Our Review of the Horizon Academic Research Program—Is It Legit?

If you’re a high school student planning to apply to top colleges, it’s important to participate in activities that showcase your ability to excel beyond standard coursework. One way to do this is by conducting independent research. Research helps you develop analytical thinking, explore topics in-depth, and stand out as intellectually curious. 

Conducting undergraduate-level research as a high schooler may seem challenging, but there are several ways high schoolers can contribute to research projects. Some universities allow high school students to work in labs over the summer, contributing to a professor’s ongoing research. Other programs allow you to research a subject of your interest with guidance from a mentor. 

If you’re new to research, participating in a mentored research program can introduce you to the scientific research process and help you contribute to your field of interest. Horizon Inspires is one such program that caught our attention because of its depth and intentionality. Selective and thoughtfully designed, the Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP) invites students to engage with complex ideas, real-world problems, and the process of discovery. 

This review explores what HARP involves, how it works, who it’s for, and whether it may be a good fit for you.

What is the Horizon Academic Research Program?

The Horizon Academic Research Program, or HARP, is a selective online research program for high-performing high school students who want to engage in advanced academic work. The program connects young researchers with faculty and scholars from top universities like Harvard, MIT, and Yale.

As a participant, you will conduct independent research in your field of interest and work on a 20-page academic paper. Over 10-12 weeks, you'll be exposed to the structure of scientific inquiry, research methodology, and academic writing. You will achieve this by working with mentors in either small seminar groups or one-on-one lab environments.

How is the Horizon Academic Research Program structured?

HARP offers two formats that you can pick from: Professor Seminar Courses and 1-on-1 PhD Lab Courses. Each format has a different structure, timeline, and level of flexibility, detailed below.

1. Professor Seminar Courses

These are small group classes led by professors from elite institutions. Each seminar typically includes 4 to 6 students and spans 10 weeks over the summer. The seminars cover a broad array of subjects such as:

• Artificial Intelligence

• Machine Learning

• Behavioral Economics

• Cybersecurity

• Environmental Health

• International Relations

The session dates and deadlines for HARP’s summer programs are:

• Priority Round: Apply by March 23 | Begins June 16

• Regular Round I: Apply by April 20 | Begins June 16

• Regular Round II: Apply by May 18 | Begins June 16

• Priority Round II: Apply by June 22 | Begins July 14

Each week, you’ll commit roughly 8–10 hours, which includes coursework, reading assignments, writing exercises, and mentor sessions. The program is designed to help you produce a well-researched and cohesive final paper, which you can submit to research journals for publication. Past students have published their research in Intersect: The Stanford Journal of Science, Technology, and Society, Letters in Mathematical Physics, and The National High School Journal of Science. Additional support includes writing clinics, office hours, and feedback sessions to strengthen your work.

2. 1-on-1 PhD Lab Courses

This format pairs you with a PhD holder or postdoctoral scholar for a personalized research experience. Labs are highly flexible and available throughout the year, typically lasting 12 to 16 weeks. These sessions are ideal if you already have a focused research interest or want to explore a niche research question in depth.

Examples of Lab topics include:

• Gene Editing

• Ancient History

• Political Theory

• Neuroscience

You’ll collaborate with your mentor to define your research question, carry out the investigation, and write a substantial academic paper. Labs provide in-depth exposure to both qualitative and quantitative research methods, ranging from literature reviews to working with datasets and conducting analyses. If you opt for the publication track, you may even submit your work for external academic publication.

In both formats, you will receive a certificate of completion and a detailed grade report based on a university-level grading rubric.

Here is a comparison chart that can help you assess the Seminars vs Labs:

Is it legit, and does it help with college applications?

Yes, HARP is legit. We’d rate Horizon as a fairly prestigious program due to its low acceptance rate, the high academic caliber of its students, and the college acceptances of its alumni. According to Horizon’s website, the program’s acceptance rate is 26%. On average, accepted students have a GPA of 3.93 (unweighted) and a median SAT score of 1500. The mentors include faculty from institutions like Stanford, Oxford, Cambridge, and the Ivy League. 

1 in 3 Horizon alumni attend an Ivy League college. You can see the kinds of universities Horizon alumni attend here: 

Who is eligible to apply?

HARP is open to high school students who can demonstrate academic excellence and a strong interest in conducting research. While most participants are in 10th or 11th grade, younger or older students may also apply if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Current high school student (Grades 9-12)

• Unweighted GPA of 3.67 or higher

• Demonstrated academic motivation and interest in research

• Some courses may require subject-specific prerequisites

• The program is open to students worldwide

How does the application process work?

The application process has three steps:

1. Submit the online application on the HARP website.

2. If shortlisted, you’ll be contacted for a virtual interview within 3–5 days.

3. Admissions decisions are usually made within 7 days after the interview.

Pros and Cons of HARP

Pros:

1. You can choose from a wide range of subjects: HARP allows you to conduct research in areas not typically covered in a high school curriculum, such as Medical Sociology, Machine Learning and Social Media, and Philosophy of the Mind.

2. You will get access to personalized mentorship: You’ll work with professors and PhD scholars from top universities on a research question of your choice, which is rare at the high school level. The Professor Seminar will allow you to preview college classes.

3. You will produce a complete research paper: Writing a 20-page academic paper helps you master advanced writing, research skills, and subject-specific knowledge. Completing a college-level research paper as a high schooler is an achievement you can add to your resume, and you can even submit the paper to academic journals and conferences for publication. 

4. You will participate in a selective program: Being accepted to a program with a 26% admission rate reflects well on your academic profile. Accepted students are typically at the top of their high school class, so getting into HARP can signal your academic abilities. 

Cons:

1. It is a significant time commitment: The 8–10 hours per week required over multiple weeks can be challenging to manage alongside school, sports, and other activities.

2. There is no in-person component: Unlike some residential summer programs, HARP is conducted entirely online, which means you won’t experience campus life or in-person networking.

3. Admission is not guaranteed: Due to its competitiveness, there’s no guarantee of acceptance even for strong candidates.

Our review – is it legit?

If you’re a high school student with a strong academic record and a genuine interest in research, the Horizon Academic Research Program is an excellent opportunity to work on advanced topics under expert supervision. Whether you choose the small group seminar or one-on-one lab experience, you’ll gain exposure to the academic process, build an academic portfolio, and develop skills that are valuable in both college and your future career.

However, it is essential to evaluate whether you are ready for the program’s demands in terms of time, commitment, and cost. The online format also means that it may not offer the same social experience as an on-campus program. But if your goal is to produce serious academic work and explore a topic you're interested in with top-tier mentors, HARP is one of the best options available.

One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program

If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.

Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!

Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.

Image Source - Horizon Academic Research Program logo