Ivy Link's Guide To Independent Projects
Many high-achieving students get so caught up in getting good grades and test scores that they forget about the one area of their profile where they can truly stand out: extracurriculars. Top colleges don’t want A-bots who are just going to come to class, follow instructions, and get a degree that they may or may not use. Colleges are looking for students who are passionate and motivated.
One hang-up a lot of would-be-A-bots face is that they aren’t interested in traditional extracurriculars such as sports, clubs, or performing arts like theater and band. What about the introverted scholars, the intrepid autodidacts, the inspired novelists, poets, and painters? A great option for these students could be an independent project.
What is an independent project?
In short, an independent project is an academic or artistic pursuit with “tangible” results, such as winning a contest or getting published in a journal. Students should be the mastermind behind the project and complete all of the work themselves; however, consulting with a mentor for general guidance is encouraged.
Why should you do an independent project?
An independent project is a great way for students to further explore their interests. They can build upon research they enjoyed for a class, or research a subject not offered in their required curriculum. Furthermore, by creating and executing the project, students showcase their initiative and self-management abilities. The ultimate goal is to impress colleges.
Who should do an independent project?
Independent projects are particularly popular amongst STEM-oriented students. Projects focusing on robotics, for example, are quite popular. However, independent projects can also focus on coding or computer science, or one of the life sciences. Students should submit their work and findings to contests and/or various academic journals geared toward high school-aged students.
But independent projects aren’t just for science! If you are more creative, you can write and publish a short story. Or if you are musically inclined, you could write a song cycle focused on a topic of your choice. If you are a visual artist, you can research a topic and create a series of paintings on said topic.
Whatever you choose, make sure you submit your project to contests, academic journals, or literary magazines. Winning awards or scholarships, or getting published, demonstrates that a student is not only self-motivated, but talented as well.
When should you start an independent project?
You want to start planning your project as soon as possible. Ideally, an independent project will take some time to execute. You should expect your project to take an entire summer, a whole semester, or even an entire school year, depending on what you choose to do. For best results, set a schedule by which to accomplish tasks. This way you can plan your time accordingly to finish the project by a deadline.
Not sure how or where to start? Contact Ivy Link to learn about our extra-curricular advising and academic mentorship programs. We also provide short- and long-term comprehensive college admissions advising for students in grades 8-12.
