Scholar Launch offers a variety of virtual research programs to middle and high school students who are determined to excel in higher education. Our group and 1-on-1 research cohorts are designed to prepare our scholars for the rigors of college life, encourage them to ask critical, thought-provoking questions about the world around them, and ultimately enrich students’ intellectual abilities outside the classroom.

To make this possible, we partner with a diverse array of distinguished Faculty Advisors (FAs) and Teachers’ Assistants (TAs) from around the world, each with elite credentials across academia. We take a hands-on approach to virtual education by working closely with each student to ensure a successful online learning experience. Also, the relationships our scholars build with their mentors often lead to letters of recommendation, a priceless addition to any college application. 

Conducting advanced research in secondary school (middle and high school) entails students engaging in college-level inquiry by designing focused research questions, analyzing data, reviewing the literature, and producing scholarly output aligned with collegiate academic standards.

Conducting an original research project can help students demonstrate the traits (such as passion, intellectual curiosity, initiative, independence, and leadership) that Ivy League schools value most in their applicants.

Students who participate in extracurricular research programs and study advanced subjects can also showcase their comfort with academic rigor and their commitment to the major they plan to pursue in college. They can even connect their research experience to other after-school activities, weaving a cohesive narrative in their academic profile that paints a unique picture for admissions officers, thereby showcasing intellectual flexibility and scholarly creativity.

Research is a high-impact academic activity that demonstrates advanced skills and intellectual fortitude. While it certainly differs from sports, clubs, volunteering, and other after-school activities, it can still complement those extracurriculars in an academic profile.

Debate, robotics, coding, science Olympiads, writing clubs, Model UN, and community service often align well with research themes.

No, our programs are designed for beginners and advanced students alike. Mentors teach students how to do research step by step.

Students can use their Scholar Launch project as a starting point for competing in a future, long-term science fair, but this isn’t the primary purpose of our research programs.

While individual Faculty Advisors and Teaching Assistants may have such experience or even be involved in the competitions, the primary goal of our research programs is to help our students produce original work and learn advanced research methodology.

Our groups are very small, with a maximum of five students. When the cohort of admitted students is finalized, we send around a timesheet in which students indicate their availability so we can determine a time that works best for everyone.

Co-curricular activities academically support classroom learning. Research absolutely qualifies because it deepens subject mastery and problem-solving skills.

Junior research programs are entry-level cohorts for middle school students. They invite younger students to explore interests and gain a comprehensive understanding of advanced subjects.

Advanced research programs, however, are designed to help high school students conduct advanced research at the collegiate level and produce high-quality academic research papers that enhance college applications.

Yes. Many of our scholars strive to publish their final work, and our Teaching Assistants are there to help them accomplish this goal. We advise students to research a range of publication outlets before submitting to one.

If a student gets rejected by a research journal, they’ll typically receive detailed feedback that they can apply before resubmitting for publication. For students with a tight admission timeline, some of our publication partners can offer “pre-print” services to help expedite the review process.

Ultimately, it is the student’s responsibility to complete their paper, and it is the student’s decision about how they wish to publish or otherwise disseminate their work. Our instructors and education team will provide them with tailored advice on the opportunities awaiting their paper or project.

Each student selects their own research topic and writes their own paper. It is important to us that every student achieves their own independent outcome from our research programs. Students also work one-on-one with the Teaching Assistant. The group format is only for the sessions with the professor, to maximize the seminar-style experience and collective learning opportunity.

Yes, we can offer additional TA sessions for a small additional fee.

You can contact our program coordinator with 24 hours’ notice. Where possible, the team will send you a recorded session with all the class materials and review your progress to ensure you are up to date.

Group research programs usually have a pre-determined research topic and schedule. One-on-one research programs, however, are customizable and self-paced.

One-on-one research participants also have two extra sessions with the Faculty Advisor and a better chance to earn a letter of recommendation. Also, one-on-one research programs cost more.

We don’t guarantee letters of recommendation, primarily because it’s unethical. A “guaranteed” letter would mean that we have a template to use for all students, regardless of academic performance. This strongly violates academic integrity.

We encourage students to earn their letters of recommendation by actively participating during live sessions and completing high-quality work on time. Most professors would happily recommend a diligent and responsible student to selective colleges, but recommendations must be earned.

Yes, absolutely. Some students take longer than others, but if you consistently commit 4 hours a week, you should have no problem completing a 6 to 10-page research paper with proper citations. However, it’s essential to follow the advice of your instructors and choose a suitably narrow research topic.