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Horizon Undergraduate
Research Program
How Our Program Works
Program Overview
Horizon Undergraduate Research Program is a trimester-long online research program for undergraduate students interested in doing advanced research. Our program is structured to advise students in selecting a topic, conducting research, and crafting a research manuscript under the individualized guidance of a doctoral researcher from a globally renowned university. Students in the Horizon Undergraduate Research Program choose their own field of inquiry within one of the 13 subjects that we offer. After a trimester of reading, writing, and exploring, students finish their final projects, most often a 20 page research paper. By showcasing a student's very best work, Horizon gives students the opportunity to get letters of recommendation, seek outside recognition of the quality of their work, and demonstrate their exceptional talent to graduate schools. Horizon Academic has always been conducted entirely online, and students complete research projects using desktop research methods, without the need to access any equipment or research facilities.Horizon Academic Research Program Details
Horizon is a purely online research program that connects undergraduate students from around the world with top university professors. The program's capstone project is a 20 page research paper aimed to equip undergraduate students with the practical knowledge and research writing skills needed to excel in their future academic careers. The Horizon Undergraduate Research Program uses a unique combination of completely individualized instruction, guidance on each student's research topic, and writing clinics.
Choosing a Research Topic
Students may choose to research any one of the pre-approved topics provided by their respective instructor. Alternatively, students may choose to develop a completely original research topic that best connects with their personal interests. Our instructors work closely with students to formulate original research topics that are relevant to course material and ambitious enough to ground a 20 page research paper.
Duration and Time Commitment
Horizon scholars strive to produce a carefully crafted academic essay throughout the course of a trimester. Students have the option to apply for Spring, Summer, or Fall trimesters. We estimate that students will spend 8-10 hours per week on the project. The fall and spring trimesters each last for 16 weeks, while the summer trimester follows a more compact schedule of 10 weeks.
Research Methods
Students may use a variety of methodologies and approaches, and we advise students on what method is the best fit for their preferred topic. Traditional qualitative methods such as argumentative essays and literature reviews are popular, and some topics are conducive to meta-analysis or formal research proposals. Students with a background in statistics or coding may also have the option to do empirical experimentation on publicly available data sets.
Outcomes
Students will complete a 20 page research manuscript that is often the best and most ambitious work they've ever completed. Students will receive a grade from their instructor, along with detailed feedback throughout the writing process. Students who excel in the program have the opportunity to earn letters of recommendation, and exceptionally strong papers can be submitted to academic journals for publication, essay contests, academic conferences, or science fairs,.
- Program Timeline
Horizon Course Structure
Orientation:
Our orientation offers a comprehensive overview of how to use our unique teleconferencing software and online submission systems, how to best uphold research ethics and academic honesty, and how to navigate the transition from writing shorter to longer form essays.
20 Hours of One on One Advising Sessions with Your Instructor:
Horizon instructors are PhD or postdoctoral researchers who are on the front lines of academic research in their respective fields, and many have taught university level classes in the subject.
Customized Course Design:
Horizon courses are completely personalized and adaptable to the needs and research interests of each student. Generally, Horizon instructors begin the program with a topic consultation to hear what topics a student is most interested in. They then lead several classes that teach students key concepts and necessary background knowledge to undertake the research. Once a student identifies their topic, students receive customized suggested reading lists, and classes shift to individualized mentorship sessions.
Virtual Writing Center:
At Horizon, we aspire to provide the best possible training and mentoring to students as they navigate their research projects. Horizon offers assistance with general writing and composition, allowing class time to focus on the substance of each scholar’s research. Writing assistants identify stylistic, grammatical, and other procedural areas through which students may improve their draft papers, within 3 days of getting a draft.
How Does Horizon Help Students in the Graduate School Application Process?
In an ever-more competitive admissions landscape, "standing out" matters.
Standing Out, So Colleges See
Who You Really Are
In a stack of thousands of applications, how is yours different?
Completing advanced research projects as an undergraduate student makes you unique. PhD or postdoctoral researchers are busy people, and it's rare for them to individually advise an undergraduate student on a research project. Doing so as an undergraduate student is exceptional and helps you stand out among thousands of other candidates.
An Assessment from a Researcher
Grades and assessments show how well you did.
All students at Horizon get a letter grade from their instructor as well as detailed final project feedback on what they did well and areas for improvement.
A Strong Sample of Your Work for Graduate School Applications
Many graduate programs expect a sample of your strongest work or an overview of your more advanced research endeavors in the past.
Many of our students have sent their paper abstracts or full manuscripts as part of their applications.
Letters of Recommendation and Publication
For students who truly excel.
Our students who do their very best work and impress their instructors can request a letter of recommendation for admission to graduate programs. Students whose papers are truly exceptional can even get their work published in a journal, accepted at a conference, or selected by an essay contest.
Proof Positive You Can Succeed
In a high-intensity selective program.
Perhaps the best proof that you're capable of graduate-level work is to conduct advanced research, early on in your academic career. By working with doctoral and postdoctoral faculty in a challenging and selective program, you signal to admissions officers that you are up to the challenges of being a graduate student at an elite university.
Depth in Your Extracurriculars
Demonstrate commitment and depth in your academic activities.
More and more colleges such as UCLA, Harvard University, and many top liberal arts colleges have become test optional. Without the GRE, how you spend your time outside the classroom matters more than ever. Yet many students commit to a wide range of extracurriculars, at the expense of depth and long-term improvement. Doing a long-term research project demonstrates that you're different and that you finish everything that you start.
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