SelectiveCollege credit
Pioneer Research Institute
Overview
An online research program for high school students (grades 9–12) offering independent mentorship with university professors across 23+ disciplines. Students conduct original research, earn 4 transferable college credits accredited by Oberlin College, and produce undergraduate-level research papers.
At a glance
Sessions
Feb, Jun8 wk sessions
Formats
Online
Location
Online
Cost
$7,000+from $7,465
Entering grades
9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Acceptance
Highly selective; research alumni report 5x higher college acceptance rates at institutions with admit rates below 8%
Application requirements
Application Materials
Personal & academic details, interest areas (up to 4) with relevant experience, short essays per interest area, long essay on goals, unofficial transcript, counselor/teacher assessment, school counselor invitation support (minimum 1 week before submission), standardized test scores optional
Interview
Required video conference interview plus proctored timed writing component
Verification
School ID required at interview; transcripts and counselor feedback verified; SAT/TOEFL scores cross-checked
Information Session
Recommended; offered September–December for Spring-to-Summer term, January–April for Summer term
Cost & sessions
Tuition $7,465 USD. Lab equipment/materials fee up to 2% may apply in some cases. Need-based scholarships available; $14.9 million in total scholarship funds granted since 2014.
Financial aid
Need-based scholarships available with limited availability. Scholarships restricted to cases where family financial need is verified. Scholarship recipients may be required to pay a deposit, refunded after program completion.
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