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WHAT IS THE HIGH SCHOOL ACADEMIC RESEARCH COMPETITION?

Running through March and April, SARC is more than just a contest—it’s a guided immersion into the research process, designed for experts and newcomers alike!

You’ll enroll in immersive workshops that guide you through the research process from beginning to end and prepare you for your own research proposal.

Participants compete with the sharpest young minds around the world. 

THE HIGH SCHOOL

Academic research, competition.

Pre-Registration is now Open!

RESEARCH TOPIC

SARC is unique in that participants can research any topic they want! This competition is not limited to the sciences. Your research topic can range from political science, art, and economics to engineering, history, or any other field of interest.

Researchers can choose a topic they’re passionate about, something they wish to dive deeper into, or something they want to study in university.

registrations open

registrations close

Submission of

assessment form

Participant-

exclusive bootcamps

Qualification Round

Winners announced

Video Pitch

submission deadline

Global Winners

WHAT ARE LAST YEAR'S WINNERS SAYING?

Yike Zhang, Top 10 Finalist, SARC 2023

“Participating in the High School Academic Research Competition (SARC) was a truly incredible and transformative experience for me. What made this competition stand out was its inclusive approach, which allowed participants to conduct research on any topic of their choice. Moreover, the admin team hosted informative bootcamps, gave access to academic research resources, and created a community of like-minded peers.”

Krishnaaram Muthukumaran, Top 10 Finalist, SARC 2023

“SARC was an amazing experience. The workshops conducted were invaluable in guiding me through the research journey as a beginner, from formulating a research question to crafting a proposal. The resources & workshops provided a solid foundation for understanding the research process. Connecting with equally motivated individuals worldwide made it a truly invaluable learning opportunity.”

EXCLUSIVE BOOTCAMPS

At SARC, we host participant exclusive bootcamps with experts in the field to prepare you for your research proposal and give you insight into this field.

Indigo Research is an online program that lets high school and graduate students research the topics that fascinate them. At Indigo, students build expertise, deepen their intellectual curiosity, and stand out on their college applications through advanced research. Over 300 students have worked with Indigo since 2019, and over 170 have achieved acceptance to Oxbridge and top 10 universities in the United States.

Crimson Global Academy (CGA) is an internationally accredited, world-class online private school delivering live, real-time learning to students all over the world, enabling them to earn university recognised qualifications through accelerated courses.

Crimson Education is the world's leading US, UK, EU and Postgrad admissions counselors. In 2013, it was founded by three students, including CEO Jamie Beaton who had just been accepted to 25 of the world's best universities. Our mission is to help students all over the world reach their ultimate university admissions goals.

MIT THINK SCHOLARS PROGRAM

Our 2024-2025 application are now open! Fill in this form to express interest in a THINK info session.

Rather than requiring students to have completed a research project before applying, THINK caters to students who have done extensive research on the background of a potential research project, but lack the resources to complete the project themselves and are looking for additional guidance in the early stages of their project. The program is organized by a group of undergraduates at MIT.

the PREMISE

Selected finalists have weekly mentorship meetings with THINK team members for technical guidance, helpful resources, and updates on the projects progress and are given up to $1,000 in funding for their project. Additionally, if permitting, finalists are invited to a four-day all-expenses paid trip to MIT's campus , where they tour labs, present their research to MIT students and faculty, and hang out with members of the THINK team.

THINK project proposals are science, technology, and engineering ideas that span many fields, from green technologies and practical devices to software applications. As long as it can be completed in one semester with a $1,000 budget, almost anything is fair game! A good proposal has an insightful idea , clearly defined goals , and a well thought-out procedure for implementation .

For complete information on how to apply and an example finalist proposal, please download and read the full guidelines.

Nov ember . 1, 2024.

Applications to the MIT THINK Scholars Program open online at think.mit.edu. High school students generate exciting STEM research ideas to submit to the competition.

Jan uary . 1, 2025

Applications are due. Students finish submitting project proposals to be evaluated by the MIT THINK committee and professors.

Jan uary . 30, 2025

Semifinalists are announced and interviewed.

Feb uary . 5, 2025

Finalists are announced and notified of mentorship from MIT professors and researchers in their field and project funding!

Feb ruary . 2025

Finalists virtually get guidance on projects, engage in thought-provoking conversations with mentoring professors, learn about research in MIT labs, tour MIT and Boston, bond with fellow finalists and the THINK team, and receive loads of THINK swag.

Jun e . 2025

Finalists complete their projects. Upon completion of their projects, finalists present their final results to the THINK team, their fellow finalists, and other MIT students.

See a full list of THINK winners from 2023 , 2020 , 2019 , 2018 , 2017 , 2016 , and 2015 .

Julia casey (co-director), class of 2026 | chemical engineering.

Julia is a junior from a cornfield in southern Indiana studying chemical engineering with focuses on polymers and sustainability. On campus, Julia is passionate about opening up higher education opportunities to under-resourced students, but is also involved in ChemE competition team, AiChE, and makerspaces. In her free time Julia enjoys biking, hiking, spending time in nature, and exploring Boston.

Caitlin Ogoe (Advisor)

Class of 2025 | computer science and brain/cognitive science.

Caitlin is a Senior from Western Colorado, studying Computer Science and Brain and Cognitive Science. Caitlin is super excited to get to help extend an opportunity for students from rural schools to gain research experience and to learn a ton from the super talented students who pass through this program every year. She loves picking new color palates for her Google Calendars, eating food that comes in bowls, and petting her cat, Pickles.

Andrew Yuan (Co-Director)

Class of 2027 | mathematics, computer science and engineering.

Andrew is a sophomore from Maryland studying math (course 18) and computer science (course 6-3). Having participated in research programs in high school, he is excited to give back through THINK and help younger students pursue their passions. In his free time, Andrew likes to play chess, volleyball, and various video games.

Katherine Xie

Class of 2026 | computer science and neuroscience.

Katherine is a junior from New Jersey. She is studying computer science and neuroscience. In her free time, she can be found listening to music, playing squash, or hanging out with friends. As a part of THINK, Katherine is excited to create STEM research opportunities for high schoolers and give back to the community as a mentor.

Abena Kyereme-Tuah

Class of 2026 | computer science and engineering.

Abena is a junior from Northern Virginia. She is interested in the intersection between computer science and medicine, as well as the process behind business management. In her free time, Abena enjoys dancing, baking, and reading books. She is very excited to be a part of THINK and be able to help students gain access to resources to further their passions.

Julianna Lian

Class of 2026 | chemistry.

Julianna is a junior from South Florida majoring in chemistry (Course 5). In her free time, she likes to run around, find good eats, and explore the city. Julianna has really enjoyed mentoring high school students through THINK and looks forward to providing support for these students and the projects they are excited about!

Class of 2026 | Computer Science and Molecular Biology

Hi! I'm a current junior at MIT majoring in 6-7 (Computer Science and Molecular Biology) from Shoreline, Washington! I'm interested in solving computational problems in medicine, innovative ideas for patient and personalized care, and more! I also love beading, music, running, and Zelda!

William Gvozdjak

Class of 2028 | mathematics, computer science and engineering.

William is a freshman from Washington state's Seattle area who is planning on studying computer science and mathematics. Apart from academics, you can find him watching and following sports (Seattle Seahawks and Tottenham Hotspur, somewhat unfortunately), going for runs, or playing the occasional game of Tetris. In THINK, William is excited to help make research more accessible and approachable for high schoolers!

Larissa is a junior from south Florida studying computer science and molecular biology (Course 6-7). She is interested in engineering new tools to study the immune system and infectious disease. She is excited to mentor students on research projects and read about new ideas. Outside of THINK, Larissa works on the campus ambulance and teaches ESOL classes.

Norina Zhang

Class of 2028 | mathematics, finance.

Norina is a freshman from New York and is planning on majoring in math and finance. Outside of school, she loves late-night walks, coffee, and traveling. She is excited to mentor students and provide them with as much support as possible!

Class of 2028 | Mathematics, Artificial Intelligence

Hello! I am Aaron, and I am a freshman! I am currently studying pure mathematics and artificial intelligence. I did some research during high school, and I am currently doing research at MIT! I want to help more people conduct research and flourish their ideas to their full potential. In my free time, I love to cook, watch sports, and listen to music!

Class of 2028 | Computer Science and Neuroscience

Sara is a freshman from Northern Kentucky. She’s planning to study computer science and neuroscience, and is interested in medical devices, clinical AI, and healthcare accessibility. In her free time, Sara enjoys reading, writing, making art, and spending time with friends and family.

The THINK team has also created a resources document to help applicants write a clear, effective proposal and succeed in their research project. We encourage applicants, especially those with less previous research experience, to read this document.

How do I apply?

Can my proposal be longer than ten pages, do references/cover pages/figures count in the ten page limit, i am in a team of two. how do we create an account for two people, i am an international student. can i still apply, who judges these applications, how will i know if i won, where can i send my other questions.

Interested in sponsoring THINK? Please contact us at think-cr [at] mit [dot] edu.

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