In the lead up to college application season, talk of internships, pre-college programs, and other prestigious extracurriculars is rampant. Competitive students are vying for the best positions and the most valuable opportunities in order to make themselves standout. Research, specifically in STEM labs, certainly takes a spot among these sought-after activities. Students might walk away wondering, “Was this research experience actually worth it in the long run?” Many current college students say it is.
Because of the prestige that comes with working in a college research lab or with a renowned professor, some students opt to seek out research opportunities outside their current schools. At Woodgrove, the dual enrollment Independent Research Science (ISR) class, headed by Mr. Matthew Young, fortunately provides students with the same lab experience within the framework of a structured class setting.
Students who enjoy getting to work on their projects during school hours appreciate this course. One such student is Class of 2024 graduate Prescott Noll, who took the class in both of his junior and senior years at Woodgrove. At the 2024 LCPS Regional Science and Engineering Fair (RSEF), Noll won a variety of awards, including the Willowcroft Science award, which awarded him and Young a $7,000 scholarship. After finishing his freshman year at University of Miami, Noll notices how more than just his awards benefit him as he navigates college courses and labs. “It just gives you a lot of credibility in STEM, doing research and being around the process,” Noll explained, “Because the class has such a unique structure, I think it’s a good experience for even someone who is non-STEM to take it to kind of just get a feel for how that stuff goes,” Having the structure of a class but the freedom of a college-style research lab gives students experience without the same amount of pressure.
The ISR course further allows students to hone in on specific topics they enjoy within the science realm. During his two years of research, Noll investigated microplastic content on the Appalachian trail as well as the economic potential for hydrogen energy. Through the adventure of research, trial, and error, Noll understood what path he wanted to take in science. “It kind of points out to you what you’re good at and what you’re not good at,” Noll said of the research process. Now, as a college student, Noll is looking forward to embarking on research related to atmospheric chemistry in relation to his chemistry major and meteorology minor, and he feels more confident approaching research after his two years in ISR. “It helps you understand how much work a lab actually is,” Noll shared.
Another Class of 2024 graduate, Emmanuelle Mutima, won an Honorable Mention in the Engineering Technology: Statics & Dynamics category at the 2024 RSEF awards ceremony for her research in possibilities to reduce burns in the process of hair braid dipping during her time in ISR. Although she hasn’t had much of an opportunity to participate in traditional labs in her first year at Boston University, Mutima reflects on her high school research experience and the courses she has taken so far in college as being a step in the right direction. “While I hope to try to get into more of the traditional lab research, I think what I’ve done so far has laid a good foundation for the type of work I’ll have to do as I continue to work towards my Engineering degree,” Mutima said.
While the lab environment of ISR provided a feel for college research, other aspects of the class allowed Mutima to better adapt to her college courses, including in writing. “The essays weren’t particularly challenging because it was the same kind of research and writing I did in high school,” Mutima remarked.
A sweet post-graduation benefit of high school research is the ability to publish one’s findings later on. In Noll’s experience, professors are unexpectedly helpful in fine-tuning and adjusting your research in order to co-publish it. “You can take the work that you did and bring it to another professor…and it’s that easy,” Noll noted.
Students who leave high school with even just a few months worth of research experience enter college with essential technical and cognitive skills that grant them the perseverance to further pursue their interests and narrow down their path in life.