Summer Research Opportunity Program (SROP)

Purpose Statement

In support of Rackham Graduate School’s mission, SROP expands access and opportunity to diverse students and facilitates their preparation as a pathway to doctoral studies at U-M, resulting in increased representation.

Vision Statement

SROP at U-M strives to increase the number of diverse students with unique experiences by supporting their preparation for graduate studies. Through intensive mentorship, active learning, and enrichment activities, SROP fosters a community of scholars who increase social and cultural capital and networking while mastering research skills and knowledge that advances their preparation as candidates for successful graduate study at U-M and success in future careers, increasing representation in professional fields.

• $5,000 stipend
• Research and graduate application mentorship by faculty and graduate students
• Networking and professional development opportunities
• Opportunity to present at the annual SROP Research Symposium
• Room and board in university housing facilities
• Access to campus facilities such as libraries and gym
• Wireless internet and computer lab access
• Social events and exposure to U-M, the Ann Arbor campus, and U-M resources
• Community building with a national cohort of rising scholars
• Application fee waiver to apply to a Rackham Graduate School program

SROP participants are expected to participate full-time during the ten-week program. Participants may not enroll in classes, concurrent summer programs, or hold other employment during the period of the program. Program start and end dates cannot be modified.

Please read the eligibility requirements carefully, as they may differ from other Big Ten Academic Alliance SROP programs. Students from diverse backgrounds in the social sciences, physical or natural sciences, and engineering are encouraged to apply.

Applicants must:

• Be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or non-U.S. citizens with DACA.
• Have a minimum overall 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale).
• Be entering their junior or senior year in college (at a school other than the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor) and not be scheduled to graduate before December 2024.
• Have an interest in pursuing a graduate degree in one of the Rackham graduate programs. Please note that this does not include programs leading to professional degrees, e.g., Medical School (M.D.), Law School (J.D.), and Ross School of Business (M.B.A.).
• Have a genuine interest in academic research and/or teaching as a career.

Applicants must also meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Come from an educational, cultural, or geographic background that is underrepresented in graduate study in their discipline in the United States or at the University of Michigan.
• Have demonstrated a commitment to diversity in the academic, professional, or civic realm through their work experience, volunteer engagement, or leadership of student or community organizations. By diversity, we mean efforts to reduce social, educational, or economic disparities based on race, ethnicity, or gender, or to improve race relations in the United States.
• Have experienced financial hardship as a result of family economic circumstances.
• Are first-generation U.S. citizens or will be the first in their families to graduate from a four-year college or university.

Students in the humanities are encouraged to apply to the Michigan Humanities Emerging Research Scholars (MICHHERS) program.

We are not able to accept students currently enrolled at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. Currently enrolled UM-Ann Arbor students should contact the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) for more information on summer internships at U-M. Also, visit the Big Ten Academic Alliance website for information on SROP options at other institutions.

Students currently enrolled at UM-Flint and UM-Dearborn are encouraged to apply.

Please read the SROP Application Process and Guidelines thoroughly before starting the application. For additional details, please email [email protected].

Deadline to Apply

Applications and supporting documentation must be received online by Monday, February 3, 2025, 11:59 p.m., EST. The application portal will not be available after this date.

U-M will notify applicants of acceptance into U-M SROP by email no later than Friday, March 28, 2025. Offers of acceptance will continue until all available spots are filled.

Applicants who do not receive an offer of acceptance by email will be notified of their status in early April 2025.

Official acceptance agreements will be included with the pre-arrival paperwork.

I’ve attended more than one undergraduate institution. Do I need to upload a transcript from each one?

Yes. You must upload a transcript from each university you have attended. You can scan your transcripts and save them as one document.

What is the minimum GPA required?

Are applications from international students accepted?

I am currently an undergraduate student at U-M, can I apply to be in the program?

I am a freshman. Can I apply to the program?

I am a senior. Can I apply to the program?

I’ve applied to SROP in the past but didn’t get accepted. Can I apply again?

Are SROP participants allowed to take courses during the summer?

The program starts before the end of the semester. If selected, can I still participate?

Is health insurance required?

Should I apply using the Big Ten Academic Alliance shared application or the U-M application?

Will you consider applications past the deadline?

When can I expect to hear about the status of my application?