If you are in high school and manage to get some research experience, you’re already ahead of the game. Colleges appreciate that—it’s like a golden point for admissions officers. Plus, diving into real-world science, engineering, or even humanities research is way more interesting than just memorizing vocab words or grinding through math problems. You get to see what actually goes down behind the scenes, not just what’s in the textbook. And it looks very good on your application. Win-win. One of the first challenges you may have faced is how to approach a university professor about pursuing university research activities while you are in high school. If you are interested in activities associated with research experience, this guide will help you develop next steps as you embark on the journey of identifying the area you want to research and composing your first outreach email.
Why Pursue Research in High School?
Before engaging with the “how,” let’s address the “why.” Research experience in high school can:
Enhance your understanding of your interests.
Assist you in finding other interests and careers.
Create valuable experiences with critical thinking, problem solving, communication, and collaboration.
Connect you with mentors who can help you along your academic journey and professional goals.
Enhance your college applications by demonstrating initiative, curiosity, and commitment(vs. volunteer).
If you want a profession (scientist, engineer, doctor, scholar, etc.), being an early researcher gives you connections and motivation to motivate your learning interest.
Step 1: Determine your Research Interests
Begin by asking yourself:
What fields do I find to be the most exciting?
Are there specific questions or problems I am dying to answer?
Do I enjoy doing lab work, fieldwork, data analysis, or development of theory?
After you document your interests, it is time to get specific. For instance, instead of "biology", be more specific, such as "genetics", "neuroscience", or "environmental science". After this is done you can always back it with an appropriate message.
Step 2: Locate Potential Professors and Labs
Now that you have your interests figured out, you'll next want to find professors that share these interests. Here's how to go about that:
University Websites
Browse the websites of your local universities or colleges. Look for faculty pages in departments related to your interests (any of the sciences, engineering, psychology, etc.). Look at what each faculty professor does research on and what their current projects are.
Published Research
Utilize Google Scholar to find recent papers based on the topic(s) of interest that you have determined. Take note of the authors' names and from what universities or institutions they published their research from.
Science Fair Winners and Competitions
Look up past science fair winners and past participants in various science competitions - the professors that mentored these students are usually more willing to take on high school students.Talk to your teachers, school guidance counselors, or family friends. They might know professors who accept high school interns. List five to ten researchers whose work you are particularly interested in.
Step 3: Get Your Materials Ready for Application
Make sure you create the following before reaching out to a professor:
A CV: Add any extracurricular activities, science fairs, honors classes, or projects related to their field of study.
A transcript: Transcripts are helpful to professors about your background.
A brief statement of interest: Including why you're interested in their research and what you want to learn or see yourself contributing.
Step 4: Write an Email that Reflects your Thoughtful and Personalized Work
This is arguably the most important step when reaching out to a professor – and where most students have the most trouble. Professors receive so many emails that are completely generic and from students who were very clearly using a template: this is why your email needs to be different. Here is how to accomplish this:
Email structure
Subject line: Concise and clear. Example: “Summer Research opportunity for interested High school student”
Salutation: Be sure to use the proper salutation (e.g. "Dear Professor Lee,")
Introduction: Introduce yourself with your name and grade, state what school you go to, briefly mention how you learned of their work.
Show Interest: Refer to a specific paper, project, or something about their research that you would like to emphasize. This shows that you have taken the time to figure out what they do.
Statement of Motivation and Background: State your motivations for wanting to work with them and what you want to get from the experience. Note relevant skills, knowledge, or experience — even if we are talking about a school project, or club that you have relevant knowledge from.
Ask nicely if you have the opportunity to assist them in the lab or if you could meet to discuss the possibility of them mentoring you at some point.
Closing: Thank them again for their time and consideration and provide your contact details.
Sample email
Subject: High School Student Seeking Summer Research Experience
Dear Professor xyz,
I'm xyz and I'm about to become a senior at xyz High School. I just read your article on the alignment between neural net, AD detection and I really loved the way you're fusing computer science and neurosciences. I absolutely love both and took AP Bio and Computer Science courses at school. I worked on an image recognition project with machine learning algorithms last year, and it even netted me a win at our science fair competition! This summer, I would love to get involved in a wide variety of research. Whatever you think would be most useful, it would be a joy to help in your lab in any way possible! I would enjoy an opportunity to discuss or meet with you regarding any potential openings.
Thank you for your time and interest!
Sincerely,
xyz
[email] | [phone number]
Step 5: Wait and follow up
Be patient once you hit send. Honestly, professors are very busy—sometimes it takes them forever to get back to you. If you’re still stuck in email limbo after a couple weeks, just shoot them a quick, polite “hey, just checking in” message. And hey, don’t let silence or a straight-up not get under your skin. It’s completely fine you can always try somewhere else.
Step 6: Explore Alternatives
If you do not get a position in a professor's lab, do not panic! There are other ways to gain research experience are:
Apply for formal research programs for high school students (e.g., RSI, SSP, MITES, local university summer programs).
Conduct an independent research project with a teacher as your research mentor.
Engage in an online research program and/or research competitions.
Final Tips for Consideration
Be authentic: professors can believe if you are serious about wanting to do work in their lab.
Be polite and professional: professors are dedicating their time to responding to you and should be thanked for their time.
Don't lose hope: it may take multiple tries before you find a top notch researcher to work with!
Network: These are opportunities to meet researchers through an in person event - whether it is a science fair, a lecture, or an academic, scientific, or societal workshop.
If you are a high school student pushing yourself to stand out in college applications, RISE Research offers a unique opportunity to work one-on-one with mentors from top universities around the world.
Through personalized guidance and independent research projects that can lead to prestigious publications, RISE Research helps you build a standout academic profile and develop skills that set you apart. With flexible program dates and global accessibility, ambitious students can apply year-round. To learn more about eligibility, costs, and how to get started, visit RISE Research’s official website and take your college preparation to the next level!
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