career research projects for high school students

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Career research projects for high school students, career research projects – essays and written products, career research projects – digital presentations, about the author, peter brown.

Planning for the Future: Career Exploration Activities for High School Students

Career education has always been an important part of the high school curriculum — especially since students’ understanding of potential career paths can drastically affect the decisions they make. It’s one of the reasons why high school (and increasingly middle school!) is the prime time for educators to educate students about potential pathways after graduation. Keep reading for meaningful career exploration activities that will help students discover their interests, skills, and passions, and guide them towards fulfilling and successful careers and occupations.

Career Exploration Activities and Ideas to Help High Schoolers Plan for their Futures

Here are a few ideas for career exploration that educators, counselors, and parents can use to help students plan for life after graduation.

Facilitate a self-reflection activity

Before high schoolers can even begin to explore potential career paths, they must first gain a deeper understanding of themselves. Through self-reflection activities — like personality assessments and writing prompts — you can encourage students to reflect on their academic passions, values, personal strengths and weaknesses, and lifestyle goals. This helps students begin to identify what’s most important to them, and start thinking about potential career paths that are most aligned with their values, strengths, and visions for the future.

Career Readiness: Soft Skill Reflection Task Cards by The Career Ready Teacher Grades: 7-12

Career Scenarios | Personality Traits and Interest Assessment by The Transition Teacher Grades: 9-12 | Special Education

Career Exploration Worksheets with Career Interest Survey & Personality Test by Jenn Liu — Engaging to Empower Grades: 8-12

Encourage students to do an inventory of their interests

Career surveys and inventories are assessment tools that are designed to help students identify potential career paths that are aligned with their interests. Try one of these resources to facilitate meaningful discussions with students about their interests, and to help empower them to make informed decisions about their future.

Career Cluster Interest Inventory Survey PLUS Career Exploration Assignment by School Counseling Essentials Grades: 6-12

Career Interest Symbol Supported Student Survey by Adulting Made Easy aka SpedAdulting Grades: 6-12 | Special Education

Assign a career research project for in-depth investigation

After some initial research reflection, the next step is for students to begin exploring specific careers or occupations in more depth. Through career research projects, students can investigate potential opportunities and learn more about job responsibilities, required qualifications, salary expectations, positives and negatives, and growth opportunities. 

Career Exploration & Research for Google Drive™ by College Counselor Studio Grades: 9-12

Future College and Future Career Research Paper Bundle by The Daring English Teacher Grades: 7-12

Introduction to Design: Middle, High School Art & Design Career Research Project by Look Between the Lines Grades: 6-12

Business, Management, & Administration Career Cluster Research Digital Activity by Business Education with Denise Leigh Grades: 9-12

Career Exploration Worksheets for STEM Jobs Research Project by Meredith Anderson – Momgineer STEM Activities Grades 6-10

Play a career exploration game in class

Through career exploration games, students can explore different career options and industries in a fun, engaging way. You can incorporate quizzes and decision-making activities to help students understand the skills, qualifications, and paths associated with different careers. These resources can provide students with hands-on experiences that are sure to spark curiosity, facilitate discussion, and inspire informed career choices.

Career Exploration Game Job Salaries Fun Activity by Career And Employment Prep Grades: 6-12

Career Card Grab Game for High School Career Development by The Counselor Clique Grades: 9-12

Career Exploration Activity Game – Middle and High School Occupations by Informed Decisions Grades: 6-12

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9 Career Exploration Activities High Schoolers Will Actually Want To Do

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Career Exploration Activities High Schoolers Will Actually Want To Do

Great college counselors and career advisors always strive to ensure that each student is able to develop a personalized roadmap for their future. Beyond creating a bridge between secondary school and postsecondary success, career exploration plays a critical role for students while in school and provides thoughtful reflection and self-examination as students choose their life path. High-quality career exploration helps give meaning to the learning students are doing while in school, provides focus for their decision-making and time, and inspires hope for where their learning and hard work can take them. 

Many schools and districts offer students annual or semi-annual career days and fairs as a primary channel for career exploration. Often times these events highlight individuals in the most common career roles or representatives from local businesses and business community organizations with brand recognition. Though these assemblies are important, they do not, on their own, impactfuly engage students in an ongoing process of deeper exploration necessary to drive meaningful questioning, engagement, and speculative research throughout secondary school.  

Because of the important role it plays, career exploration must be ongoing and interesting to students in order to effectively engage them and promote motivation and enthusiasm. Counselors and educators can play a key role in finding ways to embed innovative practices to help students explore possible careers, learn about a much broader set of potential career options, and receive sufficient time and guidance--all allowing students to deeply consider their postsecondary career paths.

Innovative, Engaging Activities And Practices

In order for career exploration activities to be meaningful and exciting to today’s high school students, they need to be interactive and relevant. They must involve opportunities for student voice and choice, allowing students to explore and discern what appeals to them and what does not. And, in order to work within a college and career readiness program, the activities need to be scalable and accessible for all students. 

Use Technology to Connect Students with Career Role Models

Today’s students are all 21st Century natives. They learned to read with books and apps. Video calls are just as common as telephone calls. They are used to using digital devices to connect with people near and far. Technology has made it much easier to connect students to information and resources beyond the school walls and get them excited about future career possibilities. Encourage students to explore websites that connect them with first-hand insights of professionals from around the world. 

• Career Village : This online community provides a forum for students to ask questions about career exploration and planning directly to current professionals. From “How much does a music producer earn?” to “How to find your dream job,” students are able to have their specific questions answered from real-life professionals working in the fields they are exploring.
• Job Shadow : At Job Shadow, students can read interviews from professionals working in a vast number of fields, including some more unique professions that might be of interest to students such as jobs in the arts, roles that involve work with animals, and “jobs you may not have heard of.” Students can also search for interviews based on compensation structure or work environment. 

Use Virtual Reality to Explore Career Options 

Hands-on, interactive, and dynamic experiences are important to engage students and give them a realistic window into what a career will entail. Some of the most innovative work in career exploration is utilizing virtual reality (VR) to provide immersive experiences for students to do jobs. Though internships, apprenticeships, and other immersive, real-world experiences are only possible for a small number of students, VR can provide access to the environments, tools, and opportunities in a wide variety of industries without leaving the classroom. 

• Oculus VR Career Experience : This free resource designed for the Oculus Go platform, the most popular consumer VR headset, provides students with the opportunity to learn the complex world of pipe fitting, HVAC, and welding. The application was designed by the International Training Fund of the United Association, an international union of plumbers, fitters, and technicians, to provide students with an immersive and realistic window into these jobs.
• ByteSpeed : ByteSpeed, available for a fee, provides students ranging from elementary school to higher education a wide variety of career VR experiences including agriculture, fashion design, health care, and engineering.

Partner with Local Chambers of Commerce and Beyond

A core piece of career planning needs to include job opportunities within one’s community. A local chamber of commerce is the perfect resource. Encourage the local chamber of commerce to have member businesses create YouTube videos spotlighting their work and different types of potential jobs for students. Some local business organizations have partnered with school districts to create sites geared specifically toward secondary students to share the types of jobs available and the skills needed to do those roles. You might also invite local businesses to provide teachers with recruitment, application, and training materials for students. 

• Career Explore NW : A school district in Spokane, Washington has partnered with local businesses and the public broadcasting station to create an impressive web platform that enables career exploration, promotes local agriculture and industry opportunities, and connects local businesses with students.  
• UpSkill Houston : In Houston, Texas, the Greater Houston Partnership has brought the school district into the workforce development process. Realizing that economic development requires a skill-ready workforce at hand, rather than importing it from other communities, the organization formed this partnership and site aimed at connecting high school students with relevant careers.   
• SchooLinks : SchooLinks provides an Industry Partnership Portal which assists schools and districts in nurturing partnerships. Providing student access, calendaring events, and empowering local businesses to connect to students helps create real-world opportunities for students to explore local career options.  

Include A Diversity of Voices

Students are more likely to deeply engage with career exploration activities when they can personally relate to or see themselves in career role models. It is vital that schools offer students exposure to a wide diversity of individuals representing possible career pathways. Expanding conceptions of role models for students both opens the minds of current students and works to upend historical stereotypes and barriers long-term. 

• Invite Recent Alumni: Consider offering students opportunities to talk with and learn from individuals still early in their career trajectory, rather than just focusing on those who have achieved long-term career success. You might invite recent alumni to talk with students about their experiences both in college or career training, applying for positions, and during their first weeks and months in a new role. This gives students much more relatable information and advice that likely feels more relevant to their current decision-making and thinking.
• Ensure Gender, Racial, and Ethnic Diversity in Role Models : Across fields, take special care to include representatives that fall outside often held gender stereotypes for particular careers. For instance, spotlight women working in positions from predominantly male STEM careers. And, have male representation from nursing or teaching positions, which are often female-dominated careers. The Career Girls website is a great resource geared at female students to provide them with empowering role models and tools to explore future career options. Ensure racial and ethnic diversity in connecting students with professionals as it is fundamental that all students have role models that they can personally identify with.

Honor And Value A Wide Array Of Career Pathways

Engaging career exploration also includes guidance and activities to help students expand their thinking beyond what they conceive of as likely career paths. Many times student career planning and exploration is constrained by what they know--either what their own family members do for a living, professionals they interact with in their own lives such as teachers, doctors, and coaches, or those they see on television and the internet. This leaves major gaps in student understanding of all the potential opportunities and fields that exist. Educators can have major impacts on postsecondary success by showing students the wide array of options that are possible and connecting those options with student strengths and preferences. 

Additionally, many career exploration curricula often default to college planning as a core component. However, in today’s economy, there are a myriad of good job options that do not require a four-year college degree. It does a disservice to students to only focus on career paths that extend from college completion. Career counselors can play an important role in helping students to see these different pathways--from straight to career, to technical education, to the military, to community college, to four-year degrees and beyond--as all potentially worthwhile to consider. This makes career planning and exploration accessible to students who do not think that college is right for them and helps all students understand their options as they make important life decisions.

Relevant And Productive Career Exploration For All Students

As you develop and plan your career exploration activities, take time to regularly survey students for fields they would like to explore, the kinds of activities that resonate with them, and for feedback on past activities and events. By aligning career exploration activities with student interest and choice, it is much more likely that students will engage more deeply and reflectively. 

When students do this, they are able to see connections between future career goals and their current learning; they are able to figure out the kinds of work they enjoy and those they do not; and, they are able to understand how their strengths and preferences map onto future possibilities. By deeply exploring career possibilities during secondary school and critically thinking about the associated realities, students are able to enter postsecondary life knowing they are making active and well-informed choices. Ultimately, if students are excited about these activities and thoughtfully engage with them, they are better prepared for the entire pathway to a career.

Centralizing career exploration activities in the same place as goal setting, college exploration and graduation plans can help students see the little, and big pictures. Check out how SchooLinks can consolidate it all for your district.

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Launch Your Future: Amazing 25 Career Games for Teens

• Dylan Callens
• September 8, 2023

Help students find their career paths with our 25 career games designed specifically for high school students. These interactive career exploration activities will provide a fun and engaging way to learn about various professions and equip teens with essential insights and skills for their future careers. From virtual job simulations to role-playing scenarios, each game offers a unique pathway to understanding different industries and job roles, helping students make informed decisions about their educational and career paths. This guide is perfect for motivating and inspiring high school students in a careers classroom.

1. Career Speed Dating Acitivity

How to Implement:  Set up the classroom with pairs of chairs facing each other. Assign each student a profession (or allow them to choose) and give them a few minutes to prepare. Students then sit face-to-face with a partner, discussing their assigned profession. After a set time (e.g., 2-3 minutes), one row of students rotates, and the process continues until everyone has “dated” everyone else. It’s such a fun activity!

Benefits: The fast-paced nature of this activity ensures high engagement levels. Students learn to convey key information concisely and listen actively. It also exposes them to a multitude of professions in a short time, broadening their perspectives.

2. Guess My Job

How to Implement:  This game operates much like 20 Questions. Provide each student with a card containing a specific job title. The student then offers three hints related to that job, without revealing the profession directly. Classmates then take turns guessing the profession based on the provided clues.

Benefits:  “Guess My Job” encourages critical thinking and deductive reasoning. It also fosters a deeper understanding of various professions, as students must identify key aspects of a job role to give hints that are neither too vague nor too obvious.

3. Career Taboo

How to Implement:  This game is inspired by the classic Taboo game. Create cards for various professions and list four or five “taboo” words associated with each job that students cannot use when describing it. For instance, for “Dentist”, taboo words might include “teeth,” “brush,” “drill,” and “gum.” A student picks a card and tries to describe the profession to their classmates without using the taboo words.

Benefits:  Career Taboo pushes students to think outside the box and describe professions in unconventional ways. It refines communication skills and expands vocabulary, as students search for alternative words and phrases to describe familiar roles.

4. Career Bingo Game

How to Implement:  Begin by creating bingo cards, each filled with a variety of professions rather than numbers. These professions can range from common ones like “doctor” and “engineer” to more niche roles like “marine biologist” or “set designer.” Armed with a stack of descriptions for each job, read out the duties and responsibilities of each profession one by one. As students recognize a profession described, they mark it off on their bingo card. The first student to get a full row shouts “Bingo!”

Benefits:  Career Bingo not only introduces students to a plethora of job roles but also encourages active listening. As they attentively tune in to the nuances of each profession, they’re exposed to new possibilities and broadened horizons. It’s a great way to begin conversations about what interests them and what doesn’t.

5. Profession Charades Exploration Game

How to Implement:  Write down various job titles on individual slips of paper. Each student then randomly selects a slip and, without revealing their chosen profession, acts it out in front of the class. Their peers then guess the job based on the student’s non-verbal cues and actions.

Benefits:  This activity is not only engaging but also pushes students to think about the most defining and recognizable tasks of each profession. It’s an exercise in non-verbal communication, creativity, and comprehension, as students must break down complex job roles into simple, easily understood actions.

6. Salary Guess Game

How to Implement: Prepare a list of professions and their average annual salaries (without disclosing the amounts). Students are tasked with ranking these professions based on what they believe the salaries might be. After making their guesses, reveal the figures and discuss the reasons behind wage disparities, considering factors like education, demand, experience, and societal value.

Benefits:  This activity is an eye-opener for many students, as it challenges preconceived notions about job compensation. By discussing the factors that influence salaries, students gain a better understanding of the economic landscape of the job market. The game also prompts deeper reflections on the true value of a job and the balance between passion and financial rewards.

7. Job Skills Match-Up

How to Implement:  On one set of cards, list various job titles. On another set, jot down the primary skills associated with those jobs. Mix up the skill cards and distribute them to the students. Their task? Match the skills to the appropriate job. This can be done individually or in small groups.

Benefits:  This game sheds light on the specific skills required for different professions, helping students recognize where their strengths might align with potential careers. Furthermore, it underscores the importance of skill development in the path to professional success.

8. Career Day Role Play

How to Implement:  Prepare cards with different professions listed, along with a brief description of the job’s main responsibilities. Each student receives a card and has some time to internalize their role. Later, they pair up or form small groups to describe their day-to-day tasks in that profession to their peers, who then ask questions or seek clarity.

Benefits:  Role-playing is a powerful tool for empathy and understanding. By stepping into the shoes of various professionals, even if just for a short time, students gain a firsthand glimpse into the challenges, rewards, and intricacies of different job roles. Moreover, this activity fosters communication skills and promotes curiosity.

9. Career Exploration Mind Map

How to Implement:  Divide students into groups and assign each a specific profession or allow them to choose one of interest. Provide them with chart paper or access to digital mind-mapping tools. Groups then brainstorm and map out all they know about the profession, from required skills to potential work environments and associated tasks.

Benefits:  Mind mapping is an effective tool for visual learners. The activity encourages collaborative learning, where students pool their knowledge and insights. It also aids in identifying gaps in understanding, prompting further research and exploration of the chosen professions. This is perhaps the best way to introduce career opportunities at any grade level.

10. Profession Timeline

How to Implement:  Hand out sheets of paper or use a digital platform where students can create timelines. Assign or let them select a profession, then task them with plotting out the educational journey and work experiences needed to achieve that career. This might include college degrees, internships, certifications, and more.

Benefits:  By visualizing the steps needed to reach a career goal, students gain a clearer understanding of the dedication, time, and milestones involved. It promotes forward-thinking and long-term planning, enabling students to set tangible targets for their personal career decisions.

11. Job Scenario Problem Solving

How to Implement:  Prepare cards with hypothetical workplace challenges related to various professions. Examples might include handling a medical emergency as a doctor, resolving a client conflict as a PR specialist, or designing a bridge to withstand specific environmental factors as a civil engineer. Distribute the cards to the students and ask them to discuss or write about how they would tackle the given scenario.

Benefits:  This activity throws students into real-world situations, albeit hypothetically, forcing them to think on their feet. It builds problem-solving skills, cultivates creativity, and deepens understanding of the practical challenges faced in different professions. Furthermore, it allows students to gauge their interest and aptitude for various scenarios, potentially guiding them towards or away from a variety of careers.

12. Dream Day Diary Entry

How to Implement:  Prompt students to imagine a day in their dream job. What would they do? Who would they meet? What challenges would they face? Students then write a diary entry detailing this day, capturing both the highs and lows.

Benefits:  This introspective activity fosters self-awareness and creativity. It encourages students to dive deep into their passions, visualize their aspirations, and reflect on what they truly desire in a career. Reading or sharing these entries can also inspire classmates and highlight diverse aspirations within the class.

13. Skill Auction

How to Implement:  Prepare a list of skills associated with various jobs. Assign each student a set amount of “money.” As you describe each skill, students decide if they want to “purchase” it, with the highest bidder winning. The goal isn’t necessarily to spend all their money but to acquire the skills they find most valuable or intriguing.

Benefits:  This game emphasizes the value of diverse skills in the job market. Students reflect on which skills resonate most with their interests and aspirations. It also introduces the concept of demand and value in the job market, prompting discussions on why certain skills might be more “expensive” than others. Young people find this game a fun way to explore essential skills.

14. Profession Pictionary Game

How to Implement:  Just like traditional Pictionary, but with a career twist. Create cards with various job roles. Students select a card and draw an image associated with that profession without using any words or numbers, while their classmates try to guess the job.

Benefits:  Visual representation and interpretation are at the heart of this activity. Students must think creatively to depict complex job roles through simple drawings. It promotes teamwork, creativity, and reinforces the visual aspects of various professions.

15. Career Pathway Snakes & Ladders

How to Implement:  Adapt a traditional Snakes & Ladders game board to represent a career journey. Ladders signify promotions, positive networking opportunities, or successful job interviews, propelling players forward. Snakes, on the other hand, can represent setbacks like failed projects, job loss, or workplace conflicts, causing players to move backward. Play the game with dice and tokens as usual.

Benefits:  This game provides a visual representation of the ups and downs of a career. Students learn that progress isn’t always linear, and setbacks can be valuable learning experiences. It’s a playful way to introduce the concept of perseverance and resilience in one’s career.

16. Job Hat Guess

How to Implement:  Collect hats or props that symbolize different professions—e.g., a chef’s hat, firefighter helmet, artist’s beret. A student chooses a hat without revealing it to the class and wears it. Classmates then ask yes/no questions to deduce the associated profession.

Benefits:  This activity sharpens deductive reasoning and observation skills. It also highlights the symbols and tools associated with various professions, allowing students to connect iconic items with specific job roles.

17. Daily Routine Compare & Contrast

How to Implement:  Select two professions and, with the class, outline the typical daily routines of each. Discuss the similarities, differences, challenges, and rewards associated with both roles. For example, compare the day of a journalist with that of a marine biologist.

Benefits:  By delving into the daily grind of various careers, students gain insight into the tangible realities of different job roles. This activity fosters empathy, analytical thinking, and a deeper understanding of the myriad tasks within each profession.

18. Profession Trivia

How to Implement:  Craft a quiz filled with intriguing facts and scenarios related to various careers. For instance: “Which profession might require knowledge of Latin terms? A) Lawyer B) Chef C) Pilot.” Host a trivia session where students answer individually or in teams.

Benefits:  This trivia game educates students about diverse professions and makes learning fun and competitive. It stimulates curiosity and broadens students’ knowledge about the lesser-known aspects of various job roles.

19. Career Word Search

How to Implement:  Design a word search puzzle incorporating various job titles, both common and obscure. Distribute the puzzles and let students hunt for the professions.

Benefits:  While it might seem simple, word searches help improve pattern recognition and vocabulary. By searching for career-related terms, students become familiar with a wide range of job titles, some of which might spark their interest for further exploration.

20. Skill Set Venn Diagram

How to Implement:  Choose two professions and create a Venn diagram using a whiteboard or individual sheets of paper. Label each circle with one of the professions. As a class or in groups, students list skills specific to each job in the corresponding sections and shared skills in the overlapping middle section. This will also let students explore what higher education is needed for specific careers.

Benefits:  Venn diagrams are visual tools that aid in comparison and contrast. By analyzing the skills of two professions side by side, students can identify commonalities and differences, helping them understand how skill sets can be transferable across different careers. When venn diagrams are introduced to middle school students, this might be a great way to introduce career clusters.

21. Job Interview Hot Seat

How to Implement:  Prepare cards with various professions. Students draw a card and then sit in the “hot seat” where they’re interviewed for that job role by classmates. After a few questions, roles switch. The interviewer becomes the interviewee, and a new job card is selected.

Benefits:  This role-playing activity enhances communication skills, adaptability, and quick thinking. Students gain a taste of real-world job interviews, learning how to articulate their strengths and address questions confidently, all in a safe classroom setting.

22. Profession Flashcard Relay

How to Implement:  Create two sets of flashcards: one with job titles and another with job descriptions. Spread them out on a table or floor. Divide students into teams, and on the signal, teams race to match titles with the correct descriptions as fast as possible.

Benefits:  This competitive relay engages students actively and is especially effective for kinesthetic learners. It encourages teamwork, quick thinking, and reinforces knowledge about various professions in an interactive way.

23. Elevator Pitch Practice

How to Implement:  Introduce the concept of an “elevator pitch” – a concise, persuasive speech that’s typically delivered in the time span of an elevator ride. Ask students to choose a profession and craft a short pitch as if they were in that job, promoting their role or a project they’re passionate about. Allow time for preparation and then let each student present their pitch to the class.

Benefits:  The elevator pitch hones communication, persuasion, and self-presentation skills, all of which are important life skills. Crafting a compelling narrative in a short timeframe challenges students to distill information and present it with clarity and enthusiasm. This activity also builds self-confidence as students practice public speaking in front of peers.

24. What If? Scenario Cards

How to Implement:  Design cards containing hypothetical work-related situations. Examples might include “What if you were a software developer and the program you’ve spent months on suddenly crashes?” or “What if you were a journalist and a source retracts an important statement just before publication?” Distribute these cards among students and have them share their potential solutions, either individually or in groups.

Benefits:  These scenarios immerse students in real-world challenges, cultivating their problem-solving and critical thinking abilities. They also foster empathy, as students step into the shoes of professionals facing dilemmas, and help them appreciate the complexities and nuances of different roles.

25. Pros & Cons Debate

How to Implement:  Distribute a list of professions among student pairs. Each pair is tasked with researching and then debating the advantages and disadvantages of their assigned job. After a given preparation period, pairs present their findings, with one student arguing the pros and the other presenting the cons.

Benefits:  This debate structure sharpens research, communication, and persuasive skills. Students delve deeper into professions, going beyond surface-level knowledge to understand both the rewarding aspects and the challenges. Through this, they gain a more rounded perspective on various careers, aiding informed decisions in their future.

Why Career Games are Crucial for High Schoolers

High school is a pivotal juncture in a young person’s life. It’s a time when dreams begin to crystallize into potential career paths, yet many students often feel lost amidst the myriad of choices. Exploring career goals at this stage isn’t just about helping them pick a job for the sake of it; it’s about discovering passions, talents, and understanding the dynamics of the working world.

Moreover, the job market is continuously evolving. With the rise of automation, artificial intelligence, and other technological advancements, some traditional jobs are fading, while entirely new careers are emerging. Providing students with a comprehensive view of these shifts can help them pivot towards professions that are not only fulfilling but also have long-term viability.

Career Activities Help Develop Skills for the Future Workplace

Beyond understanding job roles and industry shifts, students need to develop a set of universally valuable skills that will serve them in almost any profession. Here are some of the critical skills our students will develop with the aid of career games:

Adaptability and Flexibility: As the saying goes, the only constant is change. The ability to adapt to new situations, technologies, or job roles is invaluable.

Critical Thinking: In a world flooded with information, the ability to evaluate, analyze, and make informed decisions is more crucial than ever.

Collaboration and Teamwork: The future workplace values individuals who can work harmoniously in teams, capitalizing on the diverse strengths of each member.

Problem Solving: Every job comes with its challenges. Equip students with the mindset and tools to tackle obstacles creatively.

Communication Skills: Be it written, verbal, or digital, clear communication will always be at the heart of a successful career.

Emotional Intelligence: The ability to recognize, understand, and manage our emotions, as well as those of others, is increasingly being seen as a vital skill in the professional realm.

In essence, career exploration activities for high school students do more than just introduce them to various professions. They offer a platform to develop these vital skills in a fun, interactive, and memorable way. As educators, let’s harness the power of play to not only enlighten but also empower our next generation of leaders, thinkers, and doers.

Students will make career choices based on personality traits and what they believe are viable career pathways. While other classes may hone in on soft skills, one of the best ways to make a career decision is career awareness and hard work. It’s always a good idea for students to engage in things like job shadowing, participating in extracurricular activities, volunteer work, and speaking to a school counselor. Also, completing co-op credits at local businesses is helpful when exploring career interests. For a great resource on career development and handy career exploration tools, visit  https://blog.careeronestop.org/3-free-resources-for-career-development-professionals/

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Career Exploration Activities: A Comprehensive Guide for High School Students

By Tom Gurin

Fulbright Scholar; music composer, historian, and educator

By Surya Ramanathan

Johns Hopkins University, B.S. in Applied Mathematics and Statistics, B.S. in Economics, and M.S. in Applied Economics

5 minute read

The journey of self-discovery and career exploration can be both exciting and daunting. Luckily, there are numerous ways you can uncover your passions and interests

Career exploration is a helpful way for students to consider their interests and goals, and to focus their energies in the right direction. Here, we’ll delve into nine effective career exploration activities any high school student could do to help figure out a potential career path to pursue.

Why Are Career Exploration Activities Important For Students?

Although some people might be lucky enough to find their ideal careers by accident, for most, identifying the right fit means taking time to plan and reflect. Even if you change your mind or go in a different direction later on, exploring careers now might help you uncover something important about your goals for your professional life. Career confusion among students is completely normal, but Polygence can help you discover your passions.

Maybe you already have an idea (or several) about what you want your career to look like. That’s great! The exploration you do as a student could help you narrow in on your strongest interests or open your eyes to career paths you never knew existed . For students who want to be productive and efficient with their time and studies, exploring career options is an important step for building a direct link between their education and their futures.

How Do Career Exploration Activities Work?

Career exploration activities should be enjoyable! They can take many forms, including brainstorming sessions, games, and conversations with experts in a field.

Check out our Pathfinders career discovery program to match with experts and get personalized guidance and advice.

These activities require high school students to reflect on their goals, values, and skills. For some students, this might be the first time that you consider questions about your future career. To get the conversation going, try out some fun career exploration activities that can help students find what they love .

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9 Career Exploration Activities for Students

1. career mind mapping: visualizing your connections.

Building a career plan or mind map is an excellent first activity for students to draw connections among key interests and goals . Once completed, a mind map is a tool for visualizing connections among concepts that are important to you and that could shape your career path. Here’s how it works:

Grab a large piece of paper (so that you aren’t limited in space) and a pen or pencil. (A diagramming software like Google Drawings will also work.)

In the center of the page, write a word or short phrase that is important to you when you think about your future career. Don’t think too hard about what to write; just jot down what comes to mind (e.g., “Helping people”, “Leadership”, “Exploring”, “Science”).

Next, draw one or two (or several) lines extending outward from what you wrote. At the end of each line, write another word or phrase that is connected to the first concept. Each word or phrase should connect to another, and your priorities.

Continue drawing lines and connections to new concepts, building outward from the center to create a tree of interrelated ideas that you want to prioritize when building your career.

Building a career mind map is a great first activity to help you structure your brainstorming and get started with career exploration . Remember: the goal of this activity is to start thinking about the connections among different concepts that you want to explore.

2. Self-Assessment Surveys: Uncover Your Strengths and Interests 

To embark on a journey of self-discovery, it’s important to understand your strengths and interests. There are various online self-assessment surveys and quizzes designed specifically for high school students. These assessments can be extremely helpful in assisting you with identifying your personality traits, strengths, and preferences. Career planning websites for high school students like CareerExplorer , Princeton Review , and InternMart provide comprehensive assessments that match your qualities with suitable careers. By taking these surveys, you can get a better idea of the fields that might resonate most with you. Here are some career quiz questions to get you thinking about your choices right now:

Which subject(s) do you enjoy most in school?

What are your goals for your education?

Picture yourself in your ideal future workspace. Where do you find yourself? In an office? In a lab? In a forest?

What is your work style? For example, do you like to organize and plan well in advance? Do you like to multitask? Do you look for ways to be creative?

Assuming equal pay, would you rather be a journalist or a plant biologist? Would you rather build bridges or be a librarian?

Do you prefer to work on your own or to collaborate with other people?

3. Informational Interviews: Gain Insights from Professionals 

Sometimes, the best way for students to learn about a career path is by talking to someone who’s already in the field. Reach out to professionals in careers that interest you through a platform like LinkedIn and request to speak with them for 15-30 minutes. This is an excellent opportunity to ask questions about their job, daily tasks, and what they enjoy most about their work. If there is an expert in your school or local community, try asking them some of these questions:

When did you discover that you wanted to specialize in this field?

Have you had any surprises in your career path?

How is the work/life balance in this field?

What is the most challenging aspect of your work?

These conversations can provide you with valuable insights that go beyond what you might find in a job description, helping you understand the nuances of career development.

4. Job Shadowing: Experience a Day in the Life 

If you’re curious about a particular profession, a job shadowing experience may be beneficial for career awareness . Spend a day observing a professional in action and get a firsthand look at their tasks and responsibilities. This experience will not only give you a realistic sense of what a typical day looks like but will also very likely impress the person you are shadowing by showing incentive, creating a potential job opportunity. It can also help you assess whether the day-to-day activities align with your interests and aspirations.

5. Volunteering and Internships: Hands-On Experience 

Volunteering and internships offer a hands-on approach to career exploration. Look for opportunities in fields that intrigue you, even if they’re unpaid or short-term. Whether it’s volunteering at a local hospital, interning at a marketing agency, or assisting at an animal shelter, these experiences provide valuable insights into the practical aspects of different professions. You’ll gain real-world skills, build your resume, and get an idea of what it’s like to work in that industry. 

6. High School Clubs and Organizations: Try Something New 

Your high school likely offers a variety of clubs that can introduce you to different fields of interest. Join clubs related to science, art, debating, coding, or any other subjects that intrigue you. The best part? You’re taking on minimal risk: you won’t be dedicating years, and if you’re uninterested in one career field, you can easily switch to another club to try something new . Engaging in extracurricular activities not only helps you explore your passions but also allows you to meet like-minded peers and mentors who can guide you on your journey.

7. Online Courses and Workshops: Expand Your Knowledge 

The internet is a goldmine of career exploration tools. Enroll in online courses or workshops related to future career options you’re curious about. 

Polygence Pods, for example, are 6-week programs specifically designed for high school students to work with mentors and a small peer group on research about a specific interest. Pods cohorts are offered throughout the year in a variety of topics. The Polygence Pods program page is the best way to learn about specific dates and topics for upcoming Pods. Space is limited, so reserve your spot early if you’re interested in joining.

Other websites like Coursera , edX , and Khan Academy offer a wide range of courses on diverse topics. These courses can provide you with a foundational understanding of different industries and help you decide which one resonates with you the most.

8. Research Projects: Dive Deep into Topics of Interest 

Undertaking research projects can be an exciting way to explore potential careers. If you’re passionate about a specific subject, consider delving deeper into it through independent research through a university, or even a company like Polygence.

Middle and high school students who enroll in Polygence’s Core research mentorship program work a research project of their choosing with a mentor who has expertise in the project’s subject matter. Each student’s Polygence experience is uniquely designed and student-led. Teens who have completed projects with Polygence have indicated their research helped them discover a deep passion for specific fields of study. Lily Nguyen’s Polygence experience led her to choose a college major at UC Berkeley. In Lily’s words, Polygence:

“definitely made me more interested in biology and science. Before my senior year, I didn't really take any biology classes yet. But when I was going through the project, I found that I really enjoyed learning about this kind of stuff. It really helped cement for me that yes, biology is a good major for me to pursue.”

Whether it’s writing a paper, creating a presentation, or conducting experiments, this hands-on experience can reveal new aspects of a field and ignite your curiosity even further.

Do your own research through Polygence!

Polygence pairs you with an expert mentor in your area of passion. Together, you work to create a high quality research project that is uniquely your own.

9. Attend Career Fairs and Workshops: Network and Learn 

Many schools and communities organize career fairs and workshops that bring together professionals from various industries. A career day offers students a chance to network, ask questions, and gain insights directly from experts. Make the most of these opportunities by attending talks, participating in workshops, and connecting with professionals who share your interests.

Choose Your Unique Career Exploration Journey

This is by no means an exhaustive list of ideas when it comes to the ways students can explore careers. There are many routes you could take to explore a career path that is of potential interest to you, but this list is a great way to get started. 

Polygence is also here to help! Our Pathfinders program is a career discovery program specifically designed to help students find what they love . We’ll match you with three different expert research mentors in fields of your choice. In addition to learning about each field, you’ll get answers to your specific questions and direct, personalized advice from your mentors to help guide you through your career discovery journey.

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Trauma-informed practices in schools, teacher well-being, cultivating diversity, equity, & inclusion, integrating technology in the classroom, social-emotional development, covid-19 resources, invest in resilience: summer toolkit, civics & resilience, all toolkits, degree programs, trauma-informed professional development, teacher licensure & certification, how to become - career information, classroom management, instructional design, lifestyle & self-care, online higher ed teaching, current events, how to help high school students with career research.

High school students often tire of being asked, “What are your career plans?” Some students have no idea how to answer the question. Others may give a rote answer just to stop the questions. There are actually so many career choices available that high school students can pursue that they need direction in order to discover their own interests and skills. They may discover that opportunities are available they never even thought of before. Here are just a few suggestions that may help in career research for high school students.

Brainstorming

This may seem like a simple suggestion, but it is a good first step. Students should make a list of things they like and do not like to do and classes they like and do not like. For example, do they like history class but hate math class or vice versa? Do they like to work in groups or do they prefer to work alone? Do they like to work indoors or outdoors?

Assessment tests

There a variety of assessment tests that may be administered at high schools. If not, they can be found online. Some examples are:

• Myer-Briggs Test:  This analyzes personality characteristics and how a person interacts with people or if they prefer not to interact with people at all.
• Strong Interest Inventory:  This helps students who are having trouble identifying their interests and helps focus on what a student truly enjoys doing.
• Self-Directed Search:  This test focuses on identifying skills and interests.
• Skill Scan Test:  This focuses on seven specific skills and assists a student in determining which skills they have or want to develop.

Assessment tests are just stepping stones to identifying potential careers. Results should not be used to direct a person to or away from a specific career but should be used only as tools to help identify career choices.

Research potential careers

A few specific careers can be identified in order to pursue career research for high school students. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes an Occupational Outlook Handbook which provides detailed information for every possible job including:

• Job description
• Specific employers or types of employers
• Salary ranges
• Expected job growth over the next few years
• Educational requirements
• Where the jobs are located

Informational interviews

Students may know or can be introduced to someone who works in a job the student is interested in pursuing as a career. Guiding the student to develop interview questions of the professional person can be helpful. Students can get real answers to their career questions from people who actually work every day in the career of interest. Students can be guided to ask questions such as:

• How did the person train for the job?
• What does the person like best about the job?
• What does the person dislike about the job?
• What has the person learned that they wish they had known before pursuing the career?
• What advice does the professional have concerning what the student should and should not do in pursuit of the career?

Job shadowing

Some schools have job shadowing programs that give students the opportunity of actually working with a professional in the career of the student’s choice. The student arranges to spend several hours with the professional to “shadow” them and see exactly what they do on a daily basis.

If the school does not have a shadowing program established students can contact the local Chamber of Commerce for business directories and suggestions of professionals who may be contacted. Students can then set up individual job shadowing experiences.

Exploring STEM Careers: Your Comprehensive Back-to-School Resource Guide

• August 14, 2023
• Posted by: Ashley Pereira
• Category: STEM education teaching and learning

The back-to-school season is here! As dedicated STEM educators, we understand the importance of starting the year with a burst of excitement and curiosity. To help you save time on preparation and provide your students with captivating opportunities for STEM career exploration, we’re thrilled to present a curated list of must-have resources from our store, **Career-In-Stem**. These resources are specifically tailored to engage and inspire your middle and high school students, making the journey into STEM careers both educational and enjoyable.

**1. FREE Quick Start STEM Career Exploration Kit https://www.careerinstem.com/free/

This kit has the best FREE resources to instantly engage your students in cost-free STEM career exploration, including download-and-go activities such as dynamic STEM career presentations, captivating profiles, a career exploration graphic organizer, and more; this kit has a definitive checklist to gauge career readiness, each item holding the key to your students’ preparedness; gain clarity on the essence of STEM and simplify its complexity; exclusive previews of the world’s simplest STEM career exploration system, and much more.

2. STEM Career Exploration Activity Pack:** https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Best-Sellers-STEM-Career-Exploration-Activities-Bundle-distance-learning-6081749

Embark on a captivating journey into various STEM professions with our STEM Career Exploration Activity Pack! This comprehensive resource is designed to introduce students to a wide array of STEM careers, complete with interactive worksheets, real-world scenarios, and engaging discussions. With this pack you get 5 of the bestselling career packs. From a computer science webquest, engineering QR code activities, a fun STEM game, and two career exploration posters, this activity pack ensures that no stone is left unturned when it comes to exploring exciting career possibilities.

**3. STEM Career Taboo Game:** https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/STEM-Careers-Taboo-fun-STEM-game-distance-learning-3156566

Transform career exploration into an immersive and enjoyable game with our Career Path Matching Game. Inspired by the well-known ‘Taboo’ game, students will guess different STEM careers while avoiding specific hush words all while deepening their understanding of the diverse opportunities available in the world of STEM.

**4. STEM Career Research Project:** https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/STEM-Career-Exploration-Project-make-a-dream-career-tour-distance-learning-3180739

Cultivate research and presentation skills while delving into the intricacies of STEM careers with our STEM Career Research Project. This comprehensive project guides students through  a Virtual Tour project, researching a specific STEM career, enabling them to showcase their findings through engaging presentations or visually appealing posters. The package includes a 90-minute lesson plan, student project worksheets encompassing career research, project details, and planning, along with a straightforward rubric for assessment. This resource not only exposes students to potential careers but also hones their communication abilities—a crucial asset in any STEM profession.

**5. STEM Career Webquest Bundle:** https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/STEM-Career-Exploration-Webquests-Bundle-of-17-distance-learning-5113695

Take your students on an exciting virtual exploration of STEM careers with our STEM Career Webquest Bundle, which includes 17 different online webquests!. Through interactive online research and thought-provoking questions, students will dive into a range of STEM fields and the groundbreaking work being done by professionals. This webquest bundle is an ideal way to ignite curiosity and spark insightful classroom discussions through a wide arry of careers.

**6. Job Shadow Scavenger Hunt:** https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Job-Shadow-Scavenger-Hunt-editable-job-shadow-worksheets-distance-learning-4482632

Streamline the intimidating process of job shadowing for teens with this comprehensive Job Shadow Scavenger Hunt. This editable Word document guides students through a successful job shadow experience with engaging questions and interactive activities. It covers all stages of the process, from preparation to post-shadow reflection, serving as a valuable tool for independent and distance learning.

**7. STEM Careers of the Month Poster Bundle** https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/STEM-Careers-of-the-Month-Posters-Bundle-of-12-with-online-career-exploration-7397155

Explore STEM careers with this consistent and essentia monthly Poster Bundle. Engage students every month with unique STEM careers, avoiding repetition. Each poster highlights four careers and offers corresponding online resources, ensuring year-long excitement and learning. This comprehensive bundle covers all 12 months, making STEM career discovery relatable and enjoyable for students.

**8. STEM Career BINGO! https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Computer-Science-Bingo-STEM-game-computer-science-game-6232517 AND https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Engineering-Bingo-fun-and-easy-STEM-career-exploration-game-3159427

Immerse students in a world of career possibilities with engaging bingo games. Whether exploring 24 diverse engineering careers or delving into 25 computer science mini-activities, these resources serve as ideal introductions or post-learning reviews. Both packages come complete with teacher instructions, fillable student bingo sheets, and descriptive bingo cards, offering versatility for use in engineering classes to coding clubs and STEM Nights. This bingo set fosters hands-on learning and discovery in various settings making it an excellent way to promote teamwork while broadening students’ horizons.

9. Intro to STEM Career Curriculum** https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Middle-School-STEM-Career-Exploration-Curriculum-30-no-prep-hands-on-lessons-3161027

Elevate your lessons and integrate STEM career exploration with this diverse curriculum. With over 300 pages of engaging activities, students are exposed to STEM careers, practices, and skills, all aligning with NGSS and DCIs standards. The package includes 30 no-prep lesson plans, corresponding worksheets, answer keys, online career exploration activities, and an educator’s guide for organized planning. The curriculum caters to both in-person and distance learning needs, with a focus on real-world relevance and minimal material requirements.

10. FREE STEM Career Activities https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Career-In-Stem/Price-Range/Free?ref=filter/price

As the new school year approaches, remember that igniting your students’ passion for STEM begins with introducing them to the captivating world of STEM careers. Our meticulously crafted resources from the **Career-In-Stem** store are designed to streamline this process with many diverse options, ensuring that your students embark on a journey filled with exploration, imagination, and a deeper understanding of future career paths within the STEM realm.

Visit our store at https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Career-In-Stem to access these specific resources and unlock a world of engaging possibilities. Let’s work together to make this school year an unforgettable one, marked by STEM discovery and inspiration!

7 Career Exploration Activities For High School Students

High school students, at their age, have acquired a lot of knowledge. They still wonder what they are going to do with the knowledge attained or in which job they will ‘fit in’. If you are also going through the same fix, take a more cognitive approach to find where your future lies. 

We bring you here some of the career exploration activities that help you find your calling after completing high school or levels beyond that. You can do these activities along with your friends or may take the help of a teacher or placement cells in colleges wherever external support is required.

Interesting career exploration activities 

• Interview a successful CEO 

Interviewing is an art that can help you get the facts right from the horse’s mouth. The students can request CEOs or key executives of companies operating in your city to visit your high school as guests. It requires: 

• Make a list of companies or offices in your city
• Sending a formal invitation letter to the guest CEO
• Preparing a questionnaire with the help of friends
• Organizing a session for Q & As.

It is an activity that may require you to reach out to the school management or teacher to help you get the CEO for the session. 

A quick tip: Refer to the alumni list of your own school; the successful alumni will love to come down to help you and revisit their high school time. 

• Live a day in the shoes of…

How about knowing firsthand the job responsibilities, challenges, and rewards that come with any job profile? Organize a day visit to the companies and let the high schooler spend it in the company of the professional that he/she wants to become. 

High schoolers may be selected based on the interest they show and match with the profiles where their interests are utilized the best. 

Some of the job profiles that usually get the attention of high schoolers are:

• Physical Training Expert
• Veterinary Doctor
• Public Relations Officer
• Air Traffic Controller
• Marine Biologist

Try to include the job profiles which are not usually known. It may help high schoolers get an idea of the jobs that they may not hear about from family or friends.

• Take Surveys

Career exploration surveys are designed to explore the interests of the students. The main motive of these surveys is to prepare the profile of the students and match them with the opportunities available.

Students want to take up careers that are likely to fill them with monetary as well as emotional satisfaction. For that correct profiling of aptitude and the areas where that bend of mind is utilized the best, the surveys are designed. 

• Chalk out career pathways in different fields

What does reaching the dream career look like? Having an idea about it beforehand helps you know how to prepare for different phases and milestones. We all have readily available information sources – working parents, elder siblings, teachers – who can share their journey. 

Using their experiences, you can draw a flow chart that tells about the courses to join, the entry levels in various fields, the experience required to move to higher positions, etc. Thus, you get in front of you a visual presentation of the career graph in the desired field. For example, you can make a career path for becoming a surgeon . That will help you know classes to join, how to apply, entry-level jobs, etc.

This simple activity can help students stay focused on their path to reaching their career goals and make efforts in the correct direction.

• Brainstorming career ideas with friends

Tweak the career aspect in your ‘Know your friends’ activity and you will get an interesting career exploration activity to do with your friends. As you grow and reach the high school level, you get a vague idea of your areas of interest, aptitude, and life you want to live as an adult. 

With all this information stuffed inside, you can find an outlet in your friends with whom you can sit and brainstorm ideas. Brainstorming serves two ways. First, you get to know about various fields available for making a career. Second, you find friends who share your aspirations. Thus, you find the company that is likely to stay with you in life beyond high school.

• Career assessment charts

These are similar to surveys, but offer a peek into the level of liking the high school students have in different areas of work. The list of the jobs is added in the rightmost column and the degree of liking – least liked to most liked columns are to be ticked in front of every job. It helps the students discover their strengths, likes, and aptitudes for various job profiles.

These charts are available in the form of free interests profiler and personality profiler too. 

• Career exploration worksheets

These worksheets are designed keeping various purposes in mind. The students can fill these worksheets by doing research or using their literary skills. A few examples of free worksheets for career exploration are:

• Find your Right Job Worksheet: It is a research-oriented resource to help understand find the opportunities available after completing college. To fill out this worksheet, the students may go through the employment news, career portals, ‘Careers’ section of the business websites, etc., and shortlist the jobs that they find appealing. Also, they will fill out the details like qualifications required for the job, job responsibilities, and growth possibilities of the job. 
• Career research worksheet: It is a part of life skill activity too. The students can fill out the worksheet stating the scope of the job, how it serves the community, how it offers stability in life, and what factors of the job match their personal aspirations. 
• Income from career worksheet: It is again an exploratory activity where high schoolers note down the job profiles and find the salary packages and perks offered to the candidates. 

Free sites where you can find these career exploration activities

Wondering where you can get the ready-to-use support for carrying out career exploration activities? Worry no further! Listed here are some of the best sites that provide you the free resources to help you with career exploration.

• Career Research Handout at Teachers Pay Teachers
• Interest profiler at My Next Move
• Career Assessment Questionnaire at Truity
• Career Exploration Worksheets and Activities at Workforce Solutions
• Career Planning Resource by Biz world

Summing up,

To become successful in life, planning from an early stage helps a lot. Career planning and exploration as a part of the high school curriculum make complete sense as it helps students understand their skill set and go for jobs where they are happy and actively contributing.

By taking cognizance of the courses required to do and jobs that offer good salaries, experience required for growth, etc., the students can be clear in their minds about the future. It will help them have an action plan that yields positive results. 

Sananda Bhattacharya, Chief Editor of TheHighSchooler, is dedicated to enhancing operations and growth. With degrees in Literature and Asian Studies from Presidency University, Kolkata, she leverages her educational and innovative background to shape TheHighSchooler into a pivotal resource hub. Providing valuable insights, practical activities, and guidance on school life, graduation, scholarships, and more, Sananda’s leadership enriches the journey of high school students.

Explore a plethora of invaluable resources and insights tailored for high schoolers at TheHighSchooler, under the guidance of Sananda Bhattacharya’s expertise. You can follow her on Linkedin

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Career Exploration for High School Students — 3 Steps to Follow

Paige buttels.

“What do you want to do when you grow up?” is the age-old question many adults ask children as soon as they can talk and show interest in certain toys. This question tends to turn into “What are you going to major in?” when they get into high school.

In my experience as a high school counselor I’ve found that, although well-intentioned, these questions can be very daunting to students who are unsure of their career interests. They can cause students to feel stressed, nervous and inadequate compared to their peers — especially if they perceive that their peers have it all figured out.

I don’t think it’s reasonable to expect children to know what they want to do for the rest of their lives — many adults don’t even know that! However, it is both reasonable and responsible to encourage and guide students in this space, providing the tools and steps to engage in self-reflection, research and exploration opportunities.

Following these guided career exploration steps will expand students’ understanding of the world of work, teach them how to conduct career research and better understand details about jobs within various career fields. ( Note: These steps align with the Illinois Postsecondary and Career Expectations Standards but should be helpful to high school students anywhere. Your own state Board of Education and your student's high school guidance counseling department most likely offer similar resources.)

1. Self-Reflection

Students who are undecided about their career interests should take a career cluster inventory or career interest survey to identify one or two career fields that would be a good fit. Career cluster inventories are available on many high school, college career services and state education websites.

Many careers within a career cluster have similar skills, abilities and values. For example, perhaps a student loves music. To explore potential career options outside of music performance, that student could research the arts, audio/visual technology and communications cluster . Doing so may encourage them to consider careers in audio engineering, hospitality, music production, graphic design or telecommunications.

Additionally, students should discuss the following questions with trusted adults such as teachers, parents, school counselors, coaches or faith leaders in order to better understand their own skills, interests and strengths.

• What type of difference do you want to make in the world?
• What activities do you lose track of time doing because you enjoy them so much?
• Would you prefer to work with your hands, objects, data, people or ideas?

2. Career Research

Once students have a sense of a few career paths they might be interested in, they should use credible sources such as the ones listed below to learn more about each career.

• O*Net and O*Net Career : Explore job statistics by career cluster
• Bureau of Labor Statistics : Explore job data such as median pay and job outlook
• Careeronestop.org : Watch short videos to get overviews of different careers
• Illinois Career Information System : Watch short videos to get overviews of different careers

Specifically, students should look up the following information about each career that they’re interested in:

• Required preparation, education and licensing
• Typical daily activities, values and skills required
• Labor statistics, such as the projected job outlook, to determine if there are likely to be jobs in that field available in the future

Students should discuss their findings with their parents and/or school counselor to help determine if the careers under consideration are a good personal fit. They should also talk to their family about the affordability of each career, keeping in mind the expected entry-level salary and anticipated student loan debt associated with each.

3. Planning and Exploration

Next, students should find ways to further explore their career interests by gaining hands-on experience and getting to know people who actually have those careers.

Students can do this by:

• Conducting informational interviews (virtually or in person)
• Job shadowing to see what a day (or morning/afternoon) on the job looks like
• Touring a facility to get a sense of the workplace environment
• Participating in activities related to their career interests (i.e, summer camps, clubs, workshops, etc.)

At the same time, students should take the appropriate steps (consulting their school counselor as needed) to plan for their future career. These steps include:

• Selecting high school classes related to the future career, planning accordingly for college admissions within the major for the career field in mind
• Completing an internship or apprenticeship (some high schools offer this as a class)
• Applying for part-time jobs and performing community service within the career cluster in order to gain experience and a better understanding of the field

We know that adults spend the majority of their waking hours at work, which has a huge impact on both job and overall life satisfaction. With this in mind, it’s important to consider the value in selecting a career field that will bring contentment and spark joy. The outlined career exploration steps can be repeated as a students’ interests and experiences grow and change.

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62 Best Research Opportunities for High School Students

June 2, 2024

Hands-on laboratory-based research experiences are coveted by just about every STEM-oriented teenager on the planet. Of course, this level of demand renders research opportunities for high school students a valuable and rare commodity. Fortunately, there are a number of reputable summer programs run by universities, government agencies, and private research laboratories that afford young scientists this highly sought-after experience. Research opportunities during the actual school year are more challenging to locate as colleges are, at that time, catering to their own students, and the rigidity of the high school calendar makes participation a further challenge.

What type of research opportunities can a high school student have, anyway?

Research opportunities for high school students can range from introductory to highly advanced. Some programs focus on teaching students the fundamental skills required for research while others place students with a real working research group and allow them to contribute to legitimate experiments and papers. Your level of involvement will depend on the university or organization’s policies, your mentor, your lab team, and the type of research being conducted.

What types of research experiences look best on college applications?

Authentic, laboratory-based research experiences that you get paid for are the hardest types of positions to nail down, primarily because very few of these spots are available. Moreover, such research groups are conducting serious work—consequently, they’re looking for serious, high-achieving students who will positively enhance their dynamic. Additionally, these positions typically require a longer time commitment, with students working full-time (or close to full-time) hours for several months or even years. As such, accepting one of these positions may limit the other types of summer opportunities that you can participate in. Finally, due to safety concerns and restrictions, you will likely need to be at least 16 years old to participate in many types of lab-based research.

On the flip side are research opportunities that you pay to be involved in, with some being more selective than others. Many families wonder if these programs offer legitimate research experience or are simply another way to capitalize off of the college admissions craze, and the answer is that you have to do your homework.

Although some research opportunities offer little in the way of experience, others are truly authentic opportunities to work with a mentor and delve into an area of interest for academic enrichment—no different than any other cost-based summer program. In these cases, the fact that a student prioritized their intellectual curiosity and spent several months seriously pursuing a topic of interest will be an excellent addition to their application. We’ve gone ahead and done the hard work for you—any one of the opportunities listed below is legitimate and worthy of investing your time and resources into.

How do I decide what types of research opportunities to apply for?

If conducting research is important to you, we recommend applying to a mix of highly selective and lesser selective programs to maximize your chances of being accepted to at least one. Beyond selectivity, it’s important to consider additional several factors:

• Time commitment —Some programs may require a multi-week, full-time commitment over the summer. Others may require nights and weekends during the school year.
• Time frame —Some programs are only available in the summer while others run year-round (sometimes for multiple years).
• Cost/stipend —Do you have to pay for the program, or does the program pay you? Research whether the program will be a good fit for your financial situation, including how much it costs and if you’ll receive compensation for your work, either via academic credit or a paycheck. Note that many residential programs are cost-based while commuter programs that only accept local students are more likely to be fully funded and/or offer a stipend.
• Location —Evaluate whether you’d like to attend a local program, are willing to travel to a residential program, or would prefer a virtual option.
• Level of mentor interaction —During some programs, you’ll be closely supported by PhD faculty members, while others may be run by graduate or postdoc students and require students to be more independent.
• Opportunity to publish or enter research competitions —If publishing research or submitting your project/paper to a research competition is important to you, you’ll want to look into whether the program prepares you for that venture.

Our list includes a bevy of summer program choices as well as year-long internships and apprenticeships. We’ve divided the list into three sections: Virtual, Residential/Multi-Location, and Location-Specific.

For each entry, we list the geographic location of the program, the time frame and length of the program, any associated costs or stipends, and the eligibility criteria for participation.

Virtual Research Opportunities for High School Students

Virtual research opportunities for high school students offer ultimate flexibility, in regard to time commitment as well as subject matter.

1) Polygence

• Location : Virtual
• Timeframe : Academic year and/or summer
• Length: 2-6 months
• Cost : $495-$3,695
• Eligibility: No age restrictions

For high school students who want to showcase authentic passion on their college applications, Polygence offers the most personalized and flexible online research program that helps students turn their interests into unique research projects. Accordingly, they pair intellectually curious students with PhD-level mentors to design experiments, build robots, create podcasts, write original screenplays, and publish in peer-reviewed journals in all fields from the humanities to STEM. All 1:1 programs include ten meetings with a mentor in your chosen field as well as a self-selected project topic and outcome, which could include a research paper, a prototype, or a creative piece of work.

A multitude of personalized options are available, including additional brainstorming sessions, time with a specialist who will guide the student through the publishing or research competition process, and academic credit through UCI x GATI. Moreover, Polygence’s Pods program allows students to work with like-minded peers in a group setting.

Sound like a good fit? College Transitions readers can save $50 on their Polygence package.

Research areas available include:

• Computer science, engineering, AI, & game design
• Biology, biotech, chemistry, neuroscience, and physics
• Medicine, surgery, dentistry, and public health
• Business, finance, and economics
• Math, statistics, sports analytics, and quantitative analysis
• Psychology, psychiatry, cognitive science, and social sciences
• Creative writing, history, philosophy, and literature
• Animation, the arts, fashion, photography, and dance

Residential/Multi-Location Research Programs

In the following section, we’ve outlined programs that are residential or offer opportunities in multiple locations, making them more accessible to a wider array of students.

Programs are organized alphabetically by discipline.

Biology Research Opportunities for High School Students

2) university of chicago research in the biological sciences (ribs).

• Location : Chicago, IL
• Timeframe : Summer
• Length: 4 weeks
• Cost : $14,000
• Eligibility: Current sophomores and juniors

In UChicago’s highly selective RIBS program, students practice a range of molecular, microbiological, and cell biological research techniques. The goal? To prepare them to work in a research laboratory. Accordingly, for the first two weeks, students undergo basic training in lab skills and techniques. Then, they spend the final two weeks of the course immersed in an independent research project. At the end of the course, they present the project during a research forum. Moreover, students can expect weekly writing assignments and seminars. To be competitive, students should have a demonstrated interest in science as well as top grades in those classes.

Biomedical Research Programs for High School Students

3) rosetta institute of biomedical research molecular medicine workshops.

• Location : Berkeley; San Diego; Columbia; London; virtual
• Length: 2 weeks
• Cost : $3,580-$4,180 (residential); $2,280-$2,480 (commuter); $430-1,050 (online)
• Eligibility: High school students aged 14-18

Curious about biomedical research but not ready to pursue a full-blown lab internship? Rosetta Institute offers a number of residential and online two-week programs that introduce high schoolers to topics in medicine, drug development, pharmacy, and nursing. For example, current workshops include Medicinal Chemistry, Neurological Bioinformatics, and Molecular Biology of Cancer. All students are taught by PhD-level instructors and complete an original research project.

Chemistry Research Opportunities for High School Students

4) american chemical society — project seed.

• Location : Multiple
• Length: 8-10 weeks
• Cost : Free, and students receive a $4,000 stipend
• Eligibility: All high school students whose families meet annual income requirements, but preferably current sophomores, juniors, or seniors

Having been operational for more than fifty years, Project SEED (Summer Experiences for the Economically Disadvantaged) runs programs at over 350 institutions and has served over 12,000 students. The goal of the program is to empower a diverse cohort of high school students to conduct hands-on research experience in the chemical sciences. Accordingly, all students work full-time on meaningful independent or small group projects, are closely guided by a mentor, and either write a report or do a poster presentation at the end of their fellowship.

Genetics Research Opportunities for High School Students

5) jackson lab summer student program.

• Location : Bar Harbor, ME or Farmington, CT
• Length: 10 weeks
• Cost : Free, and students receive a $6,500 stipend plus funded room, board, and travel
• Eligibility: High school seniors can apply to the Bar Harbor program, while eligible undergrads can apply to either program.

Hoping to design and execute an original independent research project? You’ll be able to do just that through Jackson Lab’s Summer Student Program, which immerses students in one of seven areas: bioinformatics and computational biology, cancer, developmental biology and aging, genomics, immunology and infectious disease, metabolic diseases, and neurobiology and sensory deficits. Moreover, students are closely guided by a mentor and present their research at the end of the summer. Finally, the application process is intense and competitive, requiring two letters of recommendation, a transcript, a resume, evidence of a strong interest in genetics and genomics, and four essay responses.

Pre-Health Research Opportunities for High School Students

6) national institutes of health high school summer internship program.

• Location : Research groups are available at many of NIH’s 27 institutes and centers , including the main campus in Bethesda, MD
• Cost : Free; all students receive a stipend
• Eligibility: High school seniors age 17+

Through their HS-SIP Program, the National Institutes of Health places high school students in full-time research positions within their many active research groups. Subject areas include biomedical, behavioral, and social sciences, and are geared toward students who are interested in pursuing research and healthcare. Moreover, students can take part in Summer Poster Day, where they present their research to the NIH community. They also have access to professional development programs and educational/career advising.

Note that this research opportunity for high school students is extremely competitive; approximately 7% of applicants are ultimately accepted. Finally, if you are under the age of 18 when you participate in the program, you will need to live within 40 miles of the campus that you’d like to intern at.

STEM/Humanities Research Opportunities for High School Students

7) army educational outreach program—high school internships.

• Location : Various
• Timeframe : All Year
• Length: 3 months
• Cost : Free, and all interns receive a stipend
• Eligibility: All current high school students. Some sites may have additional eligibility requirements.

With programs currently available in twenty states, the Army Educational Outreach Program places high school students in university research labs or at a US Army Research Laboratory/Center. Each site has its own technical focus, from biology and materials science to cybersecurity and AI. Regardless of specialty, all interns receive formal mentorship from a professional scientist or engineer, have access to high-tech equipment, and work on relevant research that addresses a current major challenge.

8) Boston University RISE

• Location : Boston, MA
• Length: 6 weeks
• Cost : $5,350 plus room & board
• Eligibility: Current high school juniors

A residential program located on the Boston University campus, RISE offers high school students the opportunity to conduct laboratory research in one of two tracks: Internship or Practicum. Students in the Internship track work full-time on a research project that aligns with their interests, and are mentored by a faculty member, postdoc fellow, or grad student. 15 subject areas are available, including astronomy, mechanical engineering, medical laboratory research, and nutrition. Alternatively, Practicum students work in small groups on structured research related to systems neuroscience and neurobiology.

Research Opportunities for High School Students—Continued

9) michigan state high school honors science, math and engineering program.

• Location : East Lansing, MI
• Length: 7 weeks
• Cost : $4,000

HSHSP is a highly selective, residential program where students can pursue research opportunities in science, engineering, and mathematics. After learning more about the research process, students deeply explore a problem of interest while engaging in an authentic (not “fail-proof”) research experience. Along the way, they’ll work with professionals and peers in their field of interest. Finally, many students have gone on to publish their work or be recognized at prestigious research competitions.

10) MIT Research Science Institute

• Location : Cambridge, MA
• Cost : Free
• Eligibility: High school juniors

With a combined focus on academic coursework and hands-on research, RSI students first take one week of STEM coursework with MIT professors. Here, they’ll learn about current research topics in biology, chemistry, engineering, mathematics, physics, and the humanities. Then, for the remaining five weeks, students “experience the entire research cycle start to finish.” During this time, they participate in an intensive, mentored individual project experience that culminates in a written and oral presentation.

The program looks for students who are exceptionally academically talented. As such, the application process is quite intensive. PSAT Math scores must be over 740 and ACT Math scores must be over 33. In addition, students must write several essays, acquire teacher recommendations, and provide transcripts. Ultimately, only 100 students are accepted.

11) NASA Internship Programs

• Location : Various; there are 15 centers and facilities in the US. Remote opportunities may also be available.
• Timeframe : Available during the fall, spring, and summer
• Length: 10-16 weeks, depending on session
• Cost : Free; the majority of interns receive a stipend, but some are unpaid
• Eligibility: High school students aged 16+

NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) offers a number of internship opportunities for high school students. Available projects change each year and are location-specific, and not every NASA center will offer internship opportunities every session. That said, current projects span a range of subject areas, including Climate Change in the Hudson Estuary and Characterizing the Urban Land Surface Temperature. During the research internship, students will be closely mentored by a research scientist, engineer, or other professional. Note that you will need to make your own housing arrangements if you are not a local student.

Are you an undergraduate student? Check out NASA Pathways , which can provide a direct transition into full-time employment at NASA.

12) Smith College Summer Science and Engineering Program

• Location : Northampton, MA
• Length: 2-4 weeks
• Cost : $4,745 (2 weeks); $8,082 (4 weeks)
• Eligibility: Female high school students in grades 9-12; some programs have specific prerequisites

Fun fact: Smith was the first women’s college to create a program in engineering science. As such, their summer programs are an excellent place for young women to participate in hands-on, introductory research experiences. Two-week sessions are offered, and students can take one or both. Each session offers six distinct course choices. For example, the first session offers Chemistry of Herbal Medicine, Designing Intelligent Robots, and Novel Bacteriophage Discovery. Second session courses include Where the Body Meets the Mind, Supercontinents, Rocks, and Fossils, and the Art and Science of Microcontrollers. Students spend five days a week in class, attending lectures and conducting experiments & fieldwork. Additionally, the program is team-based, allowing students to learn from each other’s ideas and perspectives.

13) Stony Brook University Garcia Center Research Experience for High School Students

• Location : Stony Brook, NY
• Timeframe : Summer (with possible academic year continuation)
• Cost : $4,000 plus room & board

At the Garcia Center for Polymers at Engineered Interfaces, high school students can design an original research project in polymer science and technology during an intensive seven-week summer program. Uniquely, the research can then be continued during the academic year under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Students should be highly motivated and high-achieving, with at least three upper-level science courses under their belt. Finally, past participants have regularly published their research and won recognition in national competitions.

14) Stony Brook University Simons Summer Research Program

• Cost : Students need to cover transportation costs (if commuting) or room/board (if residential). Room/board is $2,781. Stipends are also awarded at the end of the program.

After being matched with a mentor and research team, students are fully immersed in the research process. Placement availability varies from year to year, but typically about thirty projects are available across over a dozen disciplines. These include biochemistry, computer science, geosciences, and pharmacological sciences, among others. Moreover, some have prerequisites, such as specific AP courses or previous programming experience.

All students participate in weekly faculty research talks, workshops, events, and a culminating poster symposium.

15) Summer Science Program

• Location : Astrophysics: UNC Chapel Hill, University of Colorado, Georgia College & State University, New Mexico State University; Biochemistry: Purdue, Indiana University; Genomics: Georgetown, Purdue, New Mexico State; Synthetic Chemistry : Southwestern Oklahoma State University
• Cost : $8,800 max; all program fees are scaled according to what each family can afford
• Eligibility: Current high school juniors and exceptional sophomores

The Summer Science Program offers four different immersive research programs that take place on different college campuses around the country. These include programs in astrophysics, biochemistry, genomics, and synthetic chemistry. Each program has its own research focus. For example, astrophysics students will dive into Asteroid Orbit Determination while genomics students explore Antibiotic Resistance and Directed Evolution.

Students spend six days a week in class deeply investigating their research topics and learning more about general experimental science. They also take part in guest lectures and other special programming.

16) Texas Tech University Anson L. Clark Scholars Program

• Location : Lubbock, TX
• Cost : Free; all students receive a $750 stipend upon completion of their projects
• Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors aged 17+ by the start of the program

The Clark Scholars Program is one of the only programs on this list with research disciplines in the sciences as well as the humanities. For example, current research areas include everything from nutritional sciences and mechanical engineering to history. Over the course of seven weeks, students work closely with a faculty member to complete a research paper in their discipline. They also participate in weekly seminars, discussions, and field trips.

17) University of California Santa Barbara Research Mentorship Program

• Location : Santa Barbara, CA
• Cost : $11,874 (residential); $4,975 (commuter)
• Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors

During this intensive program, students work 35-50 hours per week on an interdisciplinary research project of their choice. Nearly thirty research areas are available in both the STEM disciplines and humanities; current topics include biochemistry, computer science, history, music, and anthropology, among others. Over the course of the program, they also take two courses: Introduction to Research and Presentation Techniques. Finally, students occasionally continue their research remotely during the academic year, depending on their mentor’s availability.

18) University of California Santa Barbara Summer Research Academies

• Cost : $8,224 (residential); $2,575 (commuter)
• Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors

Running for four weeks, the UCSB Summer Research Academies allow students to earn up to four credits. While taking a university-level course that teaches fundamental research concepts, students spend the first two weeks of the program developing a research question & framework via hands-on labs. They’ll then spend the final two weeks of the course analyzing their results and building presentations. Overall, they’ll spend about 25-40 hours per week working. Finally, twelve different tracks are available; each involves multiple disciplines. For example, “Bionic Creatures” combines mechanical engineering, materials science, soft robotics, biomanufacturing, and collective motion.

19) University of California Santa Cruz Science Internship Program (SIP)

• Location : Santa Cruz, CA
• Length: 9 weeks (two weeks virtual, seven weeks in-person)
• Cost : $4,750 plus room & board
• Eligibility: High school students aged 14+, although some research groups require students to be 16+

UCSC’s SIP Program offers a wide range of research focus areas, including science and engineering as well as social science, humanities, and art. For example, over 100 projects are currently offered that include everything from “Eating Insects in Silicon Valley: Cultural Gaps Between Food-Tech and Tradition” and “Future Projected Changes in the Distribution and Variability of Ocean Chlorophyll in Climate Simulations.” Before you dive in, you’ll spend two weeks doing online research prep (this part is conducted remotely) followed by seven weeks of in-person, mentored research. Students get to engage in authentic, open-ended projects that fully immerse them in the academic research experience. Moreover, they’ll present their findings at a symposium at the end of the program.

20) University of California Davis Young Scholars Program

• Location : Davis, CA
• Cost : $6,750
• Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors who will be 16+ by the start of the program

Interested in biological, agricultural, environmental, or natural sciences? If so, UC Davis is a stellar place to explore those interests through research. All students have the opportunity to work on independent, original projects while receiving one-on-one faculty mentorship. Moreover, they each produce a journal-quality paper and symposium presentation. In addition to research, students also participate in a lecture series presented by UC Davis faculty; past topics have included forensic entomology and nutrition, among others. Finally, field trips to educational facilities like the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Bodega Bay Marine Laboratory round out the experience.

21) University of Florida Student Science Training Program

• Location : Gainesville, FL
• Cost : $5,200
• Eligibility: Rising seniors aged 16+

Thinking about a career in science, medicine, math, computer science, or engineering? UF’s Student Science Training Program could be the right fit. For thirty hours per week, you’ll work with a faculty mentor and lab team on university-level, ongoing research. Moreover, you’ll participate in a science lecture series as well as a UF Honors Program seminar class. Over the course of the program, you will write a research paper, present a poster, and give two oral presentations. Finally, social programming is included.

22) University of Iowa Secondary Student Training Program

• Location : Iowa City, IA
• Cost : $7,500

During this intensive and competitive program, students conduct research within small groups that are supported by a University of Iowa faculty member. There are twenty current active research areas, including chemistry, geography, neurology, orthopedics & rehabilitation, and religious studies. You’ll be working on your project approximately seven hours per day, attending classes in the evenings, and participating in structured activities on the weekend. Moreover, all groups will create and present a poster at the culmination of the program.

23) University of Massachusetts Amherst Summer Programs

• Location : Amherst, MA
• Cost : $3,636 (residential); $2,167 (commuter)
• Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors

UMass Amherst offers two introductory, research-focused opportunities for high school students. These are Antibiotic Resistance: A Global Health Crisis, which allows students to join the Department of Microbiology in researching new antibiotics, and Energy Without Borders, which delves into climate change, infrastructure, and green energy. In both courses, you’ll learn research methods, complete multiple lab experiences, and present a research poster. Finally, students can earn two college credits upon successful completion of the program.

Location-Specific Research Opportunities for High School Students

The following programs are not residential and only offered in a specific location. Many also only accept local students, although some do allow out-of-state students to apply. If that’s the case, you will need to secure your own living accommodations and transportation. Moreover, if you are under the age of 18, you will need to be supervised by a parent or guardian.

Programs are organized alphabetically by state.

24) California Academy of the Sciences—Careers in Science Intern

• Location : San Francisco, CA
• Focus: STEM
• Length: Multi-year (2-3 years)
• Eligibility: 9 th or 10 th grade student enrolled in an SFUSD school with a GPA of 2.5 or higher

25) Cedars Sinai INSPIRE High School

• Location : Los Angeles, CA
• Focus: Pre-Health
• Cost : Free; all students are paid
• Eligibility: High school students age 16+

26) City of Hope Summer Student Academy

• Location : Duarte, CA
• Focus: Biomedicine
• Cost : Free; all students receive a stipend of $4,000

27) Sandia National Laboratories—Internships

• Location : Livermore, CA
• Focus : STEM
• Timeframe : Academic year and summer internships available
• Length: Academic year or 10-12 weeks (summer)
• Cost : Free; all positions are paid

28) Scripps Student Research Internship Program

• Location : La Jolla, CA
• Focus : Translational science/genomics
• Cost : Free; stipends are typically offered

29) UCSF SEP High School Intern Program

• Focus : Biomedical research
• Length: 8 weeks
• Eligibility: High school juniors enrolled in an SFUSD high school, SF charter school, or College Track San Francisco

30) UCSF Summer Student Research Program

• Location : Oakland, CA
• Length: 9 weeks
• Cost : Free; all students are given a stipend between $3,000-$4,300
• Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors, aged 16+

Connecticut

31) jackson lab academic year fellowships.

• Location : Farmington, CT*
• Focus: Genetics
• Timeframe : Academic year
• Length: 1 school year
• Cost : Free; students must be able to receive academic credit for their work
• Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors age 16+ within commuting distance of the lab

*Some fully remote opportunities are available

32) Yale School of Medicine Discovery to Cure High School Internship

• Location : New Haven, CT

33) Yale University Social Robotics Lab High School Internship

• Focus: Robotics and human social behavior
• Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors aged 16+

34) Argonne National Laboratory — Exemplary Student Research Program

• Location : Lemont, IL
• Focus: Engineering
• Eligibility: Application must be completed by participating teacher

35) Chicago EYES on Cancer

• Focus : Biomedicine
• Timeframe : All year, with two 8-week summer research experiences
• Length: 2 years
• Cost : Free; all students receive $3,100 stipend
• Eligibility: High school sophomore, junior, or senior aged 16+

36) University of Kansas Biotech Research Apprentice Program

• Location : Overland Park, KS
• Focus : Biotech
• Length: Semester

37) Jackson Lab Academic Year Fellowships

• Location : Bar Harbor, ME*

38) National Cancer Institute Werner H. Kirsten Student Internship Program

• Location : Frederick, MD
• Timeframe : Academic year & summer
• Length: 1 year
• Cost : Free; academic credit available during school year, stipend provided in summer
• Eligibility: High school junior age 17+ who attends an eligible school located within a 30-mile radius of campus

39) University of Minnesota Lillehei Heart Institute Summer Research Scholars Program

• Location : Minneapolis, MN
• Focus: Cardiovascular medicine
• Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors age 16+ as well as undergraduate students

40) Coriell Institute for Medical Research

• Location : Camden, NJ
• Eligibility: High school student aged 17+

41) Princeton Laboratory Learning Program

• Location : Princeton, NJ
• Focus : Natural Sciences or Engineering
• Length: 5-6 weeks

42) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory High School Internship

• Location : Princeton, NJ*
• Focus : Physics
• Eligibility: High school seniors (program takes place summer after graduation)

*Remote projects may be available.

43) Rutgers Institute for Translational Medicine and Science Summer Research Program (RITMS)

• Location : Rutgers, NJ
• Focus : Translational medicine/science

44) Rutgers Waksman Institute Summer Experience Program

• Location : Piscataway, NJ*
• Focus : Molecular biology/bioinformatics
• Cost : $2,000
• Eligibility: High school students who have completed a high school-level biology course

*Online version of the program is also available

45) Los Alamos National Laboratory High School Internship Program

• Location : Los Alamos, NM
• Length: 11 weeks
• Eligibility: New Mexico high school seniors aged 16+

46) Sandia National Laboratories—Internships

• Location : Albuquerque, NM

47) Baruch College STEM Research Academy

• Location : New York, NY
• Timeframe : Spring/summer
• Cost : Free, but all students receive a stipend of $1,575
• Eligibility: Must be a NYC public high school sophomore junior to apply

48) Burke Neurological Institute NeuroAcademy

• Location : White Plains, NY
• Focus: Neuroscience
• Eligibility: Completion of NYS Regents Living Environment or equivalent Biology class; cumulative GPA of 3.4 or higher

49) City Tech College STEM Research Academy

• Length: Two semesters (January-August)
• Eligibility: NYC public school sophomore or junior

50) Columbia Zuckerman Institute—BRAINYAC Program

• Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors from select partner programs/schools in Upper Manhattan and the Bronx

51) HOPP Summer Student Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

• Focus: Biomedical or computational research
• Eligibility: High school students aged 14+

52) University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics Summer High School Research Program

• Location : Rochester, NY
• Focus: Laser energetics
• Eligibility: Rochester-area high school students who have completed their junior year

53) Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute

• Location : Cleveland, OH
• Timeframe : Varies; depends on lab
• Length: Varies; depends on lab

54) OHSU School of Medicine Partnership for Scientific Inquiry (PSI)

• Location : Portland, OR
• Focus: Biomedical research
• Timeframe : Academic semester + summer
• Length: 16+ weeks
• Eligibility: Oregon-based high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors aged 16+

Pennsylvania

55) fox chase cancer center high school research programs.

• Location : Philadelphia, PA
• Timeframe : During school year
• Length: 2-3 months; depends on program
• Eligibility: Philadelphia-area high school students; students must be 16+ for some programs

56) Penn State College of Medicine Research Internships

• Location : Hershey, PA
• Length: Varies; could be weeks to months depending on lab
• Cost : Paid and unpaid internships available

57) University of Pennsylvania GRASP Lab High School Internships

• Focus: Robotics
• Cost : Free; stipend typically available
• Eligibility: Rising high school senior

58) George Mason University Aspiring Scientists Internship Program (ASSIP)

• Location : Fairfax, VA*
• Eligibility: High school students aged 15+ or 16+, depending on program

*Some fully remote and hybrid opportunities are available, depending on the lab.

59) Jefferson Lab High School Summer Honors Program

• Location : Newport News, VA
• Eligibility: High school students aged 16+ who live within 60 miles of the lab

60) Virginia Tech Fralin Biomedical Research Institute Summer Research Program

• Location : Roanoke, VA
• Focus: Health behaviors research
• Cost : Free; all students receive a stipend of $4,800
• Eligibility: Rising high school junior or senior in the Roanoke Valley

61) Pacific Northwest National Laboratory High School Research Programs

• Location : Richland, WA
• Timeframe : Summer & academic year programs available
• Length: Academic year or 10 weeks (summer)
• Eligibility: High school students aged 16+; some labs may require students to be 18+

62) Seattle Children’s Hospital Research Training Program

• Location : Seattle, WA
• Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, or seniors within commuting distance of downtown Seattle

Final Thoughts—Research Opportunities for High School Students

If gaining research experience is important to you, it’s in your best interest to explore a number of different programs, evaluating whether their structure, length, cost, and outcomes are in line with your goals. Finding the right opportunity may take some time, but it will be well worth the effort required.

• Research Programs

Kelsea Conlin

Kelsea holds a BA in English with a concentration in Creative Writing from Tufts University, a graduate certificate in College Counseling from UCLA, and an MA in Teaching Writing from Johns Hopkins University. Her short fiction is forthcoming in Chautauqua .

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Unlocking Potential: Passion Projects for High School Students

Passion projects allow high school students to explore their interests, develop new skills, and create something they can be proud of. Since these projects are driven by personal passion, the process of working on them makes the experience enriching and enjoyable. These are independent of any academic requirements, fostering a space for creativity, innovation, and personal growth. If you are keen to build an impressive and authentic profile for college admissions, you must consider dedicating time and effort to work on projects that you are passionate about.

Why Passion Projects Matter

U.S. colleges review passion projects as part of a holistic evaluation of an applicant’s overall profile. When combined with traditional GPA, test scores, and extracurricular activities, these passion projects distinguish student by showcasing their unique qualities and potential. Through various activities and a well-documented project, students can demonstrate how they have developed certain practical skills, such as coding, creative writing, scientific knowledge, research skills, etc. Completing a self-initiated project fosters a sense of accomplishment and confidence in one’s abilities.

Here’s how admissions officers typically assess passion projects:

1. Authenticity

Choose a project that you are truly passionate about and demonstrate consistent enthusiasm and depth. The more authentic your project, the more it will resonate with admissions officers.

2. Initiative and Leadership

Highlight how you initiated the project, any leadership roles you took on, and how you motivated yourself and others to achieve your goals.

3. Impact and Reach

The outcome of your project should be documented, including any measurable impact. Quantifying the outcome, i.e., the number of people helped, funds raised, or awareness generated, and providing concrete evidence enhances the effectiveness of your project.

4. Growth and Learning

Discuss what the project taught you, how you grew as a person, and how it influenced your future goals or interests. This shows maturity and self-awareness.

5. Commitment and Consistency

Showing a timeline of your project showcases your commitment, dedication, and reliability.

6. Alignment with Future Goals

Connect your passion project to your future goals in your application. Explain how the project has prepared you for the course of study or career path you intend to follow.

7. Collaboration and Networking

If you have collaborated, it is important to discuss how working with others contributed to the success of the project. This shows your ability to work effectively with teams.

Ideas for Passion Projects

• Start a vlog or YouTube channel: If you are someone who loves to face the camera and has skills in editing videos, making a YouTube channel is a perfect way to show those skills. Creating meaningful videos is a unique way to showcase the depth of knowledge about a particular subject and also showcase how well you can leverage the medium to its full potential. Make sure to share it with your community and motivate them to like, subscribe, and share. Garnering a following boosts the viewership of your channel, making it a very positive outcome.
• Launch a Community Service Project Our society is full of problems. Pause from your routine life, look around, identify a problem in your community, and work on solving it. By organizing regular blood donation camps, food drives, or starting a recycling program, you can make a tangible difference.
• Develop an App or Website If technology excites you, consider developing an app or website. By creating an app that solves a problem, you can showcase your skills in problem-solving along with your coding skills.
• Write a Book or Collection of Stories Have a compelling plot to talk about? Start writing! It does not have to be a 200-page novel. It can be anything from a collection of short stories to poems or even a worldview you want to share your analysis about. Publishing it and getting your readers to write reviews enhances the credibility of the book.
• Start a School Club or Organization School is the perfect breeding ground for you to explore your passion and vision. If you are passionate about something, you can start a club at your school. There could be a range of clubs, such as the Financial Literacy Club, the Astronomy Club, the Environmental Awareness Club, and many more. This can not only enable you to bring like-minded peers together but also showcase your leadership role.
• Conduct a Research Project: If you want to link your passion project to academics, you can consider conducting a research project on a topic that you find exciting. There are many research opportunities for high school students. Through research, you can show your ability to gather data, perform experiments, or even work with a mentor from a university. Top Summer Programmes: Research Mentorship Program | Ivy Central

The first step in this process is to identify your passion. If you are someone with multiple interests, it is imperative to narrow down the most meaningful activity that you find engaging. If you do something that you love, you will love to do it well. Do not hesitate to talk to your teacher, counselor, or parents. You are sure to get a lot of support on the journey that you undertake. Besides adding value to your application, completing a passion project will bring a sense of satisfaction that will be a lifelong learning experience for you.

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The Complete Guide to Independent Research Projects for High School Students

Indigo Research Team

If you want to get into top universities, an independent research project will give your application the competitive edge it needs.

Writing and publishing independent research during high school lets you demonstrate to top colleges and universities that you can deeply inquire into a topic, think critically, and produce original analysis. In fact, MIT features "Research" and "Maker" portfolio sections in its application, highlighting the value it places on self-driven projects.

Moreover, successfully executing high-quality research shows potential employers that you can rise to challenges, manage your time, contribute new ideas, and work independently. 

This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know to take on independent study ideas and succeed. You’ll learn how to develop a compelling topic, conduct rigorous research, and ultimately publish your findings.

What is an Independent Research Project?

An independent research project is a self-directed investigation into an academic question or topic that interests you. Unlike projects assigned by teachers in class, independent research will allow you to explore your curiosity and passions.

These types of projects can vary widely between academic disciplines and scientific fields, but what connects them is a step-by-step approach to answering a research question. Specifically, you will have to collect and analyze data and draw conclusions from your analysis.

For a high school student, carrying out quality research may still require some mentorship from a teacher or other qualified scholar. But the project research ideas should come from you, the student. The end goal is producing original research and analysis around a topic you care about.

Some key features that define an independent study project include:

● Formulating your own research question

● Designing the methodology

● Conducting a literature review of existing research

● Gathering and analyzing data, and

● Communicating your findings.

The topic and scope may be smaller than a professional college academic project, but the process and skills learned have similar benefits.

Why Should High School Students Do Independent Research?

High school students who engage in independent study projects gain valuable skills and experiences that benefit and serve them well in their college and career pursuits. Here's a breakdown of what you will typically acquire:

Develop Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills

Research and critical thinking are among the top 10 soft skills in demand in 2024 . They help you solve new challenges quickly and come up with alternative solutions

An independent project will give you firsthand experience with essential research skills like forming hypotheses, designing studies, collecting and analyzing data, and interpreting results. These skills will serve you well in college and when employed in any industry.

Stand Out for College Applications

With many applicants having similar GPAs and test scores, an Independent research study offer a chance to stand out from the crowd. Completing a research study in high school signals colleges that you are self-motivated and capable of high-level work. Showcasing your research process, findings, and contributions in your application essays or interviews can boost your application's strengths in top-level colleges and universities.

Earn Scholarship Opportunities

Completing an independent research project makes you a more preferred candidate for merit-based scholarships, especially in STEM fields. Many scholarships reward students who show initiative by pursuing projects outside of class requirements. Your research project ideas will demonstrate your skills and motivation to impress scholarship committees. For example, the Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology rewards students with original independent research projects in STEM fields. Others include the Garcia Summer Program and the BioGENEius challenge for life sciences.

Gain Subject Area Knowledge

Independent projects allow you to immerse yourself in a topic you genuinely care about beyond what is covered in the classroom. It's a chance to become an expert in something you're passionate about . You will build deep knowledge in the topic area you choose to research, which can complement what you're learning in related classes. This expertise can even help inform your career interests and goals.

Develop Time Management Skills

Time Management is the skill that lets you effectively plan and prioritize tasks and avoid procrastination. With no teacher guiding you step-by-step, independent study projects require strong time management, self-discipline, and personal responsibility – skills critical in college and adulthood.

Types of Independent Research Projects for High School Students

Understanding the different types and categories can spark inspiration if you need help finding an idea for an independent study. Topics for independent research generally fall into a few main buckets:

Science Experiments

For students interested in STEM fields, designing and carrying out science experiments is a great option. Test a hypothesis, collect data, and draw conclusions. Experiments in physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, and psychology are common choices. Science experiment is best for self-motivated students with access to lab equipment.

Social Science Surveys and Studies  

Use research methods from sociology, political science, anthropology, economics, and psychology to craft a survey study or field observation around a high school research project idea that interests you. Collect data from peers, your community, and online sources, and compile findings. Strong fit for students interested in social studies.

Literary Analysis Paper

This research category involves analyzing existing research papers, books, and articles on a specific topic. Imagine exploring the history of robots, examining the impact of social media on mental health, or comparing different interpretations of a classic novel. If you are an English enthusiast, this is an easy chance to showcase your analytical writing skills.

Programming or Engineering Project

For aspiring programmers or engineers, you can take on practical student projects that develop software programs, apps, websites, robots, electronic gadgets, or other hands-on engineering projects. This type of project will easily highlight your technical skills and interest in computer science or engineering fields in your college applications

Historical Research

History research projects will allow you to travel back and uncover the past to inform the future. This research involves analyzing historical documents, artifacts, and records to shed light on a specific event or period. For example, you can conduct independent research on the impact of a local historical figure or the evolution of fashion throughout the decades. Check to explore even more history project ideas for high school students .

Artistic and Creative Works

If you are artistic and love creating art,  you can explore ideas for independent study to produce an original film, musical composition, sculpture, painting series, fashion line, or other creative work. Alongside the tangible output, document your creative process and inspirations.

Bonus Tip: Feel free to mix different ideas for your project. For example, you could conduct a literature review on a specific historical event and follow it up with field research that interviewed people who experienced the event firsthand.

How To Conduct an Independent Research Project

Now that you have ideas for project topics that match your interests and strengths, here are the critical steps you must follow to move from mere concept to completed study.

1. Get Expert Guidance and Mentorship

As a high school student just starting out in research, it is advised to collaborate with more experienced mentors who will help you learn the ropes of research projects easily. Mentors are usually professors, post-doctoral researchers, or graduate students with significant experience in conducting independent project research and can guide you through the process. 

Specifically, your mentor will advise you on formulating research questions, designing methodologies, analyzing data, and communicating findings effectively. To quickly find mentors in your research project area of interest, enroll in an online academic research mentorship program that targets high school students. You’d be exposed to one-on-one sessions with professors and graduate students that will help you develop your research and publish your findings.

The right mentor can also help transform your independent project ideas into a study suitable for publication in relevant research journals. With their experience, mentors will guide you to follow the proper research methods and best practices. This ensures your work meets the standards required, avoiding rejection from journals. 

2. Develop a Compelling Research Question

Once you are familiar with the type of independent research best suited to your strengths and interests, as explained in the previous section, the next step is to develop a question you want to answer in that field. This is called a research question and will serve as the foundation for your entire project.

The research question will drive your entire project, so it needs to be complex enough to merit investigation but clear enough to study. Here are some ts for crafting your research question:

●  Align your research question(s) with topics you are passionate about and have some background knowledge. You will spend a significant amount of time on this question.

●  Consult with your mentor teacher or professor to get feedback and guidance on developing a feasible, meaningful question

●  Avoid overly broad questions better suited for doctoral dissertations. Narrow your focus to something manageable, but that still intrigues you.

●  Pose your research question as an actual question, like "How does social media usage affect teen mental health?" The question should lay out the key variables you'll be investigating.

●  Ensure your question and desired approach are ethically sound. You may need permission to study human subjects.

●  Conduct preliminary research to ensure your question hasn't already been answered. You want to contribute something new to your field.

With a compelling research question as your compass, you're ready to start your independent study project. Remember to stay flexible; you may need to refine the question further as your research develops.

3. Set a Timeline and Write a Proposal

After defining your research question, the next step is to map out a timeline for completing your research project. This will keep you organized and help you develop strong time management skills.

Start by creating a schedule that outlines all major milestones from start to finish. In your schedule, allow plenty of time for research, experimentation, data analysis, and compiling your report. Always remember to build in some cushion for unexpected delays.

Moreover, you can use tools like Gantt charts to design a timeline for an independent research project . Gantt charts help you visualize your research project timeline at a glance. See the video below for a tutorial on designing a Gantt chart to plan your project schedule:

[YouTube Video on How to Make a Gantt Chart: https://youtu.be/un8j6QqpYa0?si=C2_I0C_ZBXS73kZy ]

Research Proposal

To have a clear direction of the step-by-step process for your independent study, write a 1-2 page research proposal to outline your question, goals, methodology, timeline, resources, and desired outcomes. Get feedback from your mentor to improve the proposal before starting your research. 

Sticking to your timeline requires self-discipline. But strive to meet your goals and deadlines; it will build invaluable real-world skills in time and project management. With a plan in place, it's time to move forward with your research.

4. Do Your Research

This is the active phase where a student is conducting a research project. The specific method you will follow varies enormously based on your project type and field. You should have your methodology outlined in your approved research proposal already. However, most independent research has a similar basic process:

• Review existing studies : Perform a literature review to understand current knowledge on your topic and inform your own hypothesis/framework. Read relevant studies, articles, and papers.
• Create methodology materials : Design your independent research methodology for gathering data. This may involve experiments, surveys, interviews, field observations, or analysis of existing artifacts like texts or datasets.
• Permissions and Equipment :  Secure any necessary equipment and permissions. For example, if doing interviews, you'll need a recording device and consent from participants.
• Collect your data : For science projects, perform experiments and record results. For surveys, recruit respondents and compile responses. Gather enough data to draw valid conclusions.
• Analyze the data using appropriate techniques : Quantitative data may involve statistical analysis, while qualitative data requires coding for themes. Consult your mentor for direction.
• Interpret the findings : Take care not to overstate conclusions. Look for patterns and relationships that shed light on your research question. Always maintain rigorous objectivity.

While a student's project methodology and its execution are unique, ensure you follow the standard practices in your field of interest to ensure high-quality acceptable results. You can always refer to the plan in your research proposal as you diligently carry out the steps required to execute your study. Ensure you have detailed records that document all your processes.  

5. Write Your Final Paper and Presentation

Once you've completed your research, it's time to summarize and share your findings with the world by writing the final paper and designing its presentation. This involves synthesizing your work into clear, compelling reporting.

Drafting the paper will likely involve extensive writing and editing. Be prepared to go through multiple revisions to get the paper polished. Follow the standard format used in academic papers in your field;  your mentor can provide you with examples of independent study related to yours. The final product should include: 

• Abstract : A short summary of your project and conclusions.
• Introduction : Background on your topic, goals, and research questions.
• Literature Review : Summary of relevant existing research in your field.
• Methods : Detailed explanation of the methodology and process of your study.
• Results : Presentation of the data and main findings from your research. Using visual representations like charts was helpful.
• Discussion : Objective interpretation and analysis of the results and their significance.
• Conclusion : Summary of your research contributions, limitations, and suggestions for future work.
• References/Bibliography : Full citations for all sources referenced.

Adhere to clear academic writing principles to keep your writing objective and straightforward. Generally, stick to a 10-15 page length limit appropriate for student work. However, you may need to write more depending on your project type.

6. Research Presentation

After writing your research project report, you should prepare a presentation to share your research orally. Moreover, a research presentation is a tangible opportunity to practice public speaking and visual communication skills. Your presentation will include slides, handouts, demonstrations, or other aids to engage your audience and highlight key points in your independent study project.

Once you have written your final paper, you will likely want to publish it in relevant journals and publications. For detailed tips see our guide on how to publish your student research paper . Some options you have to formally publish your high school-level independent research include:

• Submitting your paper to academic journals and competitions
• Presenting at symposiums and science fairs
• Sharing on online research databases
• Adding your work to college applications

Publishing your independent project allows you to share your findings with broader scholarly and student audiences. It also helps amplify the impact of all your hard work.

Independent Research Project Examples

To spark creative ideas for independent research projects, it can be helpful to read through and examine examples of successful projects completed by other high school students in recent years. Here are some inspiring examples:

●  Using machine learning to diagnose cancer based on blood markers (bioinformatics)

●  Applying feature engineering and natural language processing to analyze Twitter data (data science)

●  Investigating connections between stress levels and HIV/AIDS progression (health science)

●  The Relationship between Color and Human Experience

These published i ndependent research project examples demonstrate the impressive research high schoolers take on using the Indigo research service with mentors from different fields. Let these case studies motivate your creative investigation and analysis of the best ideas for your project.

Need Mentorship for Your Independent Research Project?

As outlined in this guide, conducting a rigorous independent research study can be challenging without proper guidance from experts, especially for high school students. This is why partnering with an experienced research mentor is so crucial if your goal is to produce publishable research work.

With Indigo's structured research programs and ongoing expert feedback, you can elevate your high school independent study to a professional level. To get matched with the perfect research mentor aligned with your academic interests and passions, apply to Indigo Research now.

Indigo Research connects high school students with PhD-level researchers and professors who provide one-on-one mentorship through the entire research process - from refining your initial topic idea all the way through analyzing data, writing up results, and finalizing your findings.

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A Guide to Pursuing Research Projects in High School

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Most common high school pursuits and interests can be fit fairly neatly into the academic or extracurricular categories. There are of course required courses that you take, and then there are the activities that you pursue outside of school hours, usually for your own enjoyment. You may play on a sports team, participate in a service project, or pursue visual arts. In most cases, even if your interests are somewhat untraditional, you can somehow package them in a way that neatly qualifies them as an extracurricular activity.

But what if your interests outside of school are more academic in nature? What if you’ve long been fascinated by the potential that carbon sequestration holds to limit the effects of climate change? What if you’re interested in the history of civil disobedience, or the ability of exams to measure actual comprehension? Whatever the case may be, there are some topics of interest that just don’t fit neatly into any extracurricular club or activity.

If you find yourself longing to pursue an interest such as this, you might consider conducting your own research project. While the concept may seem daunting at first, if you break it down into smaller, manageable tasks, you’ll quickly find that you probably already have the skills necessary to get started.

In this post, we will outline the process for conducting a long-term research project independently, including several avenues for pursuing recognition of your work and a step-by-step guide to completing your project. If you’re interested in pursuing an independent research project during high school, keep reading.

Why Pursue an Independent Research Project?

An independent research project is a great way to explore an area of interest that you otherwise would not get to learn about outside of school. By undertaking a research project on your own, not only will you explore a personal area of interest in more depth, but also you will demonstrate your dedication to pursuing knowledge for the sake of learning and your ability to work independently over a prolonged period.

Independent research projects, when conducted well and presented appropriately on a college application, can be a great advantage to you on your college admissions.

How to Choose a Topic for a Research Project

If you’re interested in pursuing a research project, you probably already have a topic in mind. In fact, the desire to conduct a research project usually stems from an existing interest, not just from the idea to conduct research on a vague or undetermined subject matter.

You should aim to narrow your research project to something that has some academic relevance. Perhaps it is related to your existing coursework. Maybe it reflects work you hope to pursue in the future, either academically or professionally. Try to fine-tune your project enough that you can easily explain the driving force behind it and its relevance to your future career path.

While you don’t need to decide on your exact topic or thesis quite yet, you should have a general idea of what your project will entail before moving forward.

Are There Existing Avenues for Undertaking a Research Project At Your School?

While you could certainly conduct your research project completely independently from your school, it is usually easier and more productive to conduct it in a way that is somehow connected to the rest of your schooling.

If the project is STEM-oriented, think about whether it would fit into a science fair or other STEM competition in which your school already competes. Also consider the AP Capstone Program if your school offers it. The second course in this sequence is AP Research , and it requires an in-depth research project as its culminating assessment.

If neither of these formal avenues are available, or neither provides a good fit, look into the possibility of pursuing your project as an independent study. If your school offers independent studies for credit, you can usually get information about them from your adviser. These types of projects usually require an extended application process that must be followed closely if you want to gain approval.

Finally, even if you can’t take advantage of one of the options above, if you have achieved advanced standing or enough credits, your school might still allow you to undertake an extended individual research project through some type of formal arrangement. Talk with a teacher, mentor, or adviser to learn what your options are. Clearly communicate your innate desire to learn more about this specific topic and be prepared to give some background on the issue that you want to research.

Steps for Undertaking the Research Project

1. find a mentor or adviser.

You will need someone to help guide and advise your work, so finding a willing and able mentor should be one of your first steps. This should ideally be a person with existing expertise in the subject area you wish to pursue. In the least, this person should share your interest and passion for the topic.

A teacher at your school who can also serve as an adviser is ideal, and may even be a requirement if you are formally pursuing the project as an independent study for credit. If that is not possible, you can certainly find a mentor somewhere else, even remotely if necessary.

Find out if your subject matter pertains to any local industries or companies, or if there are any scientists or professionals nearby who specialize in it. Consider checking the instructors of local summer programs or judges from past science fairs at your school.   Also consider a professional who has written an article that interested you in the field.

Before you approach a mentor to request their help, familiarize yourself with his or her work. Be able to speak articulately about what has drawn you to him or her specifically. Put some thought into informed questions you might ask him or her. Be upfront about your needs if you are going to require any specific guidance or extended time or energy from your mentor. It might be difficult to find someone at first, but keep trying. Finding a mentor for your project is an important step.

2. Set a Timeline and Stick to It

Once you’ve found a mentor, you can get started laying out the timeline for your project. When you do this, list each step of your project as specifically as possible. These will include at a minimum: background research, writing a thesis statement, in depth research phase, outlining your final paper, drafting your paper, editing your paper, and publishing your paper.

You will probably have a completion date in mind, whether it’s required by the school or simply the end of the semester or school year. Work backwards from your completion date to set a realistic timeframe for each of these steps.

It helps to have a calendar displayed prominently with your deadlines listed clearly on it to keep you on track. Also be sure to put your deadlines into your school assignment book or Google calendar so that you can see how they overlap and affect your other commitments.

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3. Conducting Research

After you’ve completed your deadline calendar, you’re ready to get started with the fun stuff:   the actual research. There are many sources for finding high quality research materials. You can use your school library, your local library, and sometimes even the library at local colleges or universities. Sometimes the libraries at colleges are open only to registered students and faculty, but if you contact a library official or a member of the department related to your research project, you might be able to gain access for research purposes.

You may also take advantage of online research tools. Google Scholar is a good place to find peer-reviewed, high quality publications. You may also find out if your school has a subscription to any online research databases like Ebsco , or JSTOR . These databases provide digital compilations of hundreds of research journals, both current and archived.    

Be careful what you choose to use as sources, though. You need to ensure that every source you rely on is high-quality and fact-based. Many internet resources now are not as accurate as they might appear. Some are outdated and some are just wrong. Remember that just about anyone can publish something online these days, so you can’t rely on information that you find on just any old website. Be particularly wary of pages like Wikipedia that look like fact-based resources but are actually drawn from unfiltered user submissions.

As you research your topic, take careful notes to track your work. Choose a system to organize your notes, such as writing on notecards that can be easily organized, or using different colored pens to color code different subtopics of your research. By carefully organizing your notes, you’ll be better set up to organize your paper.

4. Organize Your Paper

Once you’ve completed the research phase of your project, you’re ready to organize your paper. Go through your notes carefully to see how they support your thesis. If they don’t, be prepared and open to changing your thesis. Always allow the research to guide the direction of your paper, and not vice versa.

Organize your notes into the order that makes most sense in your paper. Use them to guide an outline of your paper. Once they are in order, write out a rough outline of your paper.

Prewriting is an important step to writing your paper. It allows you to go into the drafting phase with as much preparation as possible so that your writing will have a clear direction when you begin.

5. Write Your Paper 

After your organization and prewriting, you’re ready to draft your paper. Try to break this phase up into smaller pieces so that you don’t burn out. Your final product will probably be one of the longest papers you’ve ever written, usually ranging from 15-30 pages depending on your subject, so you’ll want to pace yourself.

Break up your writing deadlines into more specific sub-deadlines to help guide your work. Set goals for completing the introduction, various sections of the body, and your conclusion.

6. Edit Your Paper 

There will be multiple stages of editing that need to happen. First, you will self-edit your first draft. Then, you will likely turn a draft of your paper in to your mentor for another round of editing. Some students even choose to have a peer or family member edit a draft at some point. After several rounds of editing, you will be prepared to publish your work.

7. Publish Your Work

Publication sounds like a very official completion of your project, but in reality publishing can take many different forms. It’s really just the final draft of your project, however you decide to produce it.

For some students, publication means submitting a draft of your project to an actual journal or formal publication. For others, it means creating a polished draft and a display board that you will present at a school or public event. For still others it might just be a polished, final draft bound and turned into your mentor.

However you decide to publish your work, be mindful that this should be a reflection of an entire semester or year of work, and it should reflect the very height of your learning and abilities. You should be proud of your final product.

If you’re a high school student with in-depth interests in a subject area that doesn’t fit neatly into any of your existing extracurriculars or academic courses, you should consider pursuing a research project to reflect your interest and dedication. Not only will your pursuit allow you to further explore a subject that’s interesting to you, but also it will be a clear example of your independence and commitment on your college applications.

Looking for help navigating the road to college as a high school student? Download our  free guide for 9th graders  and our  free guide for 10th graders . Our guides go in-depth about subjects ranging from  academics ,  choosing courses ,  standardized tests ,  extracurricular activities ,  and much more !

For more information about research and independent projects in high school, check out these posts:

• Ultimate Guide to the AP Research Course and Assessment
• How to Choose a Project for Your AP Research Course
• How to Get a Research Assistant Position in High School
• An Introduction to the AP Capstone Diploma
• How to Choose a Winning Science Fair Project Idea
• How to Plan and Implement an Independent Study in High School

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