Most research programs for high school students make promises that sound too good to be true. Few actually share their results.
But RISE Global Education does share their results. Their 2026 Early Admissions Report includes 137 students, real schools, real mentor quotes, and even shares exactly where their scholars were published and admitted. This alone makes it worth taking a closer look at, especially when determining if a research mentorship program is even worth your time and investment.
Here is what the results actually show:
What Is RISE?
RISE Research program offers a 1-on-1 virtual mentorship program that allows students to conduct original research with the support of PhD mentors from the best universities worldwide.
This is best for high school students who want to gain a robust academic research experience in a field that they are truly passionate about, whether that is neuroscience, environmental policy, economics, computer science, or any other field that sparks their interest.
RISE offers a clear and defined 10 to 12 week program that will take students from the development of their research question through the completion of their manuscript and submission to a peer-reviewed academic journal. RISE scholars have a significantly higher rate of publication in reputable journals and acceptance at Top 10 universities worldwide.
Details on how the program works are at riseglobaleducation.com/research.
The 2026 Admissions Numbers
137 RISE Scholars applied through ED, EA, or REA in the 2026 cycle. Here is what came back.
Metric | Result |
Accepted to a Top 20 University | 72% |
Applied to Ivies, got into at least one | 31% |
Published research students who got early admission | 68% |
Students who successfully published research | 90% |
For context, the national average acceptance rate at the Ivies is 3 to 4%. RISE scholars accepted at the Ivies had a 31% acceptance rate. This is a large differential, although one should note that these are a self-selected and motivated group, and not necessarily a random sample.
Early round acceptances from the Class of 2030 included:
School | Acceptances | School | Acceptances |
NYU | 5 | Princeton | 2 |
Northwestern | 4 | Columbia | 2 |
Cornell | 4 | University of Chicago | 2 |
UPenn | 3 | Brown | 3 |
Duke | 3 | Stanford | 2 |
Get the full breakdown in the RISE Admissions Report 2026 section where you download the admissions report.
Where Students Got Published
90% of RISE scholars who pursued publication successfully got their work published. That is a high rate. Most journals aimed at high school students have acceptance rates closer to 20 to 40%, so having mentor support through the submission process clearly moves the needle.
Journal / Conference | RISE Publication Rate |
International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research | 62% |
Global Scientific Journal | 56% |
The Whitman Journal of Psychology | 41% |
Journal of Emerging Investigators | 37% |
Concord Review | 34% |
Stanford Intersect | 25% |
Springer Nature | 25% |
IEEE | 22% |
Frontiers for Young Minds | 19% |
78% of published papers were in STEM or interdisciplinary peer-reviewed journals. 85% of students who published used that publication as a core part of their early application.
Full journal data at riseglobaleducation.com/results.
How Students Used Their Research on Applications
This part is underreported in most program reviews. Getting published is one thing. Knowing how to use it across your application is another.
How Research Was Used | % of Students |
Included in Activities List or CV | 88% |
Referenced in personal essay or supplements | 92% |
Listed in Honors section on Common App | 67% |
Discussed in a mentor recommendation letter | 42% |
92% referenced their research in at least one written component, showing that their research was utilized as a core component of their application.
Real Students, Real Outcomes
A few profiles from the 2026 report worth knowing about:
Eunice L. from Marriotts Ridge High School researched Law and AI with a Stanford mentor. She was accepted to Stanford. Her words: RISE helped her turn an interest in law into a compelling part of her application.
Kabeer K. from Bombay International School studied astrophysics with an Oxford mentor and got into Dartmouth. He said the research became the strongest activity on his application.
José R. from Saint John's School researched integrated power electronics with a Max Planck Institute mentor. He was accepted to Brown and his publication helped him win recognition at ISEF.
Srijay C. from The Hill School worked on bioengineering with a Stanford mentor, got into UPenn, and his research paper led to an internship in a professor's lab.
Brittany H. from Arcade High School studied quantum materials engineering with an Oxford mentor and got into Brown. Her takeaway: RISE let her demonstrate academic depth beyond coursework and test scores.
More student profiles at https://riseglobaleducation.com/voices.
The Mentor Network
RISE's mentor pool is its clearest competitive advantage over similar programs. Mentors are PhD students or researchers from institutions including Stanford, MIT, Harvard, Oxford, and Cambridge. The recruitment process is described as highly selective. Every mentor goes through training before working with students.
Check out the mentor list with credentials at riseglobaleducation.com/mentors.
What to Know Before You Apply
The program charges fees. Financial aid is available but you need to ask about it directly. For more information, click here.
It is entirely online. That is a feature for students in countries without access to residential programs, and a limitation for students who want in-person lab experience or campus networking.
RISE does not guarantee admission or publication. That is stated explicitly in their terms. The 90% publication rate is strong, but it reflects students who completed the full process with mentor support, not a guaranteed outcome.
For applications and inquiries: riseglobaleducation.com or admin@riseglobaleducation.com.
Who Is It For?
For someone who already has an interest in research but needs guidance in developing it into something worthy of publication, RISE makes a very strong case. The 1-on-1 aspect, the quality of mentors, and the 92% figure for students incorporating their research into their actual applications all suggest that this program is strong in their output.
For someone who is merely curious but has no idea what they'd like to research, 8 weeks is a very short time frame. You really need to come in with an idea of what you're generally thinking of working on, or you'll spend those first few weeks deciding that, which is time that could have been spent on actually doing it.
FAQs/ PAA
Q: Who is RISE designed for?
A: High school students aged 13 to 18 who want to do original research and use it in their college applications. Best suited for students with a clear academic interest they want to explore seriously.
Q: How long does the program take?
A: 8 weeks from topic selection to final paper. Flexible scheduling throughout.
Q: Can I get published if I do not have a research background?
A: 90% of students who tried did. The mentor guides you through every step, including the submission process.
Q: Is financial aid available?
A: Yes. Contact them directly to ask about it before assuming it is out of reach.
Q: What subjects can I research?
A: STEM, humanities, social sciences, economics, psychology, law, and interdisciplinary topics. The program is deliberately broad.
A: riseglobaleducation.com — applications are open year-round.
Author: Written by Shana Saiesh
Shana Saiesh is a sophomore at Ashoka University pursuing a BA (Hons.) in English Literature with minors in International Relations and Psychology. She works with education-focused initiatives and mentorship-driven programs, contributing to operations, research, and editorial work. Alongside her academics, she is involved in student-facing reports that combine research, strategy, and communication.
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