<p>So, I've been "lurking about" (:P) here for a week or so, and I've noticed that some of you guys who are gaining admissions to the Ivies have participated in the Intel and Siemens science fair. I'm going into the medical field so I think I should also take part in these fairs. However, I'm only in grade nine so I haven't learned too much in biology (right now, we're doing ecology... I swear, it's the most boring unit ever). We're going to really get into it next year, and I'll also be taking Bio 11, Chem 11, and Physics 11 at the same time. SOOO, I was wondering: What would be some good ideas for projects? Should I wait a few years (like, until I'm old enough to do research and job shadowing) before starting? </p>
<p>Bottom line is: How should I go about this?
Thanks in advance! :D</p>
<p>You have to seek out research opportunities at local universities. But honestly, you shouldn’t already know EXACTLY what you are going to do in the future. Be open about learning and don’t become a fact-spewing machine. If there is anything I have gained so far in high school (I am now a junior), it’s that you should think for yourself and follow your own path, NOT the path that sounds good because it might involve an ivy league school like Harvard. Explore! And if you still want to continue in the medical field then earnestly pursue research because it’s of value to mind and being. Research does NOT guarantee you a spot in the ivies, and it should not be done with the ivies in mind. I’m involved in my own research and I do it because it’s a chance to challenge myself in ways that reading school textbooks can’t. I do it for the feeling after I leave the college campus that I’m doing something worth while and working with amazing, intelligent people. Yeah it’s cool to think that it could help me get into college, but I do it because I wouldn’t have it any other way.</p>
<p>So, try to contact a professor at a college near you. Most will be receptive if you show them, above all, the desire to learn, grow, and become a scientist. They aren’t your typical teacher who gives you facts to learn for the test. They expect ability on your part. Usually what happens is that you begin to work on a project they have already undertook, OR they help you in beginning something for yourself and guide you along. You’ll find that if you’ll learn more just by jumping into the field than taking time to sit and learn material otherwise. Don’t worry about not knowing everything; I certainly don’t know the intricacies of physics completely, yet I still do work in it. Age isn’t necessarily a factor, though you should give a reason why you feel you are ready to participate in their work. College admission should not be included in your list of reasons.</p>
<p>MOST IMPORTANTLY, though, for you initially, research should not be a means to anything except growth as an individual. If you can’t convey passion on a college application, research doesn’t count for anything. Intel contestants make it into the top schools because of a host of other things about them. There’s no formula for acceptance or special hook to get in. Worry more about developing an identity in high school than anything else. You won’t get into college without one.</p>
<p>Does your school have older students who are participating in those programs? If you know any, you could talk to them and ask how they started. You should also probably talk to some of the science teachers, who may be able to help you out.</p>
<p>Some schools even have programs to match up students with labs where they can work and get into the swing of things, hang out and chat with people, all of which can lead to great competition projects in a few years. If your school doesn’t have a program like that, the local university might.</p>
<p>Spamming the board with five different what-does-Harvard-want threads is a bit much. </p>
<p>It’s questionable whether anyone at 14 really knows that medicine will be career they ultimately want, or that study at a specific school in a foreign country is beneficial for becoming a doctor (hint: Harvard is a competitive pre-med environment), or that through sheer hard work one can pass the academic, admissions and financial hurdles entailed in the Harvard-or-bust premed strategy.</p>
<p>Medical education in Canada could be far, far cheaper and less stressful. </p>
<p>Winning the major science fair competitions is harder than getting into Harvard. Doing the first to accomplish the second seems nonsensical, and is akin to buying a lottery ticket.</p>
<p>Labwork in high school is not nearly as necessary for medical studies as it is for a PhD in biology, and doing large amounts of it in high school can be a negative given the opportunity costs. That’s true even if the only consideration is how to get into Harvard as a foreign pre-med for the one true career that you (or others) have decided that you will pursue.</p>
<p>Being an Intel/Siemens finalist is a good hook (though there are some finalists every year that don’t get into their first-choice school.) However, making finalist is extremely hard. Being a semifinalist would certainly add to one’s resume’, but it still is nothing special. There are a ton of non-scientific activities that would look just as impressive to them. It really doesn’t make sense to do research to get into Harvard, as long as you spend time doing something. Maybe in the old days when doing research was rare it might have been a real boost, but not anymore.</p>
<p>At this point try to build your career progressively and don’t get ahead of yourself. And it will be hard to excel at an activity that you are doing just for college’s sake. So don’t think you have to commit to doing so much research that it will be worthy of being an Intel finalist. You may not like research–who knows.</p>
<p>I’ve participated in the Intel competition as a 9th grader (I’m a sophomore now) and it is very difficult. I only made it to the regional (tristate) fair. Look them up online, look at winning projects, and look at their requirements. It is not easy to do yourself. </p>
<p>do you live in canada? if you really do, then you might not be eligible for some of these fairs. And if you live in big states - NY, NJ, PA, CA, TX, - then it will be very hard to even MAKE it to the ISEF competitions… much less actually win an award.</p>
<p>I encourage that you do it, it is a great experience, but look into it first. Know what your getting into.</p>
<p>I’ve competed at last years ISEF competition and let me tell you, it was intense. Really, I was blown away at the level of accomplishment. I thought my project was pretty good, but it really didn’t stand out amongst the top projects. </p>
<p>It was a great experience though, and I would love to go again this year (currently a senior). I have a mentor at Loyola University but I might do my project independently.</p>