Which Research Programs Are Good for College Applications?

Are you ready to elevate your understanding of your studies through hands-on learning? If so, it’s time to find a research internship. As a research intern, you can participate in a research-based project with a company or university professor. Research opportunities for high school students can vary from a laboratory in the medical field to assisting an early-stage tech start-up. With a wide range of prospects, however, it can be challenging to narrow down the best research programs—that is, those that will challenge you, encourage you, and pull weight for your college applications. Here are a few ways to start the exploration process and separate the wheat from the chaff. 

There are a few considerations that must be addressed when checking out your potential research internships. As you research, keep in mind which research programs give the most “wow” factor for college applications. 

The first factor to consider is the research topic itself. Students should browse for topics that are most valuable given their potential major or career path. For example, if a student hopes to be a pre-med student at UC Berkeley, admissions officers won’t necessarily understand why he or she took a summer research program from the Future Business Leaders of America. Besides, focusing on a specific research topic that aligns with their preexisting interests can help students in manifold ways: developing needed motivation skills, assisting them in identifying areas for growth, and presenting them with experiences that become strong potential talking points for a personal essay. 

Students often juggle clubs, sports, grades, jobs, and family responsibilities during the school year. It can be difficult to add another layer by seeking and applying to research internships! If this is the case, choosing to do a summer research program can be beneficial as the summer is usually a bit less busy for students. Due to the lack of school schedule, it can also be an opportunity to travel to top universities and experience life as a college student would. 

Ultimately, if you choose to participate in a research internship, you will also want to make sure it’s worth your time and effort. While most research opportunities will be a learning experience, you will also want them to be impactful on your college application. Overloading your schedule can negatively impact your GPA or club activities and hurt your chances in the long run. Therefore, selecting the best time to participate in a research internship should be part of your overall college application strategy. 

Research programs for college applications are an important piece of the puzzle. If you are having a hard time finding one, look to your available resources. Counseling platforms such as Empowerly offer services to help high school students find the research programs that are best for their respective college applications. Empowerly makes this possible for students through their business partnership network. One of Empowerly’s partners, LaunchX, welcomes high school students interested in learning about entrepreneurship. Students admitted to LaunchX will head to MIT’s campus, where they will launch real start-up companies. This amazing opportunity is certainly one of the best research programs for college applications—and there are several more that similarly stand out in their respective fields. Another Empowerly partner, IBM, offers several research opportunities in STEM fields, including coding in Python, physics, and engineering areas. While some families aren’t sure about the added cost of college application services, working with a college counselor to jumpstart your college prep can quickly pay off for students looking to get into some of the top universities in the US. 

If you are looking to improve your chances at the top universities, Empowerly has a full suite of other services to help. First, by taking the Empowerly Quiz you can gauge your level of competitiveness against students applying to similar schools. They also offer the Empowerly Score® through the Empowerly Portal. The Empowerly Score® is a proprietary algorithm that takes in all of your achievements, extracurriculars, academics, and essays, and weighs them to generate an overall college profile score. This score will assess specific areas of improvement as well as strengths to focus on for your college application. 

Not only that, but Empowerly also has college admissions experts available to look over your full college application and essays. Your college counselor can help you to narrow down schools for your final list, plan financially, and source premium opportunities for research internships. 

If you’re curious about the proof, Empowerly has an impressive success rate with 94% of its students accepted into the top 50 schools. Utilizing Empowerly’s services is a great way to set yourself apart from other applications, let your voice be heard, and rise above the rest. The college application process is tough and finding quality research programs for high school students can prove just as challenging. Contact Empowerly today for a positive step towards your future. We’re here to help you navigate the process from start to finish.