TARGET Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply as a freshman?

At time of application, the student must be a Sophomore or Junior.

Can I apply if I am homeschooled?

Yes, as long as you reside in the state of Illinois.

If accepted, will I be living onsite?

TARGET Program does not provide housing for interns. It is the intern’s responsibility to commute to and from Fermilab. However, due to the current public health crisis we are not permitting anyone onto the Fermilab site.

Does Fermilab provide transportation?

Bus transportation is provided to and from Fermilab at the CTA Blue Line Forest Park terminal, for interns residing in the Chicago area. However, due to the current public health crisis we will not be providing bus transportation for the 2021 program.

Do the letters of recommendation have to come from my science & math teachers?

Yes. Recommendations from science/math teachers are preferred, and must also be submitted by the application deadline.

What GPA do you require weighted or unweighted?

We use the unweighted GPA.

What is the difference between a weighted and unweighted GPA?

The weighted GPA takes into account the difficulty of a course while an unweighted does not. The weighted GPA has a larger point scale which ranges from 0 to 5.0. The unweighted GPA has a smaller point scale that ranges from 0 to 4.0.

How many hours will I work per week?

Interns work the morning hours (8am-12pm) with an assigned project supervisor—20 work hours per week—and do STEM & Leadership Workshops in the afternoons. For the summer 2021 the schedule is under program updates. Updates for the TARGET Summer Institute will be available on our website and via email to selected applicants in the coming weeks

What are the program hours?

8am to 4pm. Updates for the TARGET Summer Institute hours will be available on our website and via email to selected applicants in the coming weeks