How To Choose a Research Study for a College Application

When it’s time to get serious about college, you may be curious what types of research studies will look best on your college application. Research studies are a great opportunity to gain valuable firsthand experience (and add an impressive bullet to your college application, to boot). Many summer research programs even offer direct contact and learning experiences with top-rated professors, which will set you apart from your peers. As a matter of fact, there are hundreds of educational research programs offered throughout the country. But, how do you know which ones are the “real deal”? A simple google search won’t be enough to know which research study will take your college application to the next level. Let’s look beyond the surface.

To find the right educational research program, you should start by identifying what types of research studies you are interested in. While it can be cool to participate in a paid research study like the Rockefeller Summer Science Research program, you might not be an aspiring scientist. College admissions teams are most interested in work you have done in an area that is similar to your potential major. After all, getting good grades is an important part of your college application, but it’s no longer enough to get you into top colleges. By identifying areas of interest, you demonstrate your intellectual motivation and unique perspective; each of these things can help improve your chances of getting into your favorite schools. 

Summer is a great time for rest and relaxation. But, it’s also a time that students can make big strides towards building an impressive college application. During the school year, you can get bogged down with extracurricular activities on top of your already demanding school work. The summer, on the other hand, is a great time to find opportunities like a summer research program. 

After you have identified your area of interest and selected the ideal participation timeline, it’s time to find the right program for you. However, this isn’t always an easy task for high schoolers on their own. Luckily, there are organizations such as Empowerly to help you through this process. Empowerly was created specifically to help students navigate the path to top colleges. With a little bit of help, you can find the types of research studies that will be most worth your time. 

Students should also consider any resources or partnerships available that might help them find the right research study. Many schools have a resource center that connects students to specific educational research opportunities. If not, or if your guidance counselor at school is not available for meetings, keep in mind that this is also another service provided by Empowerly. Empowerly has various partnerships to help its members connect to organizations. Finding a research study can be difficult, but with some extra help and resources, you can find an opportunity that will not only match your needs, but exceed your expectations. 

Students who get into top colleges don’t do so by accident. It takes years of hard work, planning, and preparation to build a high-quality college application. Opportunities such as a strong summer research program won’t just fall into your lap. If you are curious about how you rank against students who are applying for the same schools, check out the Empowerly Quiz. The Empowerly Quiz will give you a broad result regarding your college preparedness. They also offer the Empowerly Score®. Your Empowerly Score® is a detailed algorithm that accounts for specific and nuanced information, thereby analyzing your impact and competitiveness for top colleges in the United States. (The Empowerly Score® is available only through an Empowerly account.)

Getting into your best-fit college can change the trajectory of your life. On the other hand, knowing that can put a lot of pressure on students and their families. If you are looking for some help through this process, contact Empowerly. Empowerly will connect you with a college admissions expert to help you create a plan for success. Your connection with a College Counselor will help lead you to opportunities for educational research, internships, workshops, and so much more.