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Mpilo Norris

College: Yale University
High School: Choate Rosemary Hall, United States
Pioneer Research Paper: Comparative Inquiry Into Western Liberal Democratic Values
“Doing the research would train me to have an objective perspective on what’s going on, and not base my opinion just on sound bytes that I hear from other sources. Pioneer doesn’t just give me questions to answer. Instead, Pioneer teaches me how to make my own questions.”

Academics

Pioneer is the world’s only online research program with US college credit granted by a top 30 college

Pioneer Credibility

pioneer credibility
pioneer credibility
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    Pioneer is the world’s only online research program for high school students granted college credit by a top 30 college.
  • pioneer icon list
    Pioneer is the only online undergraduate level research program for high school students offering 30 different research disciplines across STEM, the social sciences, and the humanities.
  • pioneer icon list
    Pioneer's credibility is trusted and recognized by the most selective universities and colleges.

Rigorous Academic System

Pioneer Oberlin Collaboration

Pioneer and Oberlin College collaborate in the following areas to ensure the rigor of the academic operations.

Academic quality control

Pioneer collaborates with an Oberlin committee to conduct academic quality control. Pioneer insists on rigorous policies and procedures that include:

  • Screening professors
  • Faculty orientation
  • Accurate description of professorship
  • Development and evaluation of standards and rubrics
  • Review of research product and evaluation quality

Pioneer Offers A Full Spectrum of Research Areas

Anthropology
Architecture
Art History
Astronomy
Biology
Business
Chemistry
Comp. Sci.
Culture Studies
Ecology
Economics
Education
Engineering
Envir. Studies
Film Studies

History
Int’l Relations
Literature
Mathematics
Media Studies
Music/Music Theory
Neuroscience
Philosophy
Physics
Political Science
Psychology
STS (Science,
Technology and
Society)
Sociology

A few examples of past Pioneer research topics

  • The Socioemotional Brain and Decision Making (Neurosci.)
  • Cells and Intracellular Machines (Biology)
  • Environmental Neurotoxicology (Bio-chemistry)
  • Gravitational Waves and LIGO (Physics)
  • Combinatorics and Graph Theory (Mathematics)
  • European Integration in Comparative Perspective (International Relations)
  • African American Literature (Literature)
  • The Political Economy of International Development (Econ.)
  • Film Noir and its Contexts (Film Studies)
  • Great Scientific Controversies in Context (Science, Technology
    & Society)

Pioneer's Rigorous Academic Operations in collaboration with Oberlin College

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Pioneer Sets The Highest Integrity Code

Pioneer focuses on student interest, not on college brand names

One of Pioneer’s strict policies is that faculty list shall NOT be disclosed to applicants to ensure genuine interest-focused motivation.

Pioneer’s admissions and academics departments study the applications carefully to ensure the concentration placement is in line with applicants’ expressed interests.

After students receive a conditional admission offer, selected applicants will receive information about the concentration and the mentoring faculty to make the final decision before Pioneer admissions concludes the full admission procedure.

Pioneer has insisted on our No conflict of interests principle since day one

Academics only: No involvement in consulting or test prep is allowed

Admission & Academic independence: Admissions and academic departments and decisions are independent. (Outreach team and admissions are completely separated)

Independent grading: Pioneer academics department executes the oversight only. Pioneer does not allow any form of advocate of students’ grades.

Respected System

Because of its unique academic system, exemplary standards, and proven integrity, Pioneer’s credibility is respected by selective universities and colleges.

Schools Are Proud of Their Students Taking on the Pioneer Challenge

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Duke Tip
Duke Tip
Davidson Institute
Davidson Institute
Congratulations to all admitted Pioneer scholars in Summer 2021! We received 3016 applications from 64 countries for 703 research positions for this summer.
We appreciate the interests and efforts of all the applicants. Info sessions for 2022 are open. Click here to register.
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  • Considering students have significantly fewer options for their summer enrichment, Pioneer adjusted the cohort size from maximum 5 to maximum 6 so that we can offer the opportunity to more students. Please be aware that Pioneer will only expand cohorts which we feel sure will not be compromised in any way by a slight increase in participation. Some areas, therefore, may stay at a maximum of 5 because the nature of the course requires heavier coaching.

 

  • Pioneer admissions still requires the same application materials, but we may adjust the timing in response to current realities. If you can work with your counselor to collect your official transcript and counselor evaluation and submit them soon after you submit your application, it will speed up the process. Pioneer admissions requires an official transcript and counselor evaluation to process applications for the final round. If these items won't be available during the process due to COVID-19, applicants must submit evidence that the school's counseling office is closed. Pioneer admissions will then decide what adjustment shall be granted.