How to Gain Research Experience in High School

Padya Paramita

February 3, 2021

How to Gain Research Experience in High School

If you’re a curious high schooler who enjoys asking questions and digging into the depths of the internet to find answers, you might be wondering how you can gain research experience in high school. The word “research” isn’t restricted to a particular field or subject area—no matter what you want to major in when you go to college, there are plenty of topics and questions waiting to be explored and uncovered further in every field.

The question is, where and how do you start? While it’s true that most research opportunities are designed for students at a college level, there are summer programs, labs, and organizations that have spots for high schoolers on their teams. To help you navigate the various possibilities, I’ve outlined what really constitutes research, how to gain research experience in high school in three different ways, and how these opportunities are viewed by college admissions officers.

What Counts as Research?

Students often have the misconception that research only entails scientific methods and studies, but that is far from the truth. The term “research” refers to an investigative study that you carry out in order to discover new facts and draw a conclusion. It doesn’t have to involve lab coats and test tubes if that’s not your area of interest. As you think about how to gain research experience in high school, note that you can focus on any topic that piques your curiosity.

Don’t just plan to participate in research for the sake of appearing as an impressive college applicant. Since it involves a significant amount of time, you need to consider your commitment to learning more about the topic. If you genuinely have a question you’ve been excited to explore, that’s when you should consider a research project. You don’t already have to be an expert—the purpose of research is to learn! Even if you do have a lot of knowledge of something like the history of European art, for your research project you might dig into the use of painting methods in Asia or South America instead.

Any research work should involve a core topic that you’re trying to explore further, as well as reading materials that serve as resources to help you understand the field better. If you’re invested in making new discoveries through reading and writing, research may be a great option for you!

Different Ways You Can Gain Research Experience

There are a few programs created specifically to help high schoolers gain research experience, although the majority of them do fall within STEM. These include science-centric summer programs and research institutes, often hosted by large universities. If you’re a student who wants to conduct research in a humanities or arts topic, you’d potentially have to go further out of your way and reach out to various institutions about supporting your work. It may sound overwhelming, but as you narrow down your topic, chances are, you’ll find someone whose studies suit your choice of subject.

In most cases, you will need a mentor or supervisor, and for research in the STEM fields, a lab. You’ll also ultimately want to establish a method of presenting the data or your findings. For a pre-existing research lab or center, these opportunities should be easier to pinpoint. If you’re embarking on your own research adventure, you’ll need a proposal that outlines the question/topic, what the scope of your research will be, and if applicable, a mentor you have in mind who wants to take you up on your offer.

In case you’re wondering whether you should gain experience through a summer program, pre-existing lab/institution, or research proposal, let’s take a more in-depth look at each of them.

InGenius Prep's Academic Mentorships

If you're having trouble finding opportunities to gain research experience in high school, look no further than InGenius Prep's Academic Mentorships. These programs are taught by college professors in a field of your choice—you can opt for a small group program or a one-on-one mentorship. This year's offerings include mentorships in various topics ranging from architecture, digital gaming, robotics, theatre, history, politics, and more.

Summer Programs

Many universities, foundations, and labs have established summer program options that allow high school students to conduct research. These programs are often very competitive and the applications are usually due in January or February. In some cases, there are early applications due in November or December. For most of these, you’ll have to write essays elaborating on your focus, as well as career aspirations. The programs will evaluate whether you’re a strong fit and determine which faculty member you could pair up with if accepted. The following list includes some top-notch summer programs and research institutes that allow students to explore their interests with more depth:

At these programs, you’re often divided into teams and have the opportunity to delve deeper into particular issues. Over the course of the experience, you build your leadership and teamwork skills. Participation in one of these shines brightly on your Common App. Admissions officers know that acceptance at programs such as the Research Science Institute and Garcia Scholars is competitive and that you’re an applicant who has already worked hard in their discipline of choice.

As you can see, the summer programs which encourage high school student research are heavily concentrated within STEM. While there are plenty of top summer programs geared towards students interested in the humanities, social sciences, and arts, most don’t specifically support student research. The Concord Review History Camp is an example of a summer experience where you can partake in research workshops and write an extensive paper at the end. So, if you’re a prospective economics, literature, or film major, you may have to branch out a little further.

Reaching Out to Labs or Other Existing Research Programs

Although these aren’t established programs like the ones above, if you’re hoping to join an ongoing research project, you have far more flexibility when asking faculty members if they would consider serving as your mentor. If you’re thinking about how to gain research experience in high school as a chemistry student, you could be drawn to a lab at a local university; pre-meds might approach a research hospital. Art or history students can sometimes conduct research at a relevant museum. If you want to start a research project on the history of a musical genre, for instance, you can reach out to a music journalist or musician that appeals to you.

It can be intimidating to cold email a professor or a field expert. But remember, in most cases, people generally appreciate it when students show interest in their work. Plus, in the long run, colleges will value your initiative. The worst response you can get is that they’re at capacity or aren’t looking for students at the moment. While it definitely helps to reach out to multiple people, realistically, the chances of you receiving many responses are low. This is why it’s extremely important to network and take advantage of any connections you have as you go after research opportunities during high school.

Think about the areas where you’re interested in conducting research so you can find institutions that line up with your field. Write a cover letter addressed to the head of the group indicating your interests and why you’re intrigued by their research. A cover letter can explain the specificity of what you hope to gain from the experience as well as outline how you would contribute to their group. Include your resumé and make sure it’s up to date. Then take the plunge and reach out to various mentors who are established in your area of interest. If they say yes, you can have a wonderful experience collaborating with others and learning more about a topic that appeals to you.

Your research team will probably want to present the results at a conference. If you’re lucky, your name could even be included in a journal article! Your supervisor can also write a recommendation as an additional letter of evaluation for college, describing your enthusiasm and determination, along with how your presence was a positive addition. All of these components would stand out to college admissions officers.

Initiating an Independent Research Project

Another option as you’re considering how to gain research experience in high school is conducting your own research project. While not particularly uncommon, admissions officers appreciate students who pursue this route, as it showcases initiative and independence. A teacher from your school may help guide you and provide you with the resources you need.

Consider a community-based experience–such as analyzing whether your local lakes and rivers have excessive levels of a harmful chemical. A project that involves more students could inspire you to build your own research team. It might also be something more personal, such as researching the history of your family and the origin of your ancestors. Either way, develop a research question you’re trying to answer before you set out on a long-term journey.

No matter what, you’ll want to have something tangible at the end of your research–a finding that can concretely point to and capture the work you’ve done. You could present a poster or deliver a talk based on your findings, depending on the kind of work you’ve done. You could also make a documentary or write an article about all that you’ve found. For example, an oral history exploration could be turned into a podcast or an op-ed! Admissions officers will appreciate your willingness to step out of the standard course assignments at school for experiences that are ambitious.

Navigating how to gain research experience in high school, and finding the right opportunity not only provides an in-depth look at a subject you’re passionate about, but it also gives you a chance to work on your collaboration, leadership, reading, and writing abilities. If done well, admissions officers will be impressed by your quest for knowledge. Plus, you’ll get to network with experts in your field and meet peers who share similar interests–holding on to these connections might prove to be useful beyond high school!