SRIP & Mentorship
Application Instructions

The application will open on Thursday, October 22. All juniors will receive application instructions via email from NCSSM ITS by the end of the day. 

1. Access the applications. Click the SurveyMonkey link provided in the email to view the 20+ SRIP and Mentorship program applications.

2. Choose your programs. The rankings of the opportunities are critical for several reasons:

   • Although we recommend instructors to consider all candidates, some instructors preference applicants who rank their opportunity higher.  Instructors want to be sure that the student is excited and ready to fully engage in the specific opportunity they are offering.

   • Students accepted to the program will be offered only one opportunity, so choose your rankings carefully.  For example, if a student is accepted for their 1st or 2nd choice, the student will not be considered for their 3rd-4th ranked opportunities.  

   • Most often it is true that the more opportunities you apply for, the higher chance you have of acceptance, but be sure that you only apply for opportunities that you can fully commit to!

3. Prepare your application materials. Follow the instructions provided for each of the components of the application. You can save your application and return to it later if you need more time to finish.

   • Draft your responses in a separate Google Doc before entering them into the application to (1) organize your application progress, (2) ensure you don't lose progress if the SurveyMonkey application doesn't save, and (3) make it easier to share and recieve feedback via comments. When essays are finalized, copy into your application. 

   •  For each of the (up to 4) opportunities, you will upload the same resume and copy and paste the same text for the Common Essay into each application within Survey Monkey.

4. Complete and submit your applications. Make sure each application is submitted by the deadline: 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, November 4.

5. Confirm your submission. Look for a confirmation message indicating that your application has been successfully submitted.

•  Don't procrastinate.  Give yourself plenty of time to complete all parts of the application, especially for the resume and common and specific essays.  Late submissions will not be accepted and requests for extensions will not be considered.

• Not all essays will need the maximum 500 words. For some you may find you can fully answer the question with less than 500 words. The most effective essays clearly convey your honest response and are well written yet succinct and focused on the answer to the question.

• Start early and give yourself time to complete

• Seek feedback from others, read aloud to hear what you are writing

• Be informed about the program you're applying to and authentic to yourself

• Review the Frequently Asked Questions before reaching out with your questions.

A resume is required as part of the Summer Research & Innovation Program and Mentorship application.  Your resume must fit the guidelines in the Resume Instructions for the Application for  NCSSM Summer Research & Innovation Program and Mentorship and should showcase the skills, experiences, and qualifications relevant for these programs.  Use these sample resumes as models for your resume. They differ slightly in formats, structures, or frameworks but have the key information and present it effectively.

• Who will see your resume?

  • All reviewers for all opportunities

By applying, you are acknowledging that you are available for all program dates.  SRIP/Mentorship Program participation is not a graduation requirement, rather an optional experience that requires full commitment for all program dates.

Explain how your participation in the overall SRIP/Mentorship Program for 2027 would be of value to you and to your future plans, and describe specific ways that you will prioritize your commitment to SRIP/Mentorship Program if accepted.

SRIP/Mentorship Programs have limited slots available per opportunity.  If you are not accepted to one of the four you apply for, you can be considered for additional opportunities if slots remain available.  

Select the additional opportunities you are interested in and can commit to in order of your preference below (5th choice, 6th choice, etc.) or if not interested then choose “None”. Do NOT re-enter opportunities you have already applied for

• Who will read these essays?

  • All reviewers for all opportunities

• Essays written specific by the instructor leading the opportunity

• How you can express your interest in a particular program 

• Learn as much as possible about the specific opportunity you are applying for

• For SRIP: Reach out to the NCSSM instructor directly with questions

• For Mentorship: Contact the Mentorship instructors or Directors (Do not contact mentors or potential mentors directly)

• Who will read these essays?

  • Only reviewers for that specific opportunity 

  • Mentorship and Research Directors (Sarah Shoemaker and Christiane Burkins)

• Application Essay Writing (Application Essay Writing Recording)

  • NOTE: The recording is from a previous year and may include reference to essay questions that have been updated or are not included this year.

• Review the Frequently Asked Questions

• If questions remain, contact:

  • • • Durham-hosted SRIP/Mentorship, Dr. Sarah Shoemaker (shoemaker@ncssm.edu) 

      • Morganton-hosted SRIP/Mentorship, Christiane Burkins (christiane.burkins@ncssm.edu) 

• Dr. Shoemaker, Durham-hosted SRIP/Mentorship

This Same Zoom link for all sessions (via drop-in), Click HERE.

Oct. 19    5:00-5:30am and 7:30-8:15pm

Oct. 20 3:00-4:00pm

Oct. 23 7:00-8:00am

• Ms. Burkins, Morganton-hosted SRIP/Mentorship

• For Director Meetings: Click HERE

• For Application Support: Please schedule an appointment with the Morganton Writing Center

For any technical questions or guidance,  please be sure you have thoroughly reviewed the wiki page application walkthrough provided by NCSSM IT.  If questions remain, submit a ticket to NCSSM ITS here and the Data Manager will respond to your request. 

Survey Monkey is the platform administering all applications for NCSSM research and innovation via NCSSM IT.  All details you need will be sent to all juniors via email on the application opening date from NCSSM Data Manager, Grant Harrison, with instructions and links to register, to access, and then to complete your application in Survey Monkey.

• For Survey Monkey instructions, please review the wiki page application walkthrough. 

• For technical questions, submit an IT ticket HERE.

No exceptions will be made for late or unsubmitted applications.  You are responsible to utilize the instructions below on the wiki for completing and confirming your application submission prior to the deadline.

• To complete and submit the application, see this specific wiki link.

• To ensure submission of your application, see this specific wiki link.