FAQ

  • Students will be placed in various lab locations across Seattle
  • Merit based aid is defined as academic scholarships
  • Need based aid is defined as student loans
  • A minimum 3.20 GPA or higher is required
  • There are no restrictions on the length of the letter of interest but keeping it to 1-2 page maximum is recommended.
  • Please upload your most recent transcript when applying
  • Applications open ~November 1st each year
  • Applications close January 1st
  • NSSSP administrative office located at 908 Jefferson Street, Seattle, WA (across from Harborview Medical Center)

 

APPLICANTS:

If applicants tried to upload documents and/or submit letter of recommendation requests and it took forever to load (see screenshot below, from the program’s test application) and/or the page crashed/froze applicants should:

  1. Refresh your browser.
  2. Applicants should also try clearing their browser’s history (instructions in link).
  3. Actively log out of the application and log back in. If that doesn't work, try:
  4. Applicant should log out, then press CTRL + SHIFT + R (which will clear the cache), and then log in again.

Many times browser information simply needs to be cleared as not regularly clearing it can cause a browser to become cluttered, slow, etc.

Are you using a VPN on your computer? An active VPN can interfere with various computer programs and websites, as well as the NSSSP application. Try turning the VPN off while you are in the NSSSP application.

Help! I’m unable to edit/change items/information on my application!

Once a Task has been submitted/checked as COMPLETE, you will not be able to make any further edits to the task(s). Re-opening a task can only be done by IT on the back end. So, if you think you will need to update any items on a task, please wait until you are ready to formally submit your application to mark the task(s) as being complete.

Waiving right to see letters of Recommendation (Task 5)

In order for an applicants’ application to be considered for the program they MUST have this item checked ‘Yes’, otherwise their application will be considered incomplete and will not be

forwarded to the review committee. Please review your application to make sure this required item has been checked before you submit your application.

If this item has not been checked as ‘Yes’ your application will NOT be sent to the review committee.

Agreeing to terms (Task 4)

In order for an applicants’ application to be considered for the program they MUST have this item checked ‘Yes’, otherwise their application will be considered incomplete and will not be forwarded to the review committee.

Please review your application to make sure this required item has been checked before you submit your application.

If this item has not been checked as ‘Yes’ your application will NOT be sent to the review committee.

How many hours per week are you available? (Task 1)

Since the program is full-time Monday-Friday, applicants with low availability noted on their applications may not be considered for the program since participants would be expected to be available to work a full-time schedule (~40 hours a week) for the entire 8-week program. Please check that your availability works to accommodate the program’s schedule.

I am considering taking classes next summer. What do I put in the box on the application that asks if I will be taking classes?

Since the program is full-time (M-F), participants are discouraged from taking classes. However, if the classes would not interfere with the student’s program participation, go ahead and put ‘no’ as the response.

Merit based aid & Need based aid

  1. Merit based aid is defined as academic scholarships.
  2. Need based aid is defined as student loans.

Letters of recommendation (LOR)

*Letters of recommendation are due by January 1, 2025.

Applicants may request up to 5 letters of recommendation and may be a mix of STEM professors/teachers and non-STEM professors/teachers. Letters from previous professors/teachers and professors/teachers from other institutions are also accepted.

• • Letter writers may be a mix of applicant’s current and previous professors/lab mentors/research mentors/teachers.

• • Lab/research mentors are considered members of STEM

Definition of STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (and Medicine)

Once an applicant has submitted a LOR request, the letter writer will receive an automated email (similar to my example test one, below). Each email will include a link for the letter writer to upload their letter directly to the applicant’s application.

*Please note that each letter writer’s upload link is unique to each applicant, are not transferrable between applicants, and neither the program coordinator nor IT have access to LOR upload links.

If an applicant needs to resend a LOR request, go to Task 5 of the application and click ‘resend’ on the one(s) you want to resend.

*Applicants should let letter writer(s) know to check their junk/spam email folders for an email from NSSSP Application <connect@parallelpublicworks.com

Once an applicant has received at least one LOR, a note will appear on Task 5 of the application letting the applicant know that they have received the minimum number of LORs and that they can click the task as being complete.

*If multiple LORs have been requested, applicants can still submit their application with the minimum 1 LOR as additional LORs that get uploaded by letter writers will automatically be added to their application by the system (so applicants do not need to wait for all letters to be uploaded before they can submit their application).

If your letter writer(s) is having problems uploaded their letters please ask them to clear their browser’s history, and then press CTRL + SHIFT + R (which will clear the cache), and then try again. Many times browser information simply needs to be cleared as not regularly clearing it can cause a browser to become cluttered, slow, etc.

Letters of interest

Letters of interest should be treated as cover letters. Applicants should let us know why they would like to participate in this program. They can talk about how their prior experiences make them a good fit for this program and what they plan to get out of it. It may also include personal stories. Many previous applicants and alumni have written about their own, a family member's, or even a friend's experience with a medical condition or experience that peaked their interest in neuroscience, alzheimer's, medicine, etc. Others have written about being the first (or one of the first) in their family to go to college, etc. The review committees look for applicants who have a strong interest in STEM, interesting backgrounds, and we strive to provide opportunities to students who may otherwise be underrepresented by other programs.

There is no word count limit, page limit nor font requirement.

Transcripts

We know that not all applicants will have their formal transcripts by the January 1st application deadline. Applicants should upload their unofficial transcripts so they can submit their applications. Applicants who receive their transcripts after January 1st may email their official transcripts directly to (nsssp@uw.edu) and IT can attach it to the applicant’s application materials on the back end.

Applicants with transcripts from multiple schools (ie. student attended multiple universities/colleges): applicants should create 1 pdf that includes all transcripts, then upload to the application.

GPAs

There are 2 GPAs on the application. Each GPA is required to be at least 3.2. If your current GPA is below 3.2 but you feel it will likely increase to at least 3.2 during the current term, please upload the transcript you currently have and then upload current term’s transcript as soon as possible (you can send it to nsssp@uw.edu if you already submitted your application).

I need to edit/upload something on a task but I can’t get back into it!

If you still have items to edit and/or upload onto your application, do NOT check the affiliated task(s) as complete otherwise the task will become locked and you will not be able to get back into the task to make any edits later on. Please only check tasks as complete once you are ready to submit your application.

Submitting applications

In order for an application to be submitted ALL tasks must show as being completed. If applicants have finished their application but see that 1 or more tasks are not showing on your application as completed please go to the task’s page and click the task as being completed. Once all tasks show as completed, the application system will allow the application to be submitted.

I won't be 18 years old by the first day of the program. Can an exception be made?

Due to facility policies, those under 18 years old are not permitted in clinical/OR areas of the hospitals. Since the program has participants present in those areas during the entirety of the program, program participants must be at least 18 years old by the first day of the program.

However, we partner with Seattle Children’s Research Institute and they run their own similar program for students who are not 18 years old yet. Information for that program can be found here: https://www.seattlechildrens.org/about/careers/office-for-teaching-education-and-research/research-internships-and-training-opportunities/

I will have graduated before the first day of the program. Would I still be eligible?

The NSSSP is specifically for students who will not have graduated yet before the program starts in June. Interested students who will have graduated before the program starts would not be eligible.

Does putting ‘yes’ to requiring housing lower my chance of getting into the program?

No

All application materials must be submitted by January 1st

 

LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION (LOR) WRITERS:

*Letters of recommendation are due by January 1st

  1. Applicants should submit their requests for letters of recommendation (LOR) on Task 5 of their application. The applicant can also resend the LOR request from the Task 5 page.

    The program coordinator and IT are NOT able to submit LOR requests to letter writers on behalf of applicants.
     
  2. If you do not see an email from NSSSP Application connect@parallelpublicworks.com in your Inbox (it may take a few minutes to receive – sometimes up to 30 minutes), please check your junk/spam folders as your email account’s filters may have filtered the email to one of those folders.

    Below is a screenshot of the program’s example test email, for your reference, so you can see what the email should look like:

  3. *Please note that each letter writer’s upload link is unique to each applicant and is not transferable between applicants

    The program coordinator and IT do NOT have access to applicant LOR upload links.

    Uploaded LORs will be automatically attached to the applicant’s application materials by the program’s application system (even if the applicant has already submitted their application)
     
  4. If you have trouble logging into the system, try refreshing the web page, clearing your browser’s history, then press CTRL + SHIFT + R (which will clear the cache), and then log in again.
     
  5. If you use a VPN and it is active, try turning it off as VPNs can interfere with web pages/programs. You may also need to reset your password.
     
  6. Please check that the settings on you junk/spam folders are not set to auto-delete emails that get sent to these folders (sometimes this is set by your organization’s IT without you knowing)