Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
When is the application deadline?
The current deadline for applications is July 25, 2025. This was extended from the original deadline of July 11, 2025.
When will final decisions be made?
We aim to share application decisions in the first week of August.
Will MIT MechE provide food and accommodation over the course of the workshop?
MIT Mechanical Engineering will cover meals over the course of the workshop including two breakfasts, two lunches, and one dinner. We will also cover shared accommodations for up to two nights and reimburse reasonable travel expenses (including train, coach, and air transportation) up to $600. Requests for single-room occupancy will be decided on a case-by-case basis.
What does the $600 travel reimbursement cover?
The $600 travel reimbursement covers reasonable travel expenses from a participant’s area of residency to MIT’s campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where the workshop will be held. Please note that the nearest airport to the workshop location is Boston Logan airport. This can include train, coach, or air transportation and may include ground transportation from a participant’s area of residency to their nearest airport, up to a maximum of $600. If public transportation is available to transport participants to their local airport, the cost of ride shares (such as Uber or Lyft) are not considered reasonable and are therefore not covered.
Will personal travel be covered as part of the $600 travel reimbursement? (Including different arrival/departure dates, airports, etc.)
If participants want to add personal travel to an MIT business trip, we typically ask that you research the lowest priced round trip economy flight with a reasonable travel itinerary (i.e. doesn’t have 5 stops or make you miss part of the workshop) and we will reimburse up to that amount.
To that end, please plan to provide screenshots of your estimated representative itinerary, as well as your actual travel receipts, so that we can see the reasonable comparison and reimburse the correct amount.
When do workshop activities begin and end?
The agenda for the 2025 workshop is still being finalized. However, participants should plan to arrive in Boston on October 22nd, 2025 (check-in at the Hyatt hotel begins at 4 PM), and depart on October 24th after 4 PM, when workshop activities are scheduled to conclude.
Who can I reach out to if I have additional questions?
For additional questions or feedback, please email risingstarsme@mit.edu.