10 college research projects for high school students
If you are a high school student who is passionate about exploring existing or new theories through experiments, research, investigations, and data analysis, then participating in a research project is undoubtedly a good choice. This type of project allows you to participate in research work and gain a deep understanding of data collection, analysis, and presentation. Participating in a research project not only broadens your knowledge horizons but also allows you to explore your interests in specific fields such as STEM and exercise your critical thinking and teamwork skills.
This is not only a valuable learning experience, but also enhances your personal resume, improves your college application competitiveness, and demonstrates your passion for learning beyond the classroom.
An effective way to gain in-depth research experience is to apply to participate in a university research project. These projects are usually rigorously structured and provide opportunities to conduct research in well-equipped laboratories on campus. At the same time, you may also receive guidance from senior researchers. These projects can also give you a deeper understanding of college life and help you prepare for your future college life.
Here are our top 10 college research projects for high school students:
1. UC Santa Barbara Research Mentoring Program
Location:University of California, Santa Barbara
Cost/Stipend: If you choose to commute, the cost is $4,975. If you choose to live on campus, the cost is $11,874.
Eligibility:
High school student in the 10th or 11th grade (outstanding 9th graders accepted on a case-by-case basis)
Application deadline: December 15, 2023 – March 18, 2024
Program dates:June 17 – August 2, 2024
The Research Mentorship Program is a competitive summer program that engages qualified, high-achieving high school students from all over the world in interdisciplinary, hands-on, university-level research. You will be paired with a mentor (graduate student, postdoc, or faculty) and choose a research project from a long list of disciplines offered by the program each year.
Along with their mentor, You will learn about research techniques, gain insight into professional research-based opportunities, and mature academic goals. The GRIT talks lecture series will connect you to some of the best minds within the UC Santa Barbara research community as they present their ground-breaking research and innovative technology. Along with these academic benefits, you will be immersed in university life and network with equally ambitious and curious peers.
2. Summer Science Program
Location: Depending on the research subject and time, participants will be on different campuses. You can check here
Cost/Stipend: Different fees according to family income
Eligibility:
High school juniors and exceptional sophomores who have completed the pre-requisites, and will be at least 15 years old, but not yet 19, during program operation.
Application deadline: Feb 16, 2024
Program dates: June 9th - July 31st，2024
Summer Science Program is a residential enrichment program designed to challenge and inspire talented and motivated high school students (rising seniors) from around the world。
The Summer Science Program is not a “camp.” It is a unique immersion experience with a strong culture that has evolved over more than half a century. It is talented young people discovering their limits, then overcoming them through collaboration. It is the shock of not being the smartest person in the room, followed by the joy of realizing that’s not a problem, it’s an opportunity.
In high school, teenagers learn about science. At Summer Science Program, they do science. That’s different!
The Summer Science Program is research, not coursework. Participants collaborate in teams of three. Everyone learns from – and teaches – everyone else. There is a Code of Honor, but no tests or grades.
3. Cal State Summer School for Math and Science
Location: UC Santa Cruz campus
Cost/Stipend: $42 Application fee and $5,007 Tuition
Eligibility: Rising 8th graders (will be in 9th grade in Fall 2024) through rising 11th graders (will be in 12th grade in Fall 2024) who reside within the state of California.
Application deadline: February 9th, 2024
Program dates**：**July 7th-August 3rd，2024
The California State Legislature established COSMOS in 1998 with a mission to motivate the most creative minds of the new generation of prospective scientists, engineers, and mathematicians so that they may actively participate in the business and higher educational sectors of the State of California.COSMOSis a rigorous, four-week residential program for talented and motivated high school students. COSMOS students enroll in short courses that are designed to introduce students to subjects not traditionally offered in high school. Courses will be offered in Biology, Robotics, Computer Science, Physics, Math, Animal Behavior and more.
4. High School Honors Science, Math and Engineering Program
Location:Michigan State University
Cost/Stipend:Participant fee is $4,000
Eligibility: Anyone who is presently a high school junior may apply.Application deadline:March 1, 2024.
Program dates: June 16 – August 3, 2024
The Michigan State University High School Honors Science/Engineering/Mathematics Program (HSHSP) is a seven-week, intensive summer research program designed for motivated students from across the United States who wish to gain more experience conducting research while living on the campus of a major research-intensive university.The HSHSP provides its participants with a unique opportunity to “live and breathe” research in a university environment. Its goals are not only to educate individuals about the research process but to provide the right kind of social context for such knowledge and expertise to flourish. Our goal is not to produce award-winning projects (which often happens, I am pleased to note), but to provide opportunities to enrich one’s knowledge about intellectual work in science and mathematics and to make new and, hopefully, lasting friendships.
5. UC Davis Young Scholars Program
Location:campus at UC Davis
Cost/Stipend:$6,750
Eligibility: All participants must be currently enrolled as a high school sophomore or junior and must be 16 years of age or older on the first day of the program but under 18 years of age at the end of the program
Application deadline:Applications for Summer 2024 are now closed.Expected deadline for 2025 is March 15
Program dates: 2025 Program Dates: June 22 - August 2
The UC Davis Young Scholars Program is a summer residential research program designed to expose approximately 40 high-achieving high school students to the world of original research within the fields of the biological, agricultural, environmental, and natural sciences. the UC Davis Young Scholars Program strives to introduce participants to the climate and culture of living and learning on a university campus. Staff make every effort to model the experiences that participants will have during their first years of college.
6. Research in Science & Engineering
Location:Boston University
Cost/Stipend:Tuition and fees total $5,895, room and board are charged separately depending on the choice
Eligibility: Students entering 12th grade in fall 2024
Application deadline:February 21, 2024
Program dates: June 30 – August 9, 2024
Choosing Research in Science & Engineering, students will work on research projects under the guidance of outstanding faculty, postdoctoral researchers, and graduate students. In this process, students will spend 40 hours per week working on research projects designed by mentors to help students gain valuable technical and analytical skills while developing insight into the scientific process. Students can choose from practical research opportunities in the following fields: astronomy, biology, biomedical engineering, chemistry, computer science, electrical and computer engineering, mechanical engineering, medical laboratory research, neuroscience, physics, psychology, and public health. Students will present their research results in a poster seminar that ends the program. In addition, one day a week, participating classmates will participate in workshops together designed to develop academic and professional skills.
7. Summer Academy for Math and Science
Location:Carnegie Mellon University
Cost/Stipend:free
Eligibility: Be at least 16 years of age prior to the program start date.
Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
Be a high school junior at the time of application submission.
Application deadline:March 1, 2024
Program dates: June 22, 2024 to August 3, 2024 (6 weeks)
At Summer Academy for Math and Science, students will take a rigorous curriculum taught by our faculty and staff who are committed to student success. The program allows students to gain a deeper understanding of STEM through traditional classroom instruction, hands-on projects, and ongoing engagement with world-renowned faculty and skilled staff mentors. In addition to the academic experience, students have the opportunity to collaborate and build meaningful relationships with peers from across the country.
Strengthen student commitment to pursuing STEM-related disciplines through SAMS and other outreach programs. Broaden student understanding of and access to STEM learning. Provide students with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to become successful STEM scholars.
8. Research Science Institute
Location:Offline
Cost/Stipend:free
Eligibility: High school juniors are eligible
Application deadline:December 13, 2023.Applications for RSI 2024 are now closed
Program dates: June 23 - August 3, 2024
Each summer, 100 of the world's most accomplished high school students gather at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for the Research Science Institute (RSI). RSI is the first cost-free to students, summer science & engineering program to combine on-campus course work in scientific theory with off-campus work in science and technology research.
Participants experience the entire research cycle from start to finish. They read the most current literature in their field, execute a detailed research plan, and deliver conference-style oral and written reports on their findings.
RSI scholars first participate in a week of intensive STEM classes with accomplished professors. The heart of RSI is the five week research internship where students conduct individual projects under the tutelage of mentors who are experienced scientists and researchers. During the final week of RSI, students prepare written and oral presentations on their research projects.
9. Tufts Summer Research Experience
Location:Tufts Virtual Campus (available from anywhere)
In-Person (campus location will vary based on lab assignment)
Cost/Stipend:Fees vary by option. Limited need-based scholarships are also available.
Eligibility: Entering grades 11-12 or a Spring 2024 high school graduate
Application deadline:May 1, 2024
Program dates: Jul 1 – Aug 9, 2024
Students will gain proficiency in authentic research practices as they work side-by-side with the faculty, postdoctoral scholars, and students at Tufts University. Although the particular techniques and areas of research will depend on the research team that hosts each student, all students will actively contribute to ongoing research projects and learn about research ethics and how to evaluate information objectively. Research time will be supplemented with various afternoon sessions and the opportunity to experience life on the Tufts University campus. Students may be virtual, or choose to commute or live on campus during the program depending on research choice. Residential students will live in dormitories and share meals in campus dining halls throughout the six-week program.
Each student selected to participate in this competitive program will be paired with a Principal Investigator and mentor in one of Tufts' many outstanding research groups. The majority of time in the program will be mentored research. Students will be fully integrated into the research team including team meetings and presentations, an incredible opportunity to interact with world-class researchers.
10. Program for Reaserch in Mathematics,Engineering and Science
Location:Online and MIT Campus
Cost/Stipend:free
Eligibility: High School Students
Application deadline:November ,2024
Program dates: For details, please refer to the official website
MIT PRIMES is a free, year-long after-school program that provides research projects and guided reading to high school students from the Boston area. Program participants work with MIT researchers to study exciting unsolved problems in mathematics, computer science, and computational biology.
One other option - the Embark Exploration Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, you could also consider applying to one of the Embark Exploration Program.
Its tutors are from Ivy League, MIT, Caltech, Johns Hopkins JHU, Carnegie Mellon CMU, Top 30 U.S. Universities, National Key Laboratories, UK G5, Max Planck Institute, ETH Zurich, National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, and other world-renowned universities. Through one-on-one tutoring, students' academic interests are further cultivated and their scientific research capabilities are improved. Students can successfully enter world-renowned universities such as Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, Oxford, and Cambridge.You can find the application form here.
At the same time check out the Prestigious STEM Competitions and Arts and PBL Contest You can also challenge yourself and get the attention of Ivy League schools by participating in these high-quality scientific research competitions.
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