About the TRIP@WTHS'26 Program
Course Dates
The next TRIP program will be held on Saturdays from January 17th through March 28th (11 consecutive weeks). Prior to the course, an optional parent/guardian engagement event will be held on Saturday, January 3rd. After the in-lab portion of the course concludes, students present their work at a scientific symposium on Saturday, April 18th.
The next TRIP program will be held on Saturdays from January 17th through March 28th (11 consecutive weeks). Prior to the course, an optional parent/guardian engagement event will be held on Saturday, January 3rd. After the in-lab portion of the course concludes, students present their work at a scientific symposium on Saturday, April 18th.
Sessions
Two sessions of the program will be offered where Session A meets from 8:30 am - 12:15 pm and Session B is from 1:15 - 5:00 pm. Up to 8 students will be enrolled in each session. Both sessions attend the all-day symposium. All classes will be held at William Tennent High School in Warminster, PA.
Two sessions of the program will be offered where Session A meets from 8:30 am - 12:15 pm and Session B is from 1:15 - 5:00 pm. Up to 8 students will be enrolled in each session. Both sessions attend the all-day symposium. All classes will be held at William Tennent High School in Warminster, PA.
Program Requirements
- Philadelphia-area students who will be at least 14 years of age by January 3rd, 2026 and are currently enrolled in grade 9-12 are eligible to apply to TRIP.
- Completion of at least one high school Biology or Chemistry course is preferred, but not required.
- Students must commit to attend ALL days of the program (including the symposium) in either Session A or B. Note that the program may run through SAT and ACT test dates, prom, and/or spring break. Parents/Guardians must confirm and agree to the attendance policy.
Application Review Timeline
Applications and letters will be reviewed by a panel of program staff and alumni in October and November. Following review, top-scoring applicants will interview with program staff in early December. Final decisions will be made by the end of December 2025. Please direct all questions to Dr. Theresa Austria at [email protected]. Please use "TRIP@WTHS’26" in the subject line of all emails regarding the 2026 TRIP sessions.
Applications and letters will be reviewed by a panel of program staff and alumni in October and November. Following review, top-scoring applicants will interview with program staff in early December. Final decisions will be made by the end of December 2025. Please direct all questions to Dr. Theresa Austria at [email protected]. Please use "TRIP@WTHS’26" in the subject line of all emails regarding the 2026 TRIP sessions.
Application Instructions
WHAT YOU NEED TO SUBMIT:
The following items are due by 5 PM on Monday, October 6th:
The following items are due by 5 PM on Monday, October 6th:
- Online Application
- School transcript
- One letter of recommendation
Online Application
To apply to the next session of TRIP Initiative, complete the online application here: https://forms.office.com/r/5j9JAPtYHr. We recommend that you download and complete the essay portion of the application in a word processing program and then copy/paste your answers into the online application. The essay questions can be downloaded below.
If you have a question about how to answer a question or have any technical issues with the online application, please email Dr. Theresa Austria ([email protected]). Please use TRIP@WTHS’26 in the subject line of all emails regarding the 2026 program.
To apply to the next session of TRIP Initiative, complete the online application here: https://forms.office.com/r/5j9JAPtYHr. We recommend that you download and complete the essay portion of the application in a word processing program and then copy/paste your answers into the online application. The essay questions can be downloaded below.
If you have a question about how to answer a question or have any technical issues with the online application, please email Dr. Theresa Austria ([email protected]). Please use TRIP@WTHS’26 in the subject line of all emails regarding the 2026 program.
Upload a School Transcript
Please upload your transcript to: https://www.dropbox.com/request/oZsEwoy7skzGm561v4mD
If you submit the file yourself, please title your document "Last Name, First Name - Transcript." If you have a file submitted on your behalf (for example, by a school counselor), please ask them to submit the file using your name as described above.
Please upload your transcript to: https://www.dropbox.com/request/oZsEwoy7skzGm561v4mD
If you submit the file yourself, please title your document "Last Name, First Name - Transcript." If you have a file submitted on your behalf (for example, by a school counselor), please ask them to submit the file using your name as described above.
Request a Letter of Recommendation
Please request for a letter of recommendation to be submitted on your behalf. The letter can come from, but is not limited to, the following individuals: High school administrator (Assistant Principal, Principal, etc.), high school teacher (math, science, English, art, etc.), coach, minister or clergyman from your place of worship, or a supervisor from a current/previous job, club or volunteer position. Download the instructions from the top of the page.
The letter should: 1) state the length and capacity that the recommender has known the applicant, and 2) contain an assessment of the applicant’s strengths and weaknesses with specific examples that support participation in the TRIP program. If applicable, letters should be written on official school letterhead.
The official letter of recommendation should be submitted by the letter writer through the online form (https://forms.office.com/r/EQg5fGgPZj) or e-mailed directly from the letter writer to Dr. Theresa Austria at [email protected] with the subject line: “TRIP@WTHS’26 Letter of Recommendation - APPLICANT'S NAME”.
**When requesting a letter of recommendation, be sure to give the writer a copy of these instructions AND a minimum of three weeks to complete your letter.**
Please request for a letter of recommendation to be submitted on your behalf. The letter can come from, but is not limited to, the following individuals: High school administrator (Assistant Principal, Principal, etc.), high school teacher (math, science, English, art, etc.), coach, minister or clergyman from your place of worship, or a supervisor from a current/previous job, club or volunteer position. Download the instructions from the top of the page.
The letter should: 1) state the length and capacity that the recommender has known the applicant, and 2) contain an assessment of the applicant’s strengths and weaknesses with specific examples that support participation in the TRIP program. If applicable, letters should be written on official school letterhead.
The official letter of recommendation should be submitted by the letter writer through the online form (https://forms.office.com/r/EQg5fGgPZj) or e-mailed directly from the letter writer to Dr. Theresa Austria at [email protected] with the subject line: “TRIP@WTHS’26 Letter of Recommendation - APPLICANT'S NAME”.
**When requesting a letter of recommendation, be sure to give the writer a copy of these instructions AND a minimum of three weeks to complete your letter.**
Suggestions for Completing the Application
We are looking for motivated and curious applicants that can think and express themselves logically. You don't have to have a high GPA, previously lab experience or be a superstar...just be you. Be sure to use your answers to tell us who you are.
Take your time to answer each of the following questions thoughtfully and thoroughly. You will be compared to all other applicants based upon the answers given here; therefore, make sure we learn about who YOU are and what you are interested in. Don't BS your way through the answers or give the answer you think we want to read. Be sure to explain yourself FULLY. Don't make the reviewers guess at what you mean--be clear.
Incomplete sentences, spelling errors, and poorly thought-out responses will NEGATIVELY affect the review of your application. Therefore, to prevent mistakes, it is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to compose your answers in a word processing program and then paste them into this application. Be sure to have an adult (e.g. your parents, high school counselor, or mentor) read through your application PRIOR to submission.
BE HONEST IN YOUR RESPONSES. APPLICANTS SUSPECTED OF AI GENERATED RESPONSES MAY BE DISQUALIFIED FROM THE PROGRAM.
Use the 250-word limit! Don't miss an opportunity to tell us about yourself.
Take your time to answer each of the following questions thoughtfully and thoroughly. You will be compared to all other applicants based upon the answers given here; therefore, make sure we learn about who YOU are and what you are interested in. Don't BS your way through the answers or give the answer you think we want to read. Be sure to explain yourself FULLY. Don't make the reviewers guess at what you mean--be clear.
Incomplete sentences, spelling errors, and poorly thought-out responses will NEGATIVELY affect the review of your application. Therefore, to prevent mistakes, it is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to compose your answers in a word processing program and then paste them into this application. Be sure to have an adult (e.g. your parents, high school counselor, or mentor) read through your application PRIOR to submission.
BE HONEST IN YOUR RESPONSES. APPLICANTS SUSPECTED OF AI GENERATED RESPONSES MAY BE DISQUALIFIED FROM THE PROGRAM.
Use the 250-word limit! Don't miss an opportunity to tell us about yourself.
