Accepted Students
Congratulations for being accepted into the highly competitive NJCU STEAM Academy Summer Program! Please read the information on this page carefully as it contains important questions we receive from parents and guardians after acceptance decisions are sent with details about the next steps for all admitted students.
Question: I received my decision letter. What happens next?
All students who were admitted received specific directions in their decision email that they must follow.
All prospective enrollees must:
- Complete the Intent to Enroll Form by 11:59 PM on May 23, 2025
- Make a payment to hold your spot by 11:59 PM on May 23, 2025*
- Register for the Virtual Opening Ceremony.
Failure to complete the form, confirm your spot through making a payment, and registering for the Virtual Opening Ceremony will be considered "non-interest", and your child will be removed as a prospective enrollee for Summer 2025.
*Select Jersey City students do not need to make a payment. See your decision email for details.
Question: My child was "Conditionally Admitted." What does this mean?
This means that your child was admitted, pending available seats. They were placed on a Wait List. Should individuals that were admitted not confirm by the deadline of May 23, 2023 and seats become available, your child will have the opportunity to join our program!
Question: I have questions about how to make a payment or use the payment plan. Who can help walk me through how to do this?
Please send an email to steamacademy@njcu.edu and we will be happy to help.
Question: I have completed the above steps. Can you check my information and make sure I did it right?
Our team will be notifying parents of any issues we see during our reviews of the required steps. Parents should keep copies of all confirmation emails for all three of the above steps should you be contacted by our program staff to clarify anything further. Please do not send us an email to ask us to confirm for you.
Question: What happens after May 23, 2025?
Parents that have followed the steps to confirm their child's enrollment into the program will be sent the official Admissions Packet paperwork to complete and review.
Question: My child goes to Jersey City Public Schools and was accepted, but they did not receive a scholarship. Why not?
All student applications underwent an extremely rigorous application process that involved transcript review, teacher recommendation, and personal statement review. Though some students met the criteria for acceptance, only those that were truly exceptional and standout among their peers were selected for scholarship funding.
We had a limited number of seats available for Jersey City Public School students who would receive a financial scholarship opportunity. Only students who had exceeded our criteria by our Selection Committee were bestowed this generous opportunity.
Question: My child received a scholarship in year's past, and my child is a returning student from Jersey City Public Schools. Why do I have to pay now this year?
As is stated on our website and also in our Information Sessions held from January-March 2025, we have a very competitive program that is highly selective, and requires admission criteria to be met. Additionally, all applicants and their families were notified that funding is not guaranteed, and the number of scholarship opportunities we can offer Jersey City Public School students is based on grants received and is subject to change year-to-year.
Question: Is there any way that my child could still possibly get a scholarship for Summer 2025 as a Jersey City Public School student?
If select students that were admitted with a full scholarship from the Jersey City Public Schools do not confirm their enrollment by the deadline of May 23, 2025, other students from Jersey City who were considered as Secondary Scholarship Candidates will be contacted. In these cases, parents and guardians will be contacted directly. Monies paid to hold their child's seat to enroll into the program will be refunded by New Jersey City University, which would make the child's program completely fee of charge.
Unfortunately, students that are outside of Jersey City Public School are not eligible for scholarship funding at this time.
Question: I have two children that were admitted into the program. How do I receive a sibling discount?
Please reach out to us at steamacademy@njcu.edu so we can discuss with you our discounted sibling rate!
Question: Who do I contact to talk about reviewing my child's application for a scholarship for a Jersey City student?
We do not disclose the Selection Committee's findings with parents in detail. As this is a highly competitive, Summer program run by New Jersey City University, we received over 400 applicants this Summer. Our program only admits 275 students. The number of available seats we offered students from the Jersey City Public Schools was even less. No additional requests for reviews from parents will be honored for this Summer 2025.
Question: Will there be lunches available this year again? How do we buy lunch?
There is no formal lunch period for students this year. There is only a working snack. Your child must come to the program with something to snack on if you want that option. There will be no visits to vending machines or the Gilligan Student Union Building (GSUB) cafeteria between classes. Year 4 students that are remaining on-campus to take college courses are the exception. They can load funds onto their Gothic ID card and use it to pay for food in the GSUB, vending machines, or anywhere where the Gothic ID is accepted on or off campus.
For Jersey City students that were accepted with a full scholarship, lunch opportunities will be provided in our last period block of the day to ensure students are able to have time to eat lunch in the program before the end of our scheduled day.
Question: Do you offer transportation to the program?
Our program does not offer transportation, or funding to cover transportation costs. We can be accessed via mass transit bus stops right outside of our campus main gates, and parents and guardians can pickup and drop off, arrange private carpools with other parents or guardians, or allow their children to walk or bike to-and/or-from campus.
We are conveniently accessible right off John F. Kennedy Boulevard in Jersey City, NJ.
Question: When do I receive my child's schedule, teachers, and any other information?
All parents and guardians will receive additional information after the Intent to Enroll Form and the above steps were met. Information will be sent after May 23, 2025.
We ask that all parents or guardians be patient and refrain from emailing to request this information in advance.
Question: I want to enroll my child in a certificate program or college-credit option. How do I do this?
Please visit our Schedule & Curriculum page for more information!
Question: I have another question that is not answered here. Who should I contact?
Please contact us at steamacademy@njcu.edu and allow us 24 hours to get back to you.
Exciting Events & Activities for STEAM Academy 2025
On July 10, 2054, all students will participate in our exciting Field Day event that features Class Wars. This action-packed day will feature heart-pumping music, volleyball tournaments, indoor track time in our Athletic and Fitness Center, and more! There will be some soccer play, and relay and competitive class races held on the lawn in front of beautiful Hepburn Hall---all complete with special prizes!
The goal for our Field Day is to encourage students to decompress, learn teamwork and communication skills, work through healthy problem-solving, and enjoy summer as teens with us in the STEAM Academy! On this day, there are no academic activities, so parents and guardians, please send your student with their lunch, plenty of water, sneakers, and sunscreen!
Thursday, July 17, 2025 will be the second annual Fourth Year Student Pool Party! Held in our John J. Moore Athletic Center, students in Year 4 will be provided access to our Olympic-sized swimming pool with lifeguards, great tunes, and a pizza party.
All students will expect the return of the Carvel Ice Cream Field Trip on Wednesday, July 23rd. New this year will be a special presentation on the science behind one of America's favorite confectionary treats!
On July 29, 2025 all students will participate in our culminating end-of-the-Summer STEAM Fair. Student capstone projects will be showcased. Throughout the Science Building, student projects will be on display with a gallery walk of student art, inventions, projects, and poster sessions on a variety of high-interest, accelerated STEAM content, including those based on our Weekly Themes (Found Below).
This is going to be a day to remember!
On July 31, 2025 all students will be invited and encouraged to attend our Closing Ceremony. Held in our beautiful Margaret Wood Theater in Hepburn Hall, we join together to celebrate the accomplishments of all of our students, with particular emphasis on our graduating, Year 4 students.
Awards will be bestowed to exemplary students across the cohort years in academic prowess, creative problem-solving, teamwork and collaboration, and more! Parents and guardians, as well as school district partners are strongly encouraged to attend. Parent and guardian arrival will begin promptly at 11:00 AM
2025 Guest Speaker Series
Mark Zdziarski,
Lab Technician in Astronomy for the City University of New York (CUNY)
Students will hear from Professor Zdziarski on his work with Electronic Assisted Astronomy at the CUNY and its impacts on astronomy education on an international scale. Students will experience a virtual tour of the CUNY Astronomy Lab, and view constellations and celestial entities captured by Mark and his team using his groundbreaking methodologies of EAA.
More exciting speakers will be posted shortly!
Weekly Enrichment Themes
Each week, students will be exposed to a variety of activities and experiences around themes in STEAM fields and careers. There will be a strong emphasis to reading informational text and technical literature, in alignment with the NJSLS in ELA.
Week 1: Astronomy & Quantum Physics
Week 2: Horticulture, Agriculture, and Hydroponic Farming
Week 3: Drones & Aviation
Week 4: Entrepreneurship & Industry
Week 5: Visual and Performing Arts
Week 6: Civil Engineering & Architecture
Class Colors
Each week we will have weekly Spirit Days on Thursday! Each cohort year is invited to wear their Grade Level Colors:
Year 1 Students: Green
Year 2 Students: Gray
Year 3 Students: White
Year 4 Students: Black
Students in the NJCU Academy are required to wear their program class colors or NJCU STEAM Academy T-shirt for Field Day and the Carvel Trip.
Spirit Days
Every Thursday of each week of camp, except the last week.
Week 1: Favorite Sports Team Shirt
Week 2: Twin Day (Dress to match a friend)
Week 3: Pajama Day
Week 4: Cultural Appreciation Day
Week 5: Business Dress-to-Impress