<p>Hi I am a junior right now, and i was thinking of a topic for my science research project for my senior year.
My friend and I were discussing possible topics, but we couldn't find any.
We want to make it to the national level, and to do a topic that no high schooler even thought about researching.
We both took AP Bio, AP Calc BC, Chem AP, Physics B AP, Physics C Mechanics AP, Physics C E/M, Envi sci AP, and Advanced calc(Multivariable), so I think we're ready for a very challenging topic.
I was hoping the topic has to do with physics because we both want to major in physics.
Thanks.</p>
<p>lol, how are we suppose to come up with a topic that no high schooler even thought about researching. I’m thinking about my topics also for Intel Science Competition. Mine will be probably about CS, mathematics, or physics, but I have no idea what to do either.</p>
<p>haha trueeee
but as my teacher says
“The unique projects always win the prize” :[
ITS SOO STRESSFUL lol</p>
<p>^^the point of research is that you do something that has not been done in the past by scientists, not just high school students. Also, starting your project right now may be a little too late if you’re a junior, as you need to fill out approval forms beforehand, actually get them approved by the board, etc. For most projects, it takes a long time to find a mentor who’s willing to fund, supervise, and train the students who have no prior research experience, plus you need tons of time to read research articles and learn the topics themselves, as most of the research that does gain recognition in some forms involve more complicated topics.</p>
<p>AP classes will not help you that much, because you’ll have to go way beyond what you learn in intro college classes. Read journal articles, take notes, look for college textbooks… you’ll have one busy summer :).</p>
<p>@Calico
how long beforehand do you suggest one starts preparing?</p>
<p>Try looking at the profiles of ISEF/ISTS winners/competitors and their project descriptions. Read science magazines. Maybe try brainstorming sessions.</p>
<p>You know, it’s not totally bad to repeat experiments that have already been done, especially the more recent ones. Sometimes you can notice new pieces of data in your results.</p>
<p>Please do tell us what you end up doing and how you did it! I’m very interested! Good luck!</p>
<p>why does intel have to torture us with all these confusing apps and rules GHAHGAHGAHGHA</p>
<p>@TRUFFLIEPUFF: as soon as you realize that you’re interested in research, I guess. Don’t pursue a research project just for the sake of college, because most research projects that I’ve known never ended up accomplishing anything of significance, even though they ended up consuming tons of time. It’s the nature of research, especially if you’re looking into a specific question that has not been answered previously. Sometimes you would plan everything out perfectly, then something small turns out different from what you expect and you have to start all over again, etc. </p>
<p>You’ll need some time to narrow down your topics, then teach yourself the concepts behind the subject area, which can be very time consuming, then contact mentors, wait for them to write back and tell you that no, it’s not possible to work at their lab, wait more, write proposals, conduct the research itself, which can be long or short depending on the methodology and how lucky you are at the time, learn to use the equipments, master the procedures, analyze the results, then write a fairly comprehensive paper with pages of references of confusing journal articles, then fill out the application and other forms if you want to submit your research to a competition, get your paper into the specific format they ask for, etc, etc, etc.</p>
<p>If you’re interested in research, you can look into Clarks and other research programs, though these are extremely competitive and hard to get in.</p>
<p>what if you cant get into those top notch research programs</p>
<p>I have no idea, since I’ve never applied to those, but I think you should be good to go if you do manage to get in because you’ll have mentors in the program who’ll guide you through the process. The apps for those summer programs are also due quite early in the year, i think. Anyway, good luck!</p>
<p>aighttt ty</p>
<p>You should try to email a professor at a local university, or even at a not local one if your parents are okay with you being far away for the summer, and doing research there. If you want help with this, let me know. I have worked at Harvard, Yale, and WashU.</p>
<p>Do something that you love, not for the sake of geting into college. I was fascinated with neuroscience, so all three of my projects were in those areas. The classes that you have taken probably won’t matter unless you’ve taken classes that teach you the specifics of the brain or of baryons - my point is that research is ridiculously specific, and your classes are all general.</p>
<p>Mm yes I agree with the resume building part. I am obsessed and in love with computer programming and one day I would love to build my own language and start a cloud computing business. right now, i am currently in love with real-time imaging because i have a fetish for photography and java game programming right now…that is something i am definitely going to research for the Intel ISEF and STS. really you worked there? that is awesome, and you would really help me? ty :)</p>
<p>Hmm, you live in CA. What about UC Berkeley or Stanford? Both those schools have amazing software engineering programs, and I’m sure they’re doing math/computer research. I don’t know very much about the math/computer side of research. I’m much more well versed on biological/chemical research.</p>
<p>where would i dorm? - i live in socal</p>
<p>(Anonymous!! =D I haven’t seen you on CC in a quite a few days!)</p>
<p>OP, if you did well in all the AP classes (all 5’s), you are ready to do good science fair projects. Two ways to find a top-level project. 1. Talk to a research professor or a scientist in a field that interests you. 2. Ask tons of questions and google to see if there are answers to them. Your questions will refine themselves while you are asking and googling and reading scientific papers, and before you know it you get a project that will land you an award if you can finish it. Good luck!</p>
<p>Hi
thanks for all the responses.
and yes i got all 5’s on the AP’s.
I will ask my professor on Monday, and till then, google. xD</p>