By Jonathan, IvyWise Master Tutor and Project Mentor
Looking for a way to stand out in your college applications? An independent research project offers an opportunity to develop valuable skills and delve into areas of personal interest. Whether you’re exploring an interest in psychology, reimagining a historical figure for the 21st century, or studying the impact of pollution on your local waterways, you can create something tangible and impactful to boost your college applicant profile.
An independent research project is a self-directed exploration of a specific topic or question that interests you. You have complete control over the entire research process, which allows you to go deeper than you would in a regular classroom setting. Ultimately, you will produce a research paper, scientific experiment, creative work, or programming project that can potentially contribute to your field of interest.
Colleges and universities highly value research experience — the deep knowledge you’ll gain during your research will show admissions committees you’re a specialist in your chosen topic and can handle the rigors of college-level work. Additionally, you will develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills that will serve you well in college and beyond. An independent research project provides you with an opportunity to contribute original findings or insights to the existing scholarship.
The best research topic is one that genuinely excites you. Your enthusiasm will drive your research, and you will enjoy it more. However, it’s also important for you to consider these other factors.
Now that you know what factors to take into consideration, let’s look at some examples of research topics you could investigate.
| Category | Topics |
| Technology and Innovation |
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| Environmental Science and Sustainability |
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| Health and Medicine |
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| Social Issues and Culture |
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| Education and Learning |
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| Business and Economics |
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| Arts and Humanities |
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Working on an independent project allows you to take ownership of your learning and engage with your interests in a deeper, more personal way. You can also present your research in fun and creative ways, like starting your own blog or creating a photography series to document your findings.
Explore a topic of interest in a powerful and multifaceted way through art. If you plan to pursue an art degree, you can even include this project in your art portfolio for college.
Science fairs, math olympiads, coding camps, or robotics competitions can provide you with a great foundation in STEM before you head off to college. However, there are myriad high school projects that can help you stand out from other STEM applicants when you apply to college. Here are just a few:
What if you can create a valuable learning opportunity and improve your school at the same time? Look for ways to tie school beautification with a research project. Bonus: You can enlist your peers, faculty, and staff.
When you combine community service with a research project, it’s a win-win for everyone. Consider some of these community service ideas for high school students:
Colleges appreciate outside-the-box thinking. These projects offer a fun and fresh approach.
Have you ever wondered what Frederick Douglass might think if he could peek into our modern world? This independent project involves nerding out over the historical figure you most appreciate and find intriguing.
You could identify and dig deep into primary and secondary source texts, like letters and speeches, that allow you to view the world the way they did and really get into this person’s mind. You could then create a social media profile on the platform of your choice for your historical figure and comment on current events from their perspective. Or it could be a lifestyle or advice microblog in which you fully inhabit your figure’s persona and give it a 21st century twist.
Bonus points if you develop a following among not only fellow history nerds but also others who become interested in your figure’s unique perspective on our world today. Dive deep into the historical rabbit hole and see what kind of neat insights it can bring to bear on today’s world!
For those of you studying a foreign language: Why not dive into the deep end by using social media to improve your skills? What better way to prove to the world that you are getting better at this language than by actively interacting with native speakers? The world is literally at your fingertips, thanks to social media. This project could entail a crash course on grammar and vocabulary to cover the fundamentals and then proceed to enrich your learning with a thematic focus based on your interests.
For instance, if you’re passionate about humanitarian relief work, why not expand your network and get in touch with professionals who are having those conversations in their native language? Who knows? Maybe one day you could get an internship, a volunteering opportunity, or even make a career out of what began as a high school project! In addition to a professional network, some of the contacts you make could even turn into friends.
Have you ever noticed that we have somewhat different personalities depending on the language we’re speaking? This would be a great opportunity to learn more about yourself and to share some of who you are with native speakers of other languages who are your age. You could review movies, series, music artists, etc., and see your proficiency improve by leaps and bounds.
Have you considered doing an independent research project through a research mentorship and getting your results published? You could learn the ins-and-outs of how to do academic research at the college level, exploring academic journals and databases, keeping your research findings organized with a reference management system, and, ultimately, writing an academic journal-caliber article on your favorite subject to submit for consideration among student publications or even professional journals!
As a published author, you can really stand out among your fellow college applicants and demonstrate that you already possess critical academic research skills, which many incoming students lack. Are you excited about the prospect of translating your intellectual passions into a top-notch academic project to wow admissions committees, and hopefully, also contribute much-needed knowledge to the world? Bonus points if you end up doing so in a foreign language!
Finding new and creative ways to engage with your interests can help you stand out when applying to college. Turn your passions into a unique and promising project, thus improving your college admission chances while having some fun along the way! To learn how we offer guidance on completing independent projects, contact us today.
When most students think of tutoring, academic support and test preparation are likely the first two things to come to mind. While both are undoubtedly important components of tutoring, students also have the opportunity to receive guidance on independent projects through mentorship.
In the highly competitive world of college admissions, high school students seek every possible advantage to distinguish themselves from their peers. One significant, yet often overlooked, strategy is engaging in research mentorship — a unique opportunity to deeply explore an academic area of interest, develop critical skills, and demonstrate intellectual curiosity and a commitment to academic excellence. These attributes can substantially enhance your appeal to college admissions committees.
As the college admissions landscape has evolved, these are the more common questions I am getting from students and their families. Yes, grades and test scores remain pivotal, but that’s just the first hurdle. What makes the difference between being admitted, deferred, or denied is a student distinguishing themselves uniquely — what we call being “pointy.”
“But what about the kids who start charities and do cancer research?” a mother asked me recently. She, like many others, was concerned about how her daughter’s list of extracurricular activities would stack up next to a group of lauded, accomplished high school seniors on her college applications.
