A structured 10-session research mentorship program connecting high school students with expert graduate mentors to develop, write, and complete university-level academic research projects.
The Collegiate Researchers Mentorship Program is a structured, academic research program designed for high school students seeking to develop advanced research skills. Through personalized one-on-one mentorship with graduate-level researchers, students explore specialized topics, refine research questions, and produce high-quality academic projects.
This guided research experience helps students build critical thinking, academic writing, and independent research skills while gaining authentic insight into university-level research methods. By the end of the program, students complete a polished, research-based project that strengthens their confidence and readiness to pursue advanced research from their first day on campus, while also providing a distinctive achievement to highlight in college applications.
10 Structured Research Mentorship Sessions
Personalized One-on-One Academic Mentorship
Grades 10–12 Designed for High School Students
Collegiate Researchers is led by a highly experienced team of academic professionals with decades of combined expertise in research, mentorship, and university admissions. Harnessing our real-world insight, we ensure that every student receives structured guidance, expert support, and a meaningful research experience.
Founder & Managing Director
Chloe Rothstein brings over 20 years of experience in college counseling, undergraduate admissions and academic mentorship, making her a leading authority in university preparation and student development. She previously served as Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Johns Hopkins University, where she evaluated thousands of applications and gained deep insight into what distinguishes top-performing candidates.
Through her work on admissions committees, Chloe developed a comprehensive understanding of how academic performance, extracurricular involvement, and targeted academic research can significantly strengthen a student’s college applications.
Chloe holds a Bachelor of Arts from Stanford University and a Master of Science in Higher Education from the University of Pennsylvania. Her academic focus on both undergraduate and graduate admissions processes allows her to guide students with clarity, strategy, and proven expertise.
Research Program Supervisor
Elizabeth “Libby” White oversees the research mentorship experience, ensuring every student receives personalized support from start to finish. She manages mentor matching, reviews research plans, and provides continuous oversight to maintain strong communication, structure, and academic quality throughout the program.
With over 30 years of experience leading research and research ethics programs in government, Libby has advised both students and researchers in developing thoughtful, ethical, and high-quality research projects. Her expertise ensures that each student’s work meets rigorous academic standards.
Libby holds both Master’s and doctorate degrees, giving her a deep understanding of the intellectual growth and discipline required to complete meaningful research. She is committed to supporting both students and families, providing guidance, reassurance, and clarity at every stage of the journey.
Together, our team is dedicated to delivering a structured, supportive, and academically rigorous mentorship experience that empowers students to develop real research skills, achieve meaningful academic outcomes, and successfully apply to their top-choice universities.
The Collegiate Researchers Program follows a structured, step-by-step research mentorship process designed to guide high school students from initial inquiry to a completed academic research project. Each student is matched with a graduate-level mentor aligned with their academic interests, ensuring personalized support and subject-specific expertise.
Across 10 structured sessions, students develop essential research skills, refine their thinking, and produce a high-quality academic project that reflects real university-level standards.
Develop a clear, focused research question with expert mentor guidance and design a structured research methodology aligned with your chosen subject.
Learn essential academic research skills, including how to identify, evaluate, and use credible scholarly sources to support your work.
Strengthen your academic writing through continuous mentor feedback and two formal rounds of structured review to improve clarity, argument, and quality.
Complete a substantial academic research project, such as a research paper, policy analysis, or data-driven study, demonstrating depth and critical thinking.
Receive expert advice on publishing opportunities within academic journals to showcase your completed research.
The Collegiate Researchers Program delivers meaningful academic outcomes that go beyond grades and test scores. Students gain hands-on research experience, develop advanced academic skills, and build a high-quality project that strengthens university applications and demonstrates genuine intellectual curiosity.
Through structured mentorship and guided research, students develop the ability to think critically, communicate effectively, and engage deeply with their chosen subject—skills that are highly valued by college admissions officers and future professors.
Deeper understanding of your chosen academic discipline through structured research
Gain experience working one-to-one with a university-level research mentor
Complete a high-quality academic research project to highlight in your college applications
Improve academic writing, research methodology, and analytical thinking skills
Opportunity to request a personalized letter of recommendation from your mentor
Build a compelling academic narrative that demonstrates intellectual curiosity and depth
The Collegiate Researchers Program is designed for high school students in grades 10–12 who are motivated to go beyond standard coursework and engage in structured academic research. It is ideal for students who want to explore a specific subject in depth, strengthen their academic profile, and develop skills that support university-level study.
Students who benefit most are those with intellectual curiosity, a willingness to learn independently, and a desire to stand out while applying to selective colleges and universities.
The program is designed to produce a high-quality academic research project suitable for submission to high school-level academic journals. While publication is not guaranteed, mentors provide guidance on relevant submission pathways and how to position the work effectively.
The primary goal is to create a strong, polished research project that demonstrates academic ability and intellectual depth.
Each student is carefully matched with a graduate-level research mentor based on their academic interests, chosen topic, and intended college major. This ensures that the mentorship experience is highly relevant, personalized, and aligned with the student’s long-term academic goals.
Mentorship matching is designed to maximize both research topic expertise and mentorship compatibility, creating an engaging and supportive learning experience.
Yes, the program is specifically designed to strengthen college applications by helping students build a compelling admissions narrative. Through the development of a structured research project, students demonstrate critical thinking, initiative, and subject-specific interest—qualities highly valued by admissions officers.
Students may also request a personalized letter of recommendation from their mentor, which can further support their application by highlighting their academic strengths, work ethic, and research capabilities.
The program consists of 10 one-hour mentorship sessions typically--but not always--delivered over the summer. Between sessions, students complete structured assignments that contribute to the development of their final research project.
Most students aim to complete the program by late August or early September, allowing sufficient time to incorporate their work into college applications before early fall college application deadlines.
Students can complete a wide range of academic research projects depending on their interests. These may include research papers, literature reviews, policy analyses, or data-driven studies across disciplines such as STEM, humanities, social sciences, and business.
Each project is tailored to the student's academic goals and designed to reflect real university-level research standards.
No prior research experience is required. The program is designed to teach foundational and advanced research skills from the ground up. Mentors guide students through each stage of the research process, making it accessible even for those new to academic research.
In addition to the one-hour mentorship session, students typically spend several hours per week on reading, research, and writing tasks. The workload is structured to be manageable alongside other commitments while still delivering meaningful and impressive academic results.
The program is delivered online, allowing students to work with expert mentors regardless of location. This flexible format ensures accessibility while maintaining a high-quality, personalized mentorship experience.
Unlike traditional tutoring, which focuses on improving grades in specific subjects, this program is centred on independent academic research. Students develop original work, explore topics in depth, and build skills such as critical thinking, scholarly writing, experience using various research methods.
This offers a more rigorous and meaningful educational experience that extends well beyond standard classroom support. It can also have a significant impact on a student's undergraduate admissions decisions.
Take the next step in your student’s academic development with a structured research mentorship program designed for high school success.
By completing the inquiry form, our team can learn more about your student’s interests, academic goals, and preferred subjects, allowing us to provide personalized guidance and mentor matching.
This is the first step toward building a high-quality academic research project that strengthens university applications, develops critical thinking, and showcases your genuine intellectual curiosity.
