Alumni & Statistics

Pioneer alumni form a community of teenage researchers from 49 countries around the world. It is their genuine interest in their intellectual pursuits that bonds these talented young people from different cultures together.

Pioneer Scholars in The Spotlight

All Pioneer scholars shines in their own way. The following students responded to our editor’s invitation to feature their accomplishments. We welcome all Pioneer Scholars to share their stories and pictures with the community by sending an e-mail to info@pioneeracademics.com.

Mpilo Norris

2017 Summer Pioneer Scholar

High school:
Choate Rosemary Hall, US
Pioneer Research Paper:
Comparative Inquiry Into Western Liberal Democratic Values
Attending institution:
Yale University

Mpilo Norris

Yale University

Mpilo Norris is a Pioneer Alumnus from the United States who will be attending Yale University this fall. Being both a strong leader and a scholar, Mpilo was elected to head Choate’s Student Council as the 2017/18 Student Body President. During this time, Mpilo was selected to be a Pioneer Scholar and conducted research on western liberal democratic values.

Hannah O'Toole

2017 Summer Pioneer Scholar

High school:
Monte Vista High School, US
Pioneer Research Paper:
Trophic Cascades Caused by Overfishing Analysis and Prevention
Attending institution:
Boston University

Hannah O'Toole

Boston University

Born in San Francisco, and a proud alum of Monta Vista HS and Pioneer Academics, Hannah O’Toole’s research focused heavily on what her environment had taught her Growing up by the coast, and from a neighborhood focused on environmental protection, Hannah wanted to bring her knowledge to the rest of the world. Working on overfishing complications in her paper, “Trophic Cascades Caused by Overfishing Analysis and Prevention,” Hannah explored the ripple effects caused by overfishing.

Wendy Wu

2017 Spring Pioneer Scholar

High school:
High Technology High School, US
Pioneer Research Paper:
Sustainable Urban Development
Attending institution:
Harvard University

Wendy Wu

Harvard University

Born to two architect parents, Wendy has been surrounded by a passion for design and creation her whole life, and she applied this desire to her studies at Pioneer. Focusing on Green Architecture in her research paper entitled “Sustainable Urban Development,” Wendy shares her aspiration to combine our natural and man-made worlds into a single bio-organic world.Wendy maintains a deep passion for ecology and sustainable living; this passion is what propelled her to greatness in Pioneer, and will continue to propel her in her time at Harvard.

Jiho David Yoo

2016 Summer Pioneer Scholar

High school:
Seoul International School, South Korea
Pioneer Research Paper:
The Study of Biology: How Biology Gives Rise to Sexism
Attending institution:
Cornell University

Jiho David Yoo

Cornell University

Amiel Dixon

2017 Summer Pioneer Scholar

High school:
Achievement First Brooklyn High School, US
Pioneer Research Paper:
Social Justice and Activism in African American communities
Attending institution:
Stanford University

Amiel Dixon

Stanford University

Amiel Dixon took her Pioneer experience to heart and used it to not only further her academic skills, but to give her the information she needed to become a stronger activist in the world. Her research topic was devoted to social justice and activism in African American communities. Amiel used her own deep rooted experiences in her culture and her neighborhood to fight back against the injustices in the world, and she will continue to do so at Stanford University in the fall.

Enci Liu

2016 Spring Pioneer Scholar

High school:
International Department of the Affiliated High School of South China Normal University, China
Pioneer Research Paper:
Chinese Tracking: An Unexploited Hotspot with Underlying Benefits
Attending institution:
Stanford University

Enci Liu

Stanford University

Kevin Calderon

2017 Summer Pioneer Scholar

High school:
Scholars’ Academy, US
Pioneer Research Paper:
The Relationship between the Molecular Structure of Insecticides and their Biological and Environmental Implications
Attending institution:
Stanford University

Kevin Calderon

Stanford University

While some people focus on the big picture, Kevin Calderon focuses on the small – the microscopic, to be exact. His research, titled ‘The Relationship Between the Molecular Structure of Insecticides and their Biological and Environmental Implications,’ looked at the connection between insecticides and the danger they pose to the world around us. Through his time with Pioneer, he developed a better understanding of both molecular and interpersonal interactions. Kevin, who attended Scholars Academy in New York, will be continuing his academic journey at Stanford University.

Kexin Zhao

2017 Spring Pioneer Scholar

High school:
Beijing National Day School, China
Pioneer Research Paper:
The Development of Folk Music in Modern China
Attending institution:
Brown University

Kexin Zhao

Brown University

Samantha Maguire

2016 Summer Pioneer Scholar

High school:
Carondelet High School, US
Pioneer Research Paper:
Research into Human Genetics and Precision Medicine
Attending institution:
Brown University

Samantha Maguire

Brown University

When Samantha Maguire was accepted into Pioneer, she was finally granted the opportunity she had longed for since she was nine: conducting research in the area of biology and genome studies. Samantha’s stellar Pioneer experience lead her to becoming a co-author on a paper spearheaded by the very professor she worked with in the program. This achievement made such a large impact on Samantha’s life that she is now preparing to move from Carondelet High in California to join her professor at Brown university, where they can continue their research together.

Xiangyu Zheng

2017 Spring Pioneer Scholar

High school:
International Department of the Affiliated High School of South China Normal University, China
Pioneer Research Paper:
Ethical Considerations of State Responsibility toward Refugees: Analyzing China’s Refugee Capacity from a Socio-Economic
Attending institution:
TBD

Xiangyu Zheng

Despite living in Guangzhou, China, Xiangyu always felt connected to the global community and the welfare of humanity. Drawing on personal experience and his cultural background, Xiangyu conducted his Pioneer research on China’s moral obligations towards Syrian refugees. His paper, “Ethical Considerations of State Responsibility towards Refugees: Analyzing China’s Refugee Capacity from a Socio-Economic Perspective,” dealt with the humanity factor of refugees and the cultural integrity of both the Syrian and the Chinese host communities. Xiangyu focused heavily to also draw attention to the realistic consideration that emerges from the encounter of diverse cultural communities.

Zheran He

2017 Summer Pioneer Scholar

High school:
Beijing No. 2 Middle School, China
Pioneer Research Paper:
The Brother as an Other: Redefining Otherness through Examining the Similar
Attending institution:
Stanford University

Zheran He

Stanford University

Pioneer allowed me to embark on an unexpected journey. Not only did Pioneer teach me how to conduct rigorous research, it also made me realize my power in the society, prompting me to foster people’s self perception development with my own words and endeavor.

Omar Ramos

2017 Summer Pioneer Scholar

High school:
Midlothian High School, US
Pioneer Research Paper:
Astor Piazzolla’s Libertango: Musical analysis of a Contemporary Epitome of Tango
Attending institution:
Stanford University

Omar Ramos

Stanford University

Despite living and attending school in Midlothian, Texas, Omar has always felt a connection to the music of the world. Drawing on his cultural and personal background, Omar conducted his Pioneer research into the cultural and notational musical theory behind Tango.His paper, entitled “Astor Piazzolla’s Libertango: Musical Analysis of a Contemporary Epitome of Tango,” dealt with the cultural and musical history of his favorite music style. Omar successfully expressed not only how the music style came to exist, but the social unrest and turmoil that was so intrinsic to its creation. Omar will be attending Stanford this fall.

We are proud of all Pioneer scholars because of their curiosity and endeavors. The following statistics are shown to give prospective students a sense of the caliber of scholars selected into the program and as one measure of the recognition of the work they did through Pioneer’s rigorous research program. While this helps to provide perspective, we recognize that genuine intellectual passion and dedication are measured by far more than the colleges to which students are admitted.

2018 University Acceptance Statistics

Average SAT Statistics: Evidence-Based Reading=733, Mathematics =784
Average ACT Statistics: 35
Average TOEFL Score (International Students): 113
Average IELTS Score: 8

2018 Pioneer Alum that got accepted to universities with highly selective admission rates

Admission results should not be construed as a direct outcome of any one program.  Colleges and universities use a holistic application process to evaluate all aspects of an applicant, and while experience in a particular program may distinguish a student, no single credential will determine admission results.

2017 University Acceptance Statistics

Average SAT Statistics: Evidence-Based Reading=725, Mathematics = 786
Average ACT Statistics: 34 
Average TOEFL Score (International Students): 112
Average IELTS Score: 8

2017 Pioneer Alum that got accepted to universities with highly selective admission rates

Admission results should not be construed as a direct outcome of any one program.  Colleges and universities use a holistic application process to evaluate all aspects of an applicant, and while experience in a particular program may distinguish a student, no single credential will determine admission results.

Quotes directly from Matthew Pohl

Pioneer’s Respected Selectivity

“There are very few selective summer programs out there that emphasize research. Pioneer is one of very few selective summer undergraduate research opportunities, and that’s something that’s known among college admissions officers at top universities.”

Pioneer’s Leadership mindset

“I believe Pioneer’s system really prepared students for the leadership mindset.”

Credibility through academic system

“Oberlin College is considered one of the top liberal arts colleges in the U.S. If they are partnering with an organization that provides excellent programs to students, then there’s credibility there. Automatically.”

Watch the video

Matthew Pohl - the former associate director of admissions at University of Pennsylvania and Wharton

The Pioneer Research Program is the ONLY global college-credit-bearing program in which students conduct
research one-on-one with a professor online in Pioneer’s rigorous system.

  • Foundational Research Seminars

  • Pioneer Writing Center

  • Online Library

  • Academic Oversight

Foundational Research Seminars

Pioneer offers virtual seminars on research methodologies in addition to subject sessions.

Pioneer Writing Center

Pioneer’s writing center follows the highest ethical standards in providing academic writing support to
Pioneer scholars.

Online Library

  • About 400 research databases and journals.
  • Over 100,000 e-books.

Academic Oversight

Pioneer and Oberlin College jointly administer academic oversight.

  • Accomplishment Endorsed by Pioneer

  • College Credit

  • Tuition

Accomplishment Endorsed by Pioneer

It is well known that Pioneer holds the highest academic standards. Research accomplishments through Pioneer are trusted and respected.

College Credit

Pioneer scholars earn two college credits and the Pioneer Research Program is categorized as a college course, instead of just an extracurricular activity, on college applications.

Tuition

  • Pioneer’s tuition is 6,450 US dollars.
  • As part of its social mission, Pioneer Academics dedicates funds every year to need-based scholarships for students to participate in the Pioneer Research Program. These funds are very limited and their use is restricted to cases in which the need of the students’ family can be reliably accredited. Students are eligible for these scholarships in countries where need can be assessed or if they are part of a non-profit organization or an educational institution that can assess need.
  • 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.

Dear educator friend,

In the critical process of preparing students to transition to college, you are key. The
ramifications of your guidance are far-reaching.

The Pioneer Research Program believes that it, too, has a role to play in preparing students of special potential and passion for learning. This is a role we trust you will appreciate knowing about. Our mission is to offer a deep and otherwise unavailable opportunity to exceptionally motivated young scholars who want to learn and research at the college level and to explore their potential for innovation.

What makes Pioneer a unique deep-dive learning experience is not just the mentorship of distinguished professors. It is the rigorous quality controls developed conjointly by Pioneer and Oberlin College. Professors (must) adhere to rubrics for

1) setting learning goals;

2) syllabus development;

3) oversight, feedback and evaluation, and

4) grading standardization.

This rigorous academic system is supported by thorough admission process and a high-minded ethics code. The combination gives students an exceptional learning experience that is brought to fruition in a college-level research paper documenting their findings.

You can follow this link Pioneer’s concrete academic system to learn more about the academic system. Academic quality control and academic oversight assure Pioneer’s focus is on learning and learners, and therefore all of our practices were built upon the following principles:

No conflict of interests Pioneer’s academic ethical standards
Because of its high academic and ethical standards, the Pioneer program has earned the trust of college admissions departments and formed the basis for the ground-breaking collaboration with Oberlin College. Pioneer scholars get two college credits upon completing their Pioneer research.

Click to learn about Pioneer and Oberlin College's groundbreaking academic collaboration.

Pioneer has a rigorous admission process. Students who have genuine academic interests and are highly motivated are a good fit with Pioneer’s values. Pioneer’s founding board insisted that Pioneer commit to a professor-blind policy during the application process, ensuring that applicants have authentic field interest and correct priorities. Consequently, no information about professors is released before admission to the program. This policy is much appreciated and respected by universities. Professor-blind admission policy
On this page is the critical information needed to meet your needs.

If you have additional questions, feel free to let us know how we can help you by emailing info@pioneeracademics.com or calling 855-572-8863.

Best,

Matthew Jaskol

Founder & Program Director