FAQs – NIST SHIP Program

A: Summer High School Internship Program

A: The SHIP program is for students, US citizen Only,  in their Junior and Senior year of high school. You can still participate in the program if you have just graduated High School and have NOT started college yet.

A: No, only Juniors and seniors in High School or just graduated high school and have NOT started college.

The SHIP program is 8 weeks long and held during the summer months of June to August.

A: The SHIP program is only held in the summer months of June to August.

A: The SHIP is conducted at the Boulder, Co and Gaithersburg, MD NIST Campuses.

A: No, the SHIP program is an unpaid internship and students MUST live in close proximity to the NIST Boulder, CO or NIST Gaithersburg, MD. If Students is out-of-state, they MUST have own housing and transportation setup in order to participate at either locations- Boulder, CO or the Gaithersburg, MD.

A: Access the SHIP application using the "Apply to SHIP" link on https://www.nist.gov/iaao/academic-affairs-office/high-school-students-…

A: Please visit the SHIP program using the link below https://www.nist.gov/iaao/academic-affairs-office/high-school-students-ship or by sending you inquiries to ship [at] nist.gov (ship[at]nist[dot]gov)

A: Currently, the NIST SHIP program is an unpaid internship program. We are currently working on providing a stipend to the SHIP students’ participants and announcement will be made once approval have been obtained from upper management.

A: You must list two (2) recommenders; one (1) STEM Teacher and one (1) professional

A: Professional recommendations speak to your specific performance on the job and should be from current or former employers. Supervisory contacts as well as co-workers, coach or Boys or Girls Scout Club  can provide professional recommendations. Be certain that your contact list includes individuals that can speak directly about your experience.

A: Ask a trusted adult who is not your family member. This could be a teacher, a coach, a mentor, someone from your faith community, a boss, someone who you have volunteered with, etc. Pro Tip: Ask someone who has known you for a long time or who has seen you work hard at school, a job, or an extra-curricular activity.

A: ALL recommendations are due by 11:59 PM ET on Tuesday, February 10, 2025

A:  Students may change their recommenders before the application closes by emailing ship [at] nist.gov (ship[at]nist[dot]gov) with the name, email, recommendation type and institution of the recommender to remove and/or add. Once the application is closed, no changes can be made to the application. 

For SHIP 2025, all applicants will receive status of their application between February 26 - 29

All SHIP recommendations requests will come from noreply [at] monster.com (noreply[at]monster[dot]com).  Recommenders must use the link contained in the recommendation request email to submit their letters. Please have references check their spam or junk email.

Acceptance letters/email will be sent between March 03 to April 18, 2025. Decline letters/emails will be sent between April 21 -  May 02, 2025.