Scholar Insider

Scholar Launch
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Social Sciences

Real conversations with admissions officers, faculty, and researchers — Scholar Launch brings you the insights from our live webinar series, now on the go. Tune in for candid takes on what really gets students into top programs. If you are looking for an academic program, email us: team@scholarlaunch.org Learn more: scholarlaunch.org

Episodes

  1. Oct 26

    From Blank Page to Published: How High Schoolers Write Their First Research Paper

    Writing a research paper from scratch can feel overwhelming, especially when you only have a handful of sessions to get it done. In this roundtable, research program manager Bridget Spargur sits down with two of our teaching assistants, Clementine Le Coz, a PhD candidate in biological sciences at Columbia, and Maria Jose Villalba, a banking and finance lawyer with a master’s from Oxford, to talk through how a paper really comes together, what to do when you don’t have a lab, and where AI fits into the process.

    From Blank Page to Published: How High Schoolers Write Their First Research Paper

  2. Oct 19

    What It Actually Takes to Get Into HYPSM (Harvard,Yale, Princeton, Stanford, MIT): The Power of Research

    Every top school says it wants curious, driven students, yet each one describes that student a little differently. In this episode, Rebecca breaks down what schools like Stanford and MIT are really looking for, why genuine passion carries more weight than a long list of awards, and how original research can show admissions officers you’re ready for college-level work. Learn more about Scholar Launch: https://scholarlaunch.org/

    What It Actually Takes to Get Into HYPSM (Harvard,Yale, Princeton, Stanford, MIT): The Power of Research

  3. Oct 12

    What Admissions Officers Really Think When They Read Your Research

    Once you hit submit, where does your application actually go? In this episode, Mary, a former admissions reader at Harvard Law School and assistant director of admissions at Dickinson College, walks us through what happens next: who reads your file first, how it moves through committee, and why applying early can give you a real edge at the most selective schools. Learn more about Scholar Launch and how we can help boost your applications: https://www.scholarlaunch.org/

    What Admissions Officers Really Think When They Read Your Research

  4. Aug 18

    Former MIT Admissions Officer: How STEM Students Turn Research Into a Standout Application

    In this episode of Scholar Insider, we sit down with DJ Rock, former Assistant Director of Admissions at MIT, to break down what actually helps STEM students stand out in the college application process. DJ shares data most families never see, including that over a third of college applicants list a STEM major as their intended field, making it one of the most competitive pools to break into. She walks through why research matters so much more than most students realize, how to pick a topic that comes from genuine curiosity rather than what sounds impressive, and what a strong mentor relationship can actually do for a student's growth and application. She also shares a real case study of a student whose research on sports related brain injuries, rooted in his own experience playing hockey, helped him get into Harvard. Whether you are a student just starting to think about research or a parent trying to understand how admissions officers really evaluate STEM applicants, this episode offers a candid, practical look behind the curtain.

    Former MIT Admissions Officer: How STEM Students Turn Research Into a Standout Application

  5. Aug 11

    From Curious to Capable: Understanding AI with a Harvard Professor

    In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Fangxu Xing, Assistant Professor at Harvard University, who has spent over 15 years working in AI, machine learning, and computer vision, and has taught at Harvard for more than a decade. Dr. Xing walks us through his own path, from studying electrical engineering and computer science at Johns Hopkins to becoming a leading voice in machine learning research, and shares why he prefers the term machine learning over the buzzword AI that so often gets thrown around today. Whether your child is curious about coding, computer science, or where the AI field is actually heading, this conversation offers a grounded, honest look at what it really takes to go from student to machine learning engineer. Dr. Xing breaks down the skills, knowledge base, and hands on experience students need to build a real foundation, and previews the research program he is launching this fall through Scholar Launch. Tune in for a candid, practical guide to starting a career in AI.

    From Curious to Capable: Understanding AI with a Harvard Professor

  6. Jul 7

    How Research Can Power Both Your Science Fair and College Admissions

    In this episode of Scholar Insider, we sit down with Bridget Burns, Research Program Manager at Scholar Launch, to break down the world of competitive high school research competitions, from Regeneron ISEF (the world's largest international STEM research fair) to the prestigious Regeneron Science Talent Search. Bridget walks through what makes these competitions so selective, what judges are really looking for in a student-driven project, and the very different qualification paths students face depending on whether they're based in the U.S. or China. We also cover practical timeline advice for students aiming to prepare for ISEF 2027, how to identify the right regional or state fair to compete in, and what it actually takes to turn a research idea into a competition ready project. Whether you're a student just starting to explore research, or a parent trying to understand how these fairs factor into the college admissions picture, this episode offers a clear roadmap for getting started, and starting early. Learn more: scholarlaunch.org

    How Research Can Power Both Your Science Fair and College Admissions
  • 6 Episodes

About

Real conversations with admissions officers, faculty, and researchers — Scholar Launch brings you the insights from our live webinar series, now on the go. Tune in for candid takes on what really gets students into top programs. If you are looking for an academic program, email us: team@scholarlaunch.org Learn more: scholarlaunch.org

Information

  • Creator
    Scholar Launch
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    6
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Scholar Launch
  • Show Website
    Scholar Insider