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.

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Students Are Different, and That’s the Point

Different passions, real pathways

Every student’s journey looks different: whether they dream of coding an app, building a video game, publishing research, or competing, Nova provides a pathway that fits.

Guided by top-25 mentors

No matter where they start, Nova mentors from top universities build relationships with students and guide them step by step, developing skills, confidence, and momentum along the way.

Outcomes that stand out

Every experience leads to something meaningful: an app, video game, project, or paper that students can proudly share and carry into future opportunities and 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.

Guaranteed Outcomes, Every Time

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:
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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.

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‍Each outcome is built to matter in portfolios, on college applications, and in fueling a lifelong love for learning.

Student Projects Showcase

See More Student Projects

AI Speech Coach for Public Speaking

An AI-powered speech training app that helps users practice and improve public speaking with real-time feedback and personalized coaching. Using speech recognition and natural language processing, it analyzes pacing, tone, clarity, and filler words—then delivers instant tips for improvement. Features include practice modes for presentations and impromptu speaking, plus an interactive progress dashboard to track growth over time.Users can access speaking drills, review feedback, and build confidence as more effective communicators.

Personalized AI Tutor for Underserved Students

An AI-driven tutoring app that provides personalized learning support for students, especially in underserved communities. 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.

AI 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

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 in a single hub.

Cultural Bias in Deep-Learning Models

Won: Washington State Science & Engineering Fair

This project investigated cultural bias in AI emotion recognition by training two ResNet-18 models, one on South Asian faces and the other on Caucasian faces. Each model misclassified emotions from the other group, but introducing a small proportion of cross-cultural images improved accuracy across demographics without reducing within-group performance, showing that modest data diversification can reduce bias in sensitive applications like healthcare, law enforcement, and education.

Download report here ↗

The Ethics of Genetic Selection

Published in: Curieux Academic Journal

Emerging tools for genetic selection raise difficult ethical and social questions. Advocates see opportunities to lessen human suffering by reducing inherited conditions, while critics warn about reinforcing inequality and creating narrow definitions of genetic “normalcy.” Lessons from the history of eugenics illustrate the risks of exclusion and discrimination, and debates about disability highlight that quality of life is not easily defined. Access to genetic technologies is also shaped by socioeconomic inequality, adding another layer of concern. Responsible progress in this field depends on strong safeguards, inclusive decision-making, and a commitment to respecting human diversity.

Download report here ↗

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.

Shreya

MD/PhD candidate at Yale University

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

Rajesh

PhD candidate at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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

Jesse

PhD candidate at Princeton University

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

Arun

PhD candidate at Stanford University

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

ArCarrieun

PhD candidate at Harvard University

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

Katherine

JD candidate at Harvard University

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

Meera

PhD Candidate at Stanford University

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.

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.

Full of ideas but in need of structure. Builders thrive with clear milestones, mentor guidance, and the tools to bring their concepts to life.
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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.

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.

Proven 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.

500+ 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.