Many students believe that research is something meant for college students or graduate-level academics. However, high school students can also engage in meaningful research, gaining valuable skills and experiences. Participating in research projects and publishing findings can enhance their resumes and set them apart when applying for colleges or scholarships.
As per the report titled Number of Academic Papers Published Per Year, over 5 million academic papers are being published every year. This highlights the vast opportunities available in the research world, even for high school students. By choosing research topics that align with their skills and interests, students can make significant contributions and build a strong foundation for their future.
Let’s dive deep into the details of the best 6 opportunities that high school students can opt out of for research in 2025.
How Can High School Students Participate In Research?
As per Ivy Scholars, some fields are easier to research than others when it comes to conducting research online. These include chemistry, biology, and other topics in the medical field. Economics and political science are other fields that offer exciting research options to students. For other subjects like maths and physics, high schoolers have to get help from a professional assignment writing service. Such platforms usually have access to top-class resources that normal students don’t have.
Here’s how high school students can take an active part in research:
- Working with a lab assistant or a professor
- Researching independently on hard sciences
- Joining a research team
- Joining different research-based internships
- Non-formal school projects
A List of 6 Exciting Research Opportunities for High School Students
As a high schooler, there is no better way to solidify your interests and get impeccable success than by doing your research. If you have ever wondered how different high school students have a resume full of immersive projects and achievements, research programs are the answer to your question.
Now is the time to explore those research opportunities for high-school students in further depth.
1. SAMS
SAMS (Summer Academy for Math and Science) by Carnegie Mellon University is a merit-based and fully funded program, and high school students can join it without any cost. To be eligible for it, the students must be 16 years of age, permanent residents, or US citizens, and they should also be high school juniors at the time of submission of the application.
Underrepresented students can explore different STEM fields using this research program, which is basically designed to deepen their understanding of these subjects in the traditional classroom setting.
It has the following two parts:
- Part one happens virtually before the start of a virtual program and focuses on the building of personal skills.
- Part two is a 5-week program offered to students where they have to go into the residence halls and participate in the full-day meetings and courses.
However, one condition is that students are expected to participate in this program throughout its duration, and they cannot join programs of a similar nature if they get picked for SAMS. The course is taught by famous staff and faculty who are dedicated to the success of students.
2. MIT PRIMES
This is yet again a free and year-long research program that provides high school students with the opportunity to conduct research of different types. Depending on your interests, you can pick any program and then do the necessary research for the publication of your papers.
The students are basically guided to conduct research projects related to the following subjects:
- Computer Science
- Computational Biology
- Mathematics and more
The MIT PRIMES program is specially designed for the students who live near Boston. Usually, it is divided into the following 4 parts:
- PRIMES
- Menezes Challenge PRIMES Circle
- PRIMES-USA
- Yuliya’s Dream
Furthermore, high school students can also access some other research programs that provide the same exposure to students, but they are designed for students who come from underrepresented backgrounds. Also, the duration of other courses is quite short compared to the MIT Primes course.
3. University of Illinois – High School Summer Research Program
The Cambridge Centre for International Research has ranked this platform as the third-best online research opportunity for high school students. The students enrolled in the 9th to 11th classes coming from Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Kentucky, Wisconsin, and Iowa are most likely to participate in this research program.
The most basic research areas covered by this university are the following:
- Neuroscience
- Artificial Intelligence
- Cancer Immunology
- Quantum Mechanics
- Physics
- Electrical engineering
- Bioengineering
Also, the participants will have to work with established researchers in the field of engineering. High school students can attend weekly seminars on different topics that interest them. They are also encouraged to display their work at a symposium and the poster of research at the completion of the research program.
4. Immerse Education
This foundation specialises in improving the educational experiences of students who want to secure admission into the Ivy League and Oxbridge colleges. It offers one of the best virtual research opportunities for high school students.
Students can choose to research any of the following areas:
- Coding
- Architecture
- Law
- Psychology
- History
- Creative writing
- Medicine
High school students in the age group of 13-18 are urged to join this research body, i.e., Immerse Education, as it equips them with the skills necessary to get into the top-ranking colleges in the UK. Most likely, they will learn how to write perfect assignments for the same purpose.
5. The Lumiere Research Scholar Program
This is one of the best summer research opportunities for high school learners, and scholars from Oxford and Harvard founded it. This program enables students to take part in an independent research project where they have a chance to work one-on-one with a dedicated mentor.
Following the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, you can study a range of topics, including STEM subjects, humanities, and other social sciences. The three main course options that this program offers to the high school students are the following:
- Lumiere research fellowship
- Premium research and publication program
- Individual research program
These programs help the students publish their papers in a journal and assist them in crafting papers at the college level. At the completion of these courses, students can glimpse into and know how to enter the world of academia after knowing all the ins and outs of it.
6. Simons Summer Research Program
This research program is highly picky, and it is offered to high school students who can conduct hands-on research with different faculty mentors coming from Stony Brook. Attracting applicants from all parts of the country, it was first founded in 1984. The Simons fellows can be paired with a faculty member who provides them with expert guidance on different research areas.
The high school students are expected to do the following when attending the Simons Summer Research Program, among other medical research opportunities for high school students:
- Learn valuable techniques
- Spend their time at a famous university for research
- Develop skills for creativity and independence
- Developing aptitude for hands-on research work
- Getting a glimpse of the scientific world
The main objective of the research courses offered by this body is to inspire students to pursue careers in science. They can learn valuable techniques related to different science disciplines and experience what it feels like to spend life at a major research institute such as a university.
Where Can I Publish My Research as A High School Student?
For any student who is looking to enter into higher education, the research papers they publish are considered a strong asset for a winning college admission application. To cast an even more positive impact on the admission officers, you should go for the publication of peer-reviewed research work.
As per In Genius Prep, the top 5 best research journals that high schoolers can pick to publish their work are the following:
- Journal of Emerging Investigators (JEI)
- The Young Researcher
- The Concord Review
- Journal of High School Science
- National High School Journal of Science
Conclusion
You can consider all these research options and opportunities to utilise your academic potential. Engaging in any kind of research in high school is the best way to demonstrate to the admission officers that you are intellectually curious and want to expand your mind beyond the traditional high school environment.
Doing the research, yourself and publishing it online can seem daunting, but the route of knowledge and discovery is open to all. When you need any help, premium assignment writing companiesin the UK are always there to assist. You can hire them to craft new papers, research on your behalf, or even check your papers for improvements.
Further, even if you are not directly working with scientists in a lab, you can still reach out to them. You should definitely contact the professors who have written papers similar to those of yours. From there, you can ask them for advice and also dig out some networking opportunities.
