FAQs

See map at https://info.gmu.edu/campus-maps-and-directions/

We may be able to arrange affordable dorm housing  for students 18 and older; students must pay for their housing. We are unable to provide housing for minors.  All students are responsible for their own transportation but may use the free Mason shuttle service which has some routes around the area and between Manassas and Fairfax Campuses and the Vienna Metro.

Full participation in the entire program is necessary.

Yes, but a few research labs may be unavailable for non-US citizens. We do not serve as sponsors for Visas for international students. 

Applications are reviewed by participating mentors during the last part of February. Candidates are scheduled for interviews to be conducted in March. Students are notified of mentors who select them as interns by early April. Students are expected to accept offers by mid-April. Although all applications are reviewed by mentors, it is not likely that every applicant will be interviewed by a mentor.

Applicants do not need to submit a transcript or a letter of recommendation with their application. We may ask for one or both of those if we have questions, but that is rare.

Students are highly encouraged to list up to 3 faculty mentors of interest.  ASSIP does not place interns. Rather, mentors select their research interns to interview and then participate based on  the student's application and their expressed interest in the mentor's research. Learn more about our 2022 prospective ASSIP mentors.

In general, ASSIP program hours are 9:00am-5: 00 pm Monday through Friday except for July 4th holiday when the University closes in observance of the Independence Day holiday.

Eligibility:

Minimum ages: Interns for remote internships must be 15 years or older by June 20, 2023. Internships for in-person or hybrid internships in computer labs must be 15 years or older by June 20, 2023. (This is a change from previous years).

Interns for "wet-lab" in-person or hybrid internships must be 16 or older by June 20, 2023. This is a requirement by Mason Environmental Health and Safety and no exceptions can be made. "Wet labs" are those in which chemicals, biohazards, mechanical or electrical risks, or other risks may be present. 

Maximum age:  There is no maximum age limit, as long as the applicant has not graduated from university during their internship. 

ASSIP interns may participate in ASSIP a total of 3 times.

Students are responsible for their own lunch. Several restaurants are located on/next to the Science and Technology Campus and there are multiple food choices on the Fairfax Campus for students who wish to purchase lunches. Potomac Science Center students must bring their own lunch.

This program is free for participants; only a $25 application fee is required which can be waived for students who are eligible for free/reduced lunch assistance or eligible for Pell Grant financial aid.

For the summer of 2022, some ASSIP internships will be offered in a fully remote format. Other 2022 ASSIP internships will be in-person or hybrid  (some days remote and some days in-person) as is possible to be in compliance with Mason COVID-19 policy.  We are not likely to know whether in-person/hybrid internships are possible until late April. 

ASSIP is required to comply with all Mason policies and Virginia Commonwealth policies for working with Mason interns, nonMason interns,  minor interns, and visitors.