California Alliance for Maximizing Potential (CAMP) Program

Spring CAMP

The program lasts the length of the spring quarter (10 weeks). Applications for Spring CAMP are currently closed. Check back in winter quarter 2027 for spring applications.

Summer CAMP

The program lasts the length of the summer quarter (10 weeks). Applications for Summer CAMP are currently closed. Check back in spring quarter 2027 for summer applications.

Quarterly CAMP:

• Scholarship: $1,500 scholarship (This scholarship will be disbursed by Financial Aid and will be incorporated into your overall financial aid package. If you have questions about how this may affect your financial aid award, please contact scholarships@ucsd.edu or visit the FAS website.)
• Mentored research experience: Conduct research mentored by a UC San Diego faculty member
• Conference travel funding: By participating in CAMP, you are eligible to apply for URH's conference travel funding (if available).
• Research presentation experience: Present at the CAMP Statewide Symposium (winter 2026)

Summer CAMP:

• Fellowship: $3,500 fellowship
• Research credit: Receive 199 credit
• Mentored research experience: Conduct research mentored by a UC San Diego faculty member
• Housing: Housing allowance (a minimum of $2,500)
• Professional development: Professional development seminars
• Conference presentation experience: Present research at the Summer Research Conference and the CAMP Statewide Symposium
• Conference travel funding: By participating in CAMP, you are eligible to apply for URH's conference travel funding.

Quarterly CAMP

• Requirements
  • Conduct an average of 10-12 hours of mentored research per week.
  • Submit a deliverable (e.g. research paper) to the CAMP Administrative Director and your faculty research mentor.
  • Present research at the Undergraduate research Conference or Mentored Undergraduate Research and Applied Learning Symposium.
• Exclusions
  • Students may not take departmental 199 (independent research) or other class credit for the project (e.g., honors thesis).
  • Students may not receive payment from another source for the same work being proposed for CAMP.
  • Students may not participate in another structured research program at the same time.

Summer CAMP

• Requirements
  • Conduct an average of 30-40 hours of mentored research per week.
  • Submit a deliverable (e.g. research paper) to the CAMP Administrative Director and your faculty research mentor.
  • Participate in required program elements (workshops, seminars, orientation, conferences, etc.).
  • Present research at the Summer Research Conference and the CAMP Statewide Symposium (usually in Winter Quarter).
• Exclusions
  • Students may not take summer classes during the program period.
  • Students may not hold an outside job during the scholarship period and may be asked to sign a form indicating they have ended / put on hold all employment for the summer.
  • Students may not be concurrently paid through their research group for work done during the summer.
  • Students may not go on vacation during the program period.

You are eligible to apply if you meet the following criteria:

• UC San Diego undergraduate student.
• Have at least 90 units by the time the program begins.
• Have at least a 2.7 grade point average.
• Be in a STEM major
• As of Fall 2025, there is no citizenship requirement. All citizenship statuses are welcome to apply.
• Preference for students who have not previously participated in the CAMP program.

Find a faculty mentor

• Before applying, students should find a faculty mentor.
• Don't wait! Students should find a mentor and discuss a potential research project before adding that faculty member's name and email to the CAMP application.
• Students are responsible for finding and contacting their own mentor, but the Administrative Director can help if you're having a hard time. For tips, review our page on how to find a mentor. Start looking for a mentor as you're filling out the general application—be proactive!

Expectations of faculty mentor - When contacting/meeting with potential mentors, be sure to share this list with them so they know the expectations before agreeing to be your mentor.

• Mentor and oversee the student's research/artistic endeavor/public service project.
• Commit resources towards the training of the student.
• Personally meet with the student to periodically check on their progress or appoint someone in my group to do so.
• Ensure that the student completes all required training and certifications prior to starting any research, if necessary.

There are 4 items required to apply to CAMP:

1. Applications

• General Application and Undergraduate Application (When you finish the general application, you will be automatically directed to complete the undergraduate application).
• CAMP Application (After you finish the previous two applications, you will be given the opportunity to choose to complete the CAMP application.)

2. Personal responses

• Personal essay: Explain how your participation in CAMP can help you achieve your educational and career goals. Please describe how your skills and experiences will allow you to conduct the kind of research you intend to pursue during the award period. You should also provide an explanation of the kind of skills, experiences, and/or professional relationships you hope to develop as a result of your participation in CAMP. (500 words or fewer)
  
  • Be sure to proofread and edit your personal statement many times before submitting. It is also advised to have someone else review it and provide feedback.
    • In addition to spelling, grammar, and punctuation, review your personal statement for clarity, flow, and continuity of points.
    • Remember to use paragraphs to separate main points.
• Project description: Please describe the research you would like to conduct in terms that can be understood by a non-expert audience. We encourage students to reach out to faculty mentors and/or the Writing Hub (writinghub.ucsd.edu) for support and feedback in writing project descriptions. (250 words or fewer)
• Graduate Degree Plans: Tell us about your plan to get a graduate degree and in what field. (50 words or fewer)
• Problem Solving Experience: Describe a challenging problem you faced and the steps you took to solve it. What did you learn? (100 words or fewer)
• Teamwork Experience: Summer research is intensive and requires sustained collaboration, and research today is rarely done alone. Please describe your experiences collaborating with others over an extended period; this does not need to be related to research. (250 words or fewer).

3. Copies of transcripts

• • If you are an incoming transfer student (You do not have a UC San Diego GPA):
    • A copy of your unofficial transcript(s) from previous school(s) (community colleges, other universities, etc.)
  • If you have attended UC San Diego for at least 1 quarter:
    • A copy of your unofficial UC San Diego transcript - (How to download your transcript)
    • If you completed coursework prior to attending UC San Diego (e.g., transfer credits), they will appear on your UC San Diego transcript. You do not need to upload transfer transcripts.

4. Mentor name and contact information

• Once you save your faculty mentor's information in the application, an email is automatically sent to that person asking them to agree a number of statements with regards to their support to mentor you in CAMP. (NOT a formal letter of recommendation.)
• The faculty mentor needs to complete this section before the application deadline.

AI Compliance Certification

By submitting the application, you certify the following:

• Adherence to Program Policy: I have read and complied with the AI guidelines established for this specific program. I understand that these requirements may be more restrictive than the general UC San Diego guidelines provided in the conditional application.
• Verification of Accuracy: I have verified that my submitted materials are a faithful and accurate representation of my own work and experiences, and that no AI-generated refinements have misrepresented the facts of my application.
• Originality Guarantee: I certify that the core substance of this application, including all personal narratives and project descriptions, is my own original work and was not fabricated or generated by AI.
• Final Accountability: I acknowledge that any violation of this program's AI policy may result in the disqualification of my application, in accordance with UC San Diego's academic integrity standards.

Applications for Quarterly CAMP are closed and will be open during the Spring Quarter. You will need to complete the general application and the conditional application before you apply to the “Quarterly CAMP” opportunity. Please ensure your mentor is aware they will need to sign in to agree to statements of support by the deadline, as well.

Upon completion of the project, each scholar is required to submit a final product. This product can vary--please see guidelines below:

Guidelines for Your Deliverable: 

• Type of Deliverable: Typically, it is a paper or summary report of your accomplishments. If you wish to complete an alternative deliverable, seek approval from your mentor early and then contact the CAMP Administrative Director .
• Email an electronic copy of your deliverable to your faculty advisor/PI and lab mentor (if applicable)
• Approval: Must be read and approved by your faculty advisor/PI and lab mentor (if applicable) before final submission. 
• Final product must be separate or distinguished from your SRC and/or CAMP Symposium.

Submission Instructions: 

• The final product is due up to a week after the end of the program.
• Ensure you discuss your deliverable with your mentor and have it reviewed before submitting it. If you wish to complete an alternative deliverable, seek approval from your mentor early and then contact the CAMP Administrative Director.
• Email an electronic copy of your deliverable to the CAMP Administrative Director .  
  • Write the Subject of the email as “[Spring or Summer] CAMP Deliverable: [First & Last Name]”.
  • CC your faculty mentor on the email to demonstrate their approval. 

General Content Guidelines for a Final Paper: 

• Length: 4-5 pages, double-spaced. 
• Figures and Graphs: May be included within the page minimum. 
• Citations are not included in the page minimum. 
• Header: Include your name, PID, and title of your project. 
• The goal is to provide a comprehensive summary of your research, including any results and changes since your application. This typically resembles a peer-reviewed research paper in your field. Check with your mentor if you're unsure of how this should look. 
• Format: Follow the format of an academic paper/journal article within your field. Consult your mentor with any questions regarding format. 
• Font: Use 10-12 point font, Arial, Times New Roman, Calibri, or a similar-sized font. 

Note: Failure to submit a final product will result in billing the recipient for all funds received. Failure to repay the scholarship will result in future registration and transcript holds.