rutherford, Stanly, Stokes, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Union, Vance, Wake, Warren, Watauga, Wilkes, Yadkin, and Yancey.

Who can apply to Step Up to STEM at UNC Pembroke?

The application is open to current eighth grade students who live in the following North Carolina counties: Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, Cumberland, Duplin, Harnett, Hoke, Jones, Lenoir, New Hanover, Onslow, Pender, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson, Scotland, Wayne, and Wilson.

When to Apply

For Summer 2026, the online application will be available starting December 1, 2025. When applying, each applicant should only create one application to be submitted. Applicants do not have to complete their entire application in one session (and can return to the same application as many times as needed to complete it until the application deadline). In preparation to complete the application process, students are advised to review the process and prepare responses for the information the application requires.

Application Components

Part 1: Parent/Guardian Information

If this is the first time logging into the application system, the parent/guardian must first set up log-in credentials. Once logged in, the parent/guardian will be asked to provide contact information, emergency contact information, and information about the student, as well as agree to the terms and conditions. 

Part 2: Student Application

After the first part of the application is complete, while logged in using the parent/guardian’s credentials, students will be asked to provide demographic information and answer these short answer and essay questions. 

Teacher / Counselor Recommendations and Academic Records

Applicants must ask a teacher to complete the teacher recommendation form, and a counselor to complete the guidance counselor recommendation form and to send in academic records. Details and email request templates can be found here.

Part 3: Teacher Recommendations

• Within the application system, students must first provide the name and email address of a seventh- or eighth grade science, technology, engineering, math, or STEM teacher who will provide a recommendation on their behalf. (Note: Please be sure to provide the correct spelling of the recommender’s name and email address.)
• Once this information is submitted, the application system will automatically invite the teacher via email to complete a recommendation form. 
• The teacher MUST complete the recommendation by the application deadline. For Summer 2026, the application deadline is February 5, 2026 (5:00 pm EST).

Part 4: Counselor Recommendations and Academic Records

• Within the application system, students must first provide the name and email address of the guidance counselor who will provide a recommendation and submit the academic records. Please note that if the student’s school does not have a guidance counselor, then alternatively, an AIG coordinator or counselor, an academic advisor, or a school administrator can provide a recommendation on the student’s behalf. (Note: Please be sure to provide the correct spelling of the recommender’s name and email address.)
• Once this information is submitted, the application system will automatically invite the recommender via email to complete a recommendation form.
• The recommender will also need to send a copy of the student’s academic records to the Step Up to STEM Program. The applicant’s academic records must include the seventh-grade report card (entire academic year), the eighth-grade report card (first semester only), and EOG scores (or other standardized test scores) for sixth and seventh grades.
• The recommender MUST complete the recommendation and submit the academic records by the application deadline. For Summer 2026, the application deadline is February 5, 2026 (5:00 pm EST).

Official school transcripts can be submitted in one of the following ways:

• Uploading to the online recommendation form (Note: Only one file can be uploaded. If there are multiple documents, please merge into one file before uploading).
• Mail- postmarked by February 5, 2026 (Mail to: NCSSM’s Step Up to STEM 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 March 11, 2026. Please understand that all decisions are final and there is no appeals process. Furthermore, the Step Up to STEM staff does not go over applications with or provide feedback on applications to students or families as the Step Up to STEM staff is not involved in the application review process.

---

Key Dates for Summer 2026:

• December 1, 2025: Application portal opens
• January 8, 2026: Step Up to STEM at ECSU Virtual Information Session (Registration is closed.)
• January 15, 2026: Step Up to STEM at UNC Pembroke Virtual Information Session (Registration is closed.)
• January 22, 2026: Step Up to STEM at NCSSM-Durham Virtual Information Session (Registration is closed.)
• February 5, 2026: Application portal closes
• March 11, 2026: Acceptance decisions emailed
• March 25, 2026: Deadline for acceptance contracts to be submitted
• June 14-19, 2026: Cohort 2 (NCSSM-Durham)
• July 5-10, 2026: Cohorts 1 and 2 (ECSU)
• July 12-17, 2026: Cohort 1 (NCSSM-Durham)
• July 19-24, 2026: Cohort 1 (UNC Pembroke)

Please note: Cohort 1 is ONLY for students applying to the program as current eighth graders. Cohort 2 is ONLY for students who participated the previous year as Cohort 1 students.

Step Up to STEM Virtual Information Sessions:

Step Up to STEM Virtual Information Sessions are free events, providing an overview of the program. Registration for all Step Up to STEM Virtual Information Sessions will open in November 2025.

• Step Up to STEM at ECSU Virtual Information Session: January 8, 2026 at 7:00 pm EST. (Registration is closed.)
• Step Up to STEM at UNC Pembroke Virtual Information Session: January 15, 2026 at 7:00 pm EST.  (Registration is closed.)
• Step Up to STEM at NCSSM-Durham Virtual Information Session: January 22, 2026 at 7:00 pm EST. (Registration is closed.)

Step Up to STEM Virtual Office Hours:

Step Up to STEM Virtual Office hours consist of 15-minute time slots where parents, students, and/or educators may speak with Step Up to STEM staff members via Zoom to ask any questions that they may have about the Step Up to STEM application process. Virtual office hours dates/times for this application season are as follows:

• December 11, 2025: (4:30 pm – 6:30 pm)
• January 29, 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.