• are members of a group that is historically under-represented in the atmospheric and related sciences, including students who are Black or African American, American Indian or Alaskan Native, and Hispanic or Latino, female, first generation college students, and students with disabilities. SOARS welcomes lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students;
• have experienced, and worked to overcome, educational or economic disadvantage; and/or
• have personal or family circumstances that may complicate their continued progress in research careers.

A successful candidate should:

• have completed the equivalent of two years of college;
• have at least one semester of college remaining after the initial summer program (this means that if you will graduate in spring 2008, you cannot apply for the 2008 summer program; if you will graduate in winter 2008, you are still eligible to apply for the 2008 summer program);
• have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher;
• have a major in atmospheric science or a related field such as the geosciences, biology, chemistry, computer science, earth science, engineering, environmental science, mathematics, meteorology, oceanography, physics, or social science;
• plan to pursue a career in atmospheric or a related science;
• be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident.