<p>Umm...I asked my high school counselor whether she would allow the school to aid me in performing research, but she says it's impossible for a high schooler to perform research. </p>
<p>I think she thinks it's impossible for a high schooler to work with real scientists. It that true? Then what is independant research?</p>
<p>Allow the school to aid you in performing research…explain what this means.</p>
<p>It’s certainly possible for a high schooler to work with ‘real’ scientists. The two easiest ways I know of are through connections with someone you or your parents might know, or through programs run by different science foundations and organizations.</p>
<p>It’s not “impossible” for high school students to work with real scientists. I did, and several people I know did. Research is a very broad term, mostly using science to solve some kind of problem, or answer some kind of question. </p>
<p>Your school probably doesn’t set up students with research labs, or provides research opportunities for students. Neither did mine. But some do, often private, magnet type schools.</p>
<p>For you, your options are pretty much research a problem on your own, read advanced science stuff, research literature, etc. Then, pick some kind of project on something you find interesting, and either get funding from somewhere, or pay for it yourself (one student whom I heard of built his own fusion reactor chamber, thing, in his basement). But obviously, this is very hard to do, and you have to be really self motivated. The other option is to find some program like I did that offers research internships somewhere, and apply. Or, you can email professors in your field of interest at a local college, and explain your interest and what you can do for them. It helps if you works for free. Most will probably ignore you, but you never know, one may just be willing to take you on. Of course, knowing someone who works in research and asking them to help you find something works too. </p>
<p>You could ask your school and your teachers if they know any research professors, or if you have your own project in mind, to provide to you with the facilities in your science department. </p>
<p>Sorry this got so long, and you probably already know most of it. Does this help at all?</p>
<p>of course!! I see. I am very interested in research. I don;t know about you, but Ive always felt that school science was boring. I wanted to do something more. Err…what are some examples of science “programs”…do you mean RSI, EPGY, YESS, etc?</p>
<p>I thought that school science was boring too, in the sense that some of my teachers and classmates were not nearly as interested as me in science. The subjects themselves, I found fascinating. I basically opted to write down their notes, but really use the book and online resources to get a good grip on the material. It was more fun to teach myself than to be taught. </p>
<p>Anyways, those are some good examples of science programs I am talking about. They tend to be really competitive to get into though. I did a somewhat new program run by the American Cancer Society in Chicago to do cancer research (for Illinois-ans only, sorry). Your best bet is to search for such programs and apply to ones you have a reasonable chance of getting into. Otherwise, like I said, try to find someone with a connection to a professor somewhere, and just tell them about your passion and abilities, and hope for the best. I have a friend who learned about an epidemiology (sp?) contest or society or awareness group of some sort (the point is, they wanted kids to do epidemiology research), and using that as a base point, asked professors of University of Chicago to mentor her. One said yes, and she did research there this summer. You really just have to poke around and see what’s out there, there’s plenty. </p>
<p>Of course, real research is following the procedures, and analyzing your observations. You can’t wash dishes and pipette chemicals for a summer and say you did “research” at that lab.</p>
<p>
Actually, that’s how many scientists start their carriers. </p>
<p>It will be hard for you as a HS student to find a “research” job in a science lab (even without pay), because training someone like you takes too much time and resources, and isn’t “worth it” usually. So, unless your parents have friends that will take you on as a favor, it won’t be easy for you to find a job in the lab.</p>
<p>However, if you are willing to volunteer to wash dishes, etc., you might get an access to the lab. And if, while you are there, you show real curiosity and willingness to learn, you very well might get promoted from a dishwasher to a scientist.</p>
<p>^ that wasn’t true for me. from prior experience, i’ve found that you don’t need connections to get into a lab-- you just need lots and lots of hard work. I spent over a year reading on my topic. i wanted to get into this lab, and the professor kept saying no. … finally he agreed to let me visit the lab, and we discussed his research a bit, and he was impressed so he let me work there. and i’m not washing dishes or anything like that.</p>
<p>… wow, research really seems like it’s the “in” thing to do right now for college admissions…
sighs.</p>
<p>try just plain sending emails to people at universities or research things in your area. seriously.</p>
<p>My daughter (senior this yr) attended summer science research program at a univresity and she is currently doing a “research internship” with a local University professor in the cancer research lab. She basically emailed couple of local profs stating what she did over summer and that she wants to continue the “research” . BTW this advice of emailing the locals was given by her summer science mentor. One of the local university prof agreed and she is now working in his lab.
So, I think basically you let the prof. know your intention and if its OK with him/her they’ll give you the opportunity.
As for the actual “research” , D will be given a project soon where she needs to work along with grad and PHD students. The good thing is this project is like an extention to what she did over summer.
I agree with nngmm …HS research is just a biginning so, dont expect you’ll be splitting an atom (for most part) :)</p>