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Public, Private, or Partnership? Evaluating Leadership Models for the Mars Mission
I definitely felt supported by my mentor and I learned a lot of things that I normally wouldn't have if I'd just written a paper on my own.
Turn Your Ideas Into Outcomes
Transform ideas into apps, video games, websites, research publications, and even patent-pending projects. Middle and high school students, guided by mentors from top-25 universities such as Harvard, Stanford, and MIT, achieve outcomes they can publish, present, and showcase with confidence.
Projects Built Around Students’ Goals
Projects With Purpose
Every student’s journey looks different. We help students choose a project that connects their interests and college goals, whether they want to build an app, explore a research question or prepare for a competition.
Top-25 Mentors
Students work one-on-one with graduate-level mentors from top-25 universities, matched to their subject and project. Mentors guide them step by step, building skills and confidence along the way.
Outcome-Focused
Support goes beyond creating the project. Depending on the program, we help students prepare for publication, conference presentations, competitions or an app launch, so their work is ready to share and include in college applications.
Nova mentors are from top 25 universities
You deserve world-class support to reach your full potential. That’s why every Nova mentor is a graduate candidate, professor, or alumnus of a top 25 university, including Harvard, Stanford, and MIT. We want middle and high school students to create meaningful work that showcases their best selves.
Projects That Lead to Tangible Outcomes
At Nova Scholar, students build, create, and showcase real work, guided by mentors who know what it takes to succeed. Every Nova Scholar develops a tangible outcome:
- A mobile app or video game, prepared for App Store release, with the option to pursue a patent.
- An undergraduate-level research paper, with guaranteed guidance and editing support for journal submission.
- A competition-ready project for science fairs, essay competitions, and national challenges.
Each outcome is built to matter in portfolios, on college applications, and in fueling a lifelong love for learning.
Student Project Showcase
Explore the apps and projects students have built with their mentors.
Personal AI Tutor for Students
An AI-driven tutoring app that provides personalized learning support for students. It uses NLP to break down complex subjects, offer step-by-step explanations, and create customized study plans based on student performance. The app includes speech-to-text and text-to-speech features for accessibility and a progress dashboard to track learning milestones. Students can also connect with volunteer mentors and peers for collaborative learning.
Environmental Impact Analyzer
Encourages users to make eco-friendly choices by scanning product barcodes to analyze carbon footprint, recyclability, and ethical sourcing. Using AI and machine learning, it suggests sustainable product alternatives, tracks carbon emissions, and provides real-time sustainability tips. Users can scan receipts and bills to monitor consumption patterns. The app promotes environmental awareness through personalized challenges to reduce waste and emissions.
Women’s AI Health
Companion
Companion
An AI-powered women’s health app that combines menstrual and mental health tracking with personalized care recommendations. It uses a generative AI assistant to provide cycle- and mood-based tips, and a smart provider match engine to connect users with nearby healthcare services based on symptoms, insurance, and availability. The app includes an integrated calendar that syncs cycle data, check-ins, and appointments into one visual timeline, helping women manage both physical and emotional health.
Our students deserve The best.
Nova has the most extensive network of graduate-level mentors from the best universities. From building mobile apps to conducting research at the intersection of computational biology and music, you'll get to work with your best-fit mentor.
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Biochemistry
Cell Biology
Medicine
Data Science
"I've always known I wanted to pursue medicine, but I was unsure of the specific path. Shreya was not only an amazing teacher but also instrumental in helping me delve deeper into pathology. She made the process less stressful by providing clear milestones, ensuring I stayed on track to complete an undergraduate-level paper I could proudly showcase."
Nova Research Student
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Economics
Game Theory
Finance
Artificial Intelligence
"The one-on-one sessions with my mentor were the highlight of the program. They tailored their teaching to my learning style and helped me develop a comprehensive research strategy. This personalized attention was key to the success of my project."
Nova Research Student
Music Theory
Art History
Social Psychology
Data Science
”Working with Jesse was a transformative experience. They not only guided me through complex research methodologies but also inspired me to think critically and creatively. Thanks to her, I was able to publish my paper and gain confidence in my future in research.”
Nova Research Student
Artificial Intelligence
Generative AI
Computational Biology
Computer Science
"Arun was an incredible research mentor and the best teacher I’ve ever had! He transformed complex concepts into achievable steps and shared insights from his own cutting-edge analyses that hadn’t even been published yet. Arun’s guidance not only pushed me to think critically but also made the journey enjoyable."
Nova Research Student
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Classical History
Philosophy
Archaeology
Ancient Architecture
"I was amazed to find a mentor who could support my specific interests in Greek history and philosophy. They balanced academic rigor with genuine care for my personal growth, providing both technical guidance and insightful career advice. Their mentorship helped me set and achieve long-term goals, and I'm amazed by how much I've grown through this experience."
Nova Research Student
Law
Voter Participation
Democracy
United States Politics
"My mentor was incredibly supportive and approachable. They provided clear direction on my research project and helped me navigate the challenges of writing for publication. Their encouragement motivated me to strive for excellence and believe in my potential."
Nova Research Student
Computer Science
Artificial Intellegence
Human-Centered Interaction
”Having a mentor who has real-world industry experience made all the difference. They shared insights from their time at leading tech companies and helped me apply theoretical knowledge to practical projects. This guidance was crucial in developing my mobile app.”
Nova Patent Student
Who Thrives at Nova Scholar
Every student has the potential to create something meaningful. At Nova Scholar, we meet learners where they are, with pathways and mentorship tailored to their goals.
The Explorer
Curious and eager to dive in. Explorers often have many interests and are searching for the one that truly excites them. With the encouragement of a passionate mentor, they find the spark to begin.
Explorers:
• Experiment with different skills and ideas.
• Build confidence by completing their first project: and see if it’s something that clicks.
• Discover the passions that inspire them to keep going.
Explorers:
• Experiment with different skills and ideas.
• Build confidence by completing their first project: and see if it’s something that clicks.
• Discover the passions that inspire them to keep going.
The Builder
Full of ideas but in need of structure. Builders thrive with clear milestones, mentor guidance, and the tools to bring their concepts to life.
Builders:
• Turn creativity into real projects with visible impact.
• Learn resilience by iterating and problem-solving.
• Develop the confidence to share their work beyond the classroom.
Builders:
• Turn creativity into real projects with visible impact.
• Learn resilience by iterating and problem-solving.
• Develop the confidence to share their work beyond the classroom.
The Achiever
Ready to go big. Achievers publish, compete, or innovate at the next level, leaving with outcomes that strengthen portfolios and college applications.
Achievers:
• Set ambitious targets and work with discipline.
• Excel in competitive settings and leadership roles.
• Gain recognition that opens doors for future opportunities.
Achievers:
• Set ambitious targets and work with discipline.
• Excel in competitive settings and leadership roles.
• Gain recognition that opens doors for future opportunities.
Curious and eager to dive in. Explorers often have many interests and are searching for the one that truly excites them. With the encouragement of a passionate mentor, they find the spark to begin.
Explorers:
• Experiment with different skills and ideas.
• Build confidence by completing their first project: and see if it’s something that clicks.
• Discover the passions that inspire them to keep going.
Explorers:
• Experiment with different skills and ideas.
• Build confidence by completing their first project: and see if it’s something that clicks.
• Discover the passions that inspire them to keep going.
Full of ideas but in need of structure. Builders thrive with clear milestones, mentor guidance, and the tools to bring their concepts to life.
Builders:
• Turn creativity into real projects with visible impact.
• Learn resilience by iterating and problem-solving.
• Develop the confidence to share their work beyond the classroom.
Builders:
• Turn creativity into real projects with visible impact.
• Learn resilience by iterating and problem-solving.
• Develop the confidence to share their work beyond the classroom.
Ready to go big. Achievers publish, compete, or innovate at the next level, leaving with outcomes that strengthen portfolios and college applications.
Achievers:
• Set ambitious targets and work with discipline.
• Excel in competitive settings and leadership roles.
• Gain recognition that opens doors for future opportunities.
Achievers:
• Set ambitious targets and work with discipline.
• Excel in competitive settings and leadership roles.
• Gain recognition that opens doors for future opportunities.
Who is Nova Scholar Not For: We’re built for motivated learners ready to create and share real projects. If you can’t commit at least 5 hours a week, this program may not be the right fit. Our interview process ensures Nova Scholar is a match and that every student gets the guidance and outcomes they deserve.
Outcomes Recognized Everywhere
Students need to clearly demonstrate their passions to stand out in college admissions. With admissions officers increasingly prioritizing advanced projects, those with expert mentorship are best positioned to channel their energy into meaningful work that gets noticed.
- 1,000+ students have created apps, research papers, publications, and video games.
- National recognition across science fairs (WSSEF, CSEF, ISEF), journals (JEI, Curieux), and many other competitions nationwide.
- College acceptances to all Ivy League schools, MIT, Stanford, Oxbridge, and other top-tier universities.
Nova students are recognized by leading competitions and organizations, from science fairs and Olympiads to top journals, startup accelerators, and creative festivals.
Hear from our students
Experiences from Nova’s community of thousands of scholars.
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Depth of Discharge and Battery Longevity in Powered Wheelchairs: Real-World Implications for Lithium-Ion Battery Management
I really liked the research experience. I feel like I was able to work pretty independently while also receiving adequate guidance.
Reconciling Innovation and Access: Comparative Insights from US and Indian Pharmaceutical Competition Law
I loved the program! My mentor was extremely knowledgeable and I learnt a lot from him. I like the way the program was structured.
Evaluating General-Purpose Large Language Models for Phishing Email Detection: Performance, Interpretability, and Practicality
The program was a great learning experience. I felt like my mentor did an amazing job at helping to guide and teach me what was needed, while also letting me do the project on my own and have complete control over the final result.
Comparative Biodiversity Assessment of Urban and Rural Lakes in Southwest Ohio
The program was great! My mentor was super helpful and made it clear what I had to do each week and how to accomplish it. She broke down everything I needed to do into manageable chunks, which I found helpful. Alexis taught me about statistical models, which I found very helpful for my research. We discussed how to make figures, and Alexis explained the information clearly.
Philosophy and Female Agency: Penelope and Circe’s Intellectual Resistance in Homer’s Odyssey
The program was good; my mentor was very helpful and I enjoyed working with her.
Evaluating HearMee: A Digital Peer Support and AI Chatbot App for Adolescent Mental Health
My mentor was really nice and always responded to my questions in detail. She also helped with developing my app, giving me feedback and advice, and reaching out to people for my experiment.
Conditional Market Efficiency: Frictions, Anomalies, and the Pursuit of Trading Edge
Mr. Gabriel, my mentor, supported me throughout the process and was extremely helpful. He gave me great resources to learn from, useful recommendations, and intuitive insights, showing his knowledge of the field.
Advancements and Challenges in Generation IV Nuclear Reactor Technologies: Addressing Nuclear Waste and Enhancing Efficiency
The program was overall very nice. I felt well supported by my mentor throughout the entire process. He gave helpful advice as well as great feedback while also being encouraging.
Income-Based Inequities in Access to Allergy Medicines and Treatments in the United States
The program was really good. My mentor gave me lots of feedback and made the whole process much better. Maria helped me make a lot of progress collecting research for my literature review. I now know the best ways to collect research and how to track it throughout the process. Maria has helped a lot with teaching me the main idea of the introduction paragraph, how to structure body paragraphs, and the literature review in general.
Harnessing the Benefits of Video Games for Cognitive, Emotional, and Social Development in Youth
It was very fun and I loved my mentor Isaac. He was an incredible mentor and very supportive, as well as a good person to talk to.
The Ethical Imperative for Climate Advocacy: A Multidimensional Review of Environmental Ethics
I really enjoyed my time in the program! My mentor was amazing and helped me through the entire process!
Take the Next Step to Success
Ready to see what you can build with Nova Scholar?
