What is Scholar Launch?

Scholar Launch offers middle and high school students virtual research programs that are accessible from anywhere in the world and cover topics in STEM, social sciences, humanities, business, art, and architecture. The programs are available in spring, summer, winter, and fall segments and are designed to prepare our scholars for the rigors of university and professional life by challenging them to ask critical, thought-provoking questions about the world around them. 

Advanced Research Programs for Middle and High School Students

Students participating in our group research programs are given an in-depth education on advanced subjects they may not be exposed to in a typical classroom setting. Topics like artificial intelligence and machine learning, cybersecurity, cancer biology, social justice, and sustainable architecture are particularly popular, but each season offers fun new avenues for students to explore. For instance, middle school students interested in extracurricular STEM research can now apply to the junior group research program “The Science of Sharks and Rays: A Dive into the Biology and Ecology of Elasmobranch Fishes.”

Within each cohort, students can explore and hone the research topic that suits them best with the help of their mentors. Scholar Launch partners with a worldwide network of over 300 highly accomplished, well-respected instructors fortified with pristine professional and academic records. Our esteemed Faculty Advisors (FAs) and Teaching Assistants (TAs) are all either based at reputable universities, working as leaders in their industries, or both. 

For 10 to 12 weeks, FAs guide students through 6 group sessions that explore critical questions related to the research program. For instance, students participating in the Humanities and Social Science program “The Business of Digital Media: How Do Enterprises Leverage Technology, Media and Innovations?” are challenged with questions like:

• How do legacy digital media firms respond to disruptions to their business models? What makes adaptations possible or risky?

• What companies, apps, or games have changed how people relate to their phones and each other?

• How will emerging technologies impact journalism and globalization?

As students learn to think critically about abstract concepts, they also take advantage of the six one-on-one sessions they get with their TAs. These hands-on mentors work with our young scholars by guiding them through research methodology and academic writing. They also provide students with written feedback and walk them through research paper revisions and publication. Many of our students have gone on to publish their research and earn letters of recommendation from their FAs, a priceless addition to any college application. 

And group programs aren’t all we offer. Our accelerated research programs, or ARPs, are designed to benefit students on a time crunch. ARP middle and high school participants can achieve the same tangible results as group research program participants in 4 weeks rather than 10 to 12. We also offer highly customizable, one-on-one research programs for high school students with niche interests who prefer to work independently. And for students who aren’t quite sure what to study yet, our Research Interest Exploration Program introduces participants to a variety of different subjects, including:

• Applied math

• Neuroscience

• Clinical psychology

• Earth and environmental science

• Public health

• Sociology

• International business

• Religious studies

Scholar Launch’s Mission

We’ve talked before about how participating in research programs can significantly enhance students’ college applications. Studies have shown that college admissions officers have begun to reward applications that reflect extracurricular research experience, with top institutions like Harvard and The University of Pennsylvania reflecting the trend. Ultimately, our mission is to help as many students as possible reach their academic goals and earn acceptance into their dream schools. Scholar Launch alumni have gone on to be admitted into top schools around the world, like:

• University of Oxford 

• University of Cambridge 

• Imperial College 

• Carnegie Mellon University 

• University of Chicago 

• University of Texas at Austin

• Stanford University 

• Harvard University 

• Princeton University 

• Columbia University 

• University of Pennsylvania 

• Dartmouth College 

• Cornell University

• University of California, Los Angeles 

• Hong Kong University

• McGill University 

We know there are questions in our industry that raise skepticism about the equitability of academic programs like the ones we offer, and we’ve addressed these challenges before. 

However, the reality is we work to make sure all students can take advantage of our research opportunities, regardless of their socioeconomic background. Because the world is changing and young people need to be prepared to keep up. This is the age of information, and with the help of our faculty and staff, we’re fortifying our students’ minds with intellectual flexibility, critical thinking, curiosity, and emotional intelligence. It’s our job to prepare our scholars for the complex, competitive landscapes of academia and beyond. And we’re proud to do what we do on a daily basis.