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​Hello, this is GIRE.
Any Korean student preparing to enter an American university knows that research experience during high school is very important! In today's post, I would like to share useful information about the importance of research activities during high school and how to conduct a research project with admission to prestigious American universities.

[Research done while in high school demonstrates your capabilities that set you apart from other applicants when applying to college]

How can I make myself stand out among college applicants who all seem similar?

Universities are institutions where students study their major fields in depth. Therefore, it is fundamental to show that you have passion and interest in the field. Research activities can be evidence of that.

[Research projects are an important factor for admissions officers]

American university admissions officers are looking for students who are passionate about their field of study and can solve problems creatively, rather than students who follow a set curriculum.

Because research activities during high school play an important role in shaping a student's academic path after college, these research projects can demonstrate a student's intellectual curiosity and ability to run a college-level academic project.

[Various prestigious universities use research projects as a reference in selecting applicants]

“High school students who have an impressive personal project they are working on independently often impress colleges, because their commitment to a successful solo endeavor conveys initiative, self-discipline and originality”. 
- U.S. News and World Report

Additionally, current college admissions trends are moving away from standardized tests (SAT, etc.) and placing more focus on independent projects undertaken by students.

(Case 1) MIT has a “creative portfolio” section where all students can upload significant research projects as part of their application.

(Case 2) Universities such as Yale, Columbia, Brown, Princeton, Dartmouth, UPenn, and UChiago have announced that they use students' Research Projects as a reference in selecting applicants.

(Case 3) The University of California recently decided to completely phase out SAT/ACT scores for admissions.

These various prestigious universities view high school research as an important factor in selecting applicants.

[How can high school students conduct research projects?]

Of course, it is not easy for high school students to conduct research alone. Even finding the desired research topic can be difficult.

Additionally, research can progress to a higher level only if it is led by a renowned mentor in the field. In addition, it takes a lot of time to search for journals and media to publish research content and prepare a format appropriate for the media.

The research will also take a lot of time, but it is difficult to find and contact a mentor who fits your field, find a journal to submit your research to, and take care of other minor details.

GIRE provides customized support for all of these aspects from A to Z.