I applied using the One Stop Shopping Initiative, which allows prospective interns and fellows to apply to multiple opportunities through a single application.

There are several scholarships to apply for using the same base application.

A couple of weeks after the deadline, I received an email from my future mentor asking if I knew anything about Matlab or if I could at least learn it. I told her I would figure it out before the summer started.

Then, a couple of weeks later, I received my offer and began filling out all of the paperwork for my stipend, employment, etc.

Basically, there is no interview process. You need to showcase as much of yourself as you can through the activity descriptions and essays.

An interview was not required for the position I was offered. Within the online application portal, the most difficult essay question was, "Please describe how an opportunity at NASA fits in with your interests. (limit to 250 words)."