Note: Only Berkeley and Stanford sites are accepting applications. USC and UCLA sites are not admitting a new cohort.
Applicants must meet the following four criteria to be eligible for SMASH:
1. Grade Level
- Be in the 9th grade at time of application
2. Math skills
- Have strong mathematics skills appropriate for your grade level, as determined by the SMASH math assessment (which is administered to all SMASH applicants in March).
3. Attend a public high school, or attend a private high school via scholarship.
4. County Eligibility
- Reside in California in one of the following counties: San Francisco, Marin, Solano, Contra Costa, Alameda, Napa, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, or San Mateo, to apply to Stanford or UC Berkeley sites.
(Note: Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties are no longer eligible)
- Reside in California, in Los Angeles county to apply to UCLA or USC sites.
Our target applicants are:
- From groups traditionally underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics: African American, Chicano/Latino/a, Native American, Filipino, Pacific Islander, Southeast Asian (i.e. Cambodian, Hmong, Laotian, Vietnamese) or mixed race/multiracial groups with at least one parent from the above ethnicities.
- First-generation college students (This means that neither one of your parents received a bachelor's or 4-year degree (or higher) from an accredited college or university in the United States. If you have a sibling in college you are still first generation. If your parents took some courses, but did not complete a degree you are still considered first generation.);
- Are from a low income family (i.e. qualifies for Free or Reduced Lunch program); and
- Currently enrolled in Geometry (or higher) with at least a B average.