Which Research Program Is Right for Me as a High School Student?

There are so many research programs, and it can be hard to figure out which one is best for you as a high school student.

Some are just a few weeks long but claim to make a life-changing difference in college applications. Some are years long but seem to deliver nothing. And the cost of programs can go from free to thousands of dollars. So, the choice really matters. With so many options, it is difficult to know even what factors to consider.

Consider the Length of the Research Program

The first factor to consider is how long is the program.

No matter what the title says, any program that is less than six months long is an introductory program. Any activity that you undertake for just a short period of time is not likely to make a huge difference in your current or future life. Nevertheless, there are good reasons to do an introductory program.

Very Short Research Programs (Less Than One Month)

The shortest (less than one month) are programs that give you a low-commitment taste of research. Choose these programs if you are just getting started in your research journey. Perhaps you know that you like science, but you don't know what branch, e.g. biology or physics.

Very short programs allow you to sample a field, read a few papers, and should allow you to speak to an expert in the field.

Don't expect any tangible outcomes (deliverables) or any big impact on your life but that doesn't mean they aren't worth trying. If you are just getting started and don't want to devote a lot of time to see if you like research, a very short-term program of a few weeks is right for you. At IRI, we call this program the Find Your Passion program.

Longer Introductory Research Programs (Summer to a Few Months)

If you already know which branch of science interests you, consider a longer introductory program, like a summer or a few months. There are summer programs covering every area of STEM from theoretical math to applied genetics.

Longer introductory programs should result in some deliverables, typically a written document (often a literature review) and an oral presentation or poster presentation. A written deliverable is important because you can use it to make you stand out when you apply for a long-term laboratory position in high school or university. The competition can be intense for those jobs. A well written technical document can also help with a college application, if it is part of a larger picture of interest in a specific area.

One misconception about longer introductory programs is that they complete a checkbox of "research" required for admission. They don't. A longer introductory program that is not part of a larger set of activities focused in a specific area may even hurt your application, if it appears as if you are chasing pay-to-play opportunities.

If you know what interests you, and have a clear use for the deliverables, a longer introductory program of about eight weeks is right for you. At IRI we offer longer introductory programs in Research Literature and Medical Case Studies.

Long-Term Research Programs That Make a Real Impact

Research programs that are about one year long or longer can have a real impact on you, your professional life, and your future applications for jobs and college.

The best long term lab jobs are with a lab that is physically located near your home. You can use these lab jobs as networking platforms, meeting graduate students, undergraduates, faculty, administrators and visiting scholars who can be contacts that you use for the rest of your life.

Programs lasting a year or more, whether they are remote or in-person, should have a concrete deliverable, most commonly a publication. Before taking any long-term research position, be sure to ask if you will be included as an author on any resulting manuscript.

Publication Preparation Programs

But even within long-term research programs there are variations. Many students have completed a longer introductory program and now want to go further. Or, you may have done a great job at the science fair and now want to get your work published.

These add-on programs typically require about 9 months to take what you have and make it ready for a competitive, archived, peer-reviewed, impact-factor-rated journal.

If you have completed a substantial amount of research and are looking for help getting that work internationally recognized, then a publication program is right for you. At IRI, we call this the Research Assistant – Publication Preparation program.

Research Using Existing Data

If you have not completed any research yet, but you are sure you can devote a year or more to the effort, you can still complete a research program. In many fields, it is not realistic – or even possible – to collect data as a high school student, e.g., medical research on patients, high energy physics, etc.

In these cases, a high school student will conduct their research on existing data. Using existing data shortens the time (typically as little as one year) and reduces the risk required to complete your research. So, these programs can be an excellent choice for a high school student with looming college applications.

If you have a short time window or an interest in a lab-intensive field, a research project using existing data is right for you. At IRI, we call this the Research Assistant – Existing Data program.

Original Research Using Your Own Data

Most people imagine research as a multi-year effort involving creating a hypothesis, gathering data, analyzing the data and more. If this is what you are looking for, then you will need to devote at least two and possibly three years to the work.

It can be very challenging, but very rewarding, for a high school student to make this kind of commitment. Colleges and future employers understand that only a few students can consistently devote the time and follow through, making you stand out from the crowd.

If you have the time and are sure you have the interest, a multi-year commitment to a research program is right for you. At IRI, we call this the Research Assistant – Original Data program.

Choosing the Right Research Mentor

One more thing to consider, before selecting a research program is your mentor.

Most research is done in teams. You are likely to work with a graduate student and perhaps a post-doctoral researcher. But, the Principal Investigator (PI) is the faculty member who can most influence your career.

They should be deeply experienced (more than seven years working and publishing with students) and have a multi-year relationship with their university. This typically means their title will include the word "Professor." Unfortunately, titles can be complicated at universities.

So, it is best to ask for a copy of their CV, or download it from their website, and check that they have a long track record at their current position. A research program where you work only with graduate students is considerably less valuable than one where you work closely with a Principal Investigator.

Need Help Choosing the Right Research Program?

At IRI, we know that selecting a research program is a serious, and sometimes seriously confusing, proposition. If your main constraint is schedule rather than interest area, read Choosing the Right Research Path: Balancing Time and Priorities for a practical look at weekly time commitments and short-term versus long-term tradeoffs.

You can always get advice about IRI's, or anyone's, program, by booking a free 20-minute consultation with a Professor.