50 Exciting Passion Project Ideas for High School Students in 2024
by
Indigo Team
Indigo Research Team
&
Published:
December 26, 2023
Last Updated:
April 5, 2024
School is important, but it's also the time of your life! Why not turn something that you enjoy doing into something measurable?
With the increasing competition in college applications, college admission officers(CAO) are actively seeking more points in your application. They often want to justify your essay with your passion project or other activities that can back it up.
Passion projects are more than just fun, they can help you stand out from the crowd when applying to college.
This article will discuss unique passion project ideas that you can start today. It will also give a snippet of inspiration from the Ivy League admit passion projects.
Passion projects are self-directed activities that you do simply because you like them. While at the same time, producing results or learning on the go.
Forget boring school assignments and pre-determined tasks.
We all have curiosity about something and this what keeps us, as a human, are developing and growing. Use this curiosity to explore, create, and experiment. The best part of this project is that you can convey this unique story in your college applications; highlighting your talents, dedication, and commitment.
The first step to pursuing a passion project is to find out what you are really interested in. This should be something that you are excited about. For example, you like games, manga, and comic books. Or a specific cause like the environment, a certain subject at school like science, or something that you aspire to know about.
Working on something you love will keep you motivated to finish the project. It would make the project easier to do because you like doing it. It also provides information to the universities you are applying to about what motivates you.
Start by asking yourself:
1. What subject at school are you interested in?
2. What topic that you want to know more about?
3. What topics can you talk for hours about?
4. Is there any extracurricular activities that you are excited about?
5. What problems in the community at school or even in the world you are still curious about?
List down the topics that you are interested in, and/or related to your studies or communities that you live in.
Once you have the list of the topics, you would want to analyze:
1. What is interesting or useful among the topics you have chosen?
2. Is there any positive impact if I start working on it?
3. Does this topic solve any specific problems?
Then you can start scratching off the topics that don’t fulfill the questions above. Now, you have a new list: topic with problem/interesting information.
Onto the next step, you should calculate the approximate time that you will allocate to complete this project. Choose a realistic timeframe according to your goals.
Consider these:
1. How much time do you have?
2. If you are doing this to strengthen your college application, you should know when will the submission of the college application be, and finish before the deadline.
Now that you have streamed down the list, all you have to do is choose the one you are most passionate about and have the most significant value.
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Outline specific objectives and milestones to keep you on track. Maybe you want to publish a research paper or write a book, make sure you have a measurable goal with a timeline.
Example: “I will finish my research paper about the global warming impact on marine life by March 2024.”
Break down big goals into smaller steps. Examples:
1. Find a mentor to help with a research paper - by 15 January 2024
2. Determine a topic for the research paper - by 20 January 2024
3. And so on.
To learn how to start and publish a research paper, check out the article: “How to Publish a Research Paper in 5 Easy Steps”
After that, you need to put all those small actions and goals into a specific timeframe. When are you going to finish goals 1 to 10? Scheduling deadlines for yourself helps you to stay organized in finishing this passion project.
To finish any project requires commitment and consistency. Avoid delaying and treat it like any other assignment.
When you add this project to your college application, admissions may look for proof to back up your work.
You can track your project's details, progress, and results in a journal on your computer or by creating a blog or vlog. You can also start social media pages, like Instagram or TikTok.
Documenting your project helps you stay committed, makes it feel more tangible, and lets others follow your progress.
Presenting your project is the final step. This could be through a presentation at school, a community event, an online platform, or any other suitable medium.
The key is to share what you've learned, your results, and the impact of your project. Be prepared to explain your journey, answer questions, and even receive feedback.
For this final step, you can either:
1. Create a presentation in the form of PPT or PDF (you can also be creative with Canva)
2. Create an explanation video presentation
You can choose whichever format that you are most comfortable with. This is also an opportunity to demonstrate your communication skills and how effectively you can convey your passion and findings to an audience. The way you present your project can be as important as the project itself, as it reflects your ability to engage and inspire others.
Creating your own research project demonstrates your critical thinking and analysis skills. By doing research, you are also showing your ability to present your ideas in writing. It highlights your potential and your eagerness to contribute with your knowledge.
There are lots of research topics to choose from. You can get ideas by looking at research projects done by our previous students.
Passion projects ideas of scientific research for high school students examples:
1. Studying market trends on the rising of the K-Pop Industry
2. Conducting a research project on the positive impact of manga or comic books on young people at a certain age.
3. Researching the effects of screen time on social interaction patterns in young students.
4. Conducting a research project about the applications of solar panels in rural Chinese housing
5. Make a map showing public places where young people can be creative outdoors.
Taking on creative projects shows your creativity and agility in thinking outside of the box. It also demonstrates your commitment to developing your abilities and communicating your unique perspective.
If you consider yourself artsy, try to explore these options:
6. Hosting a photography exhibition focusing on local landscapes.
7. Producing and performing a community theater play.
8. Creating a mural that represents the spirit of your town or city.
9. Composing an electrifying piece of music and creating a mini-concert for your local community
10. Developing an interactive digital art installation.
Choosing an active role in community service initiatives shows your leadership, sensitivity, and dedication to improving the community. It's a great illustration of your capacity for problem-solving and collaboration with a variety of groups.
Passion project examples in the community service category:
11. Setting up a food drive for a local shelter.
12. Organizing weekend workshops for toddlers’ skills development in your community.
13. Establishing a mental health awareness campaign among teenagers, creating informational materials, and providing resources for mental health support
14. Running a book, clothes, or toys donation drive for underprivileged children.
15. Coordinating a neighbourhood elderly assistance program.
If you are interested in computer science, then building a technological project might be a great concept for you. Technology projects demonstrate your capacity to solve problems and adjust quickly to changes in an industry that is constantly changing. This project will show your technical ability to contribute towards technological improvements.
Examples of computer science projects:
16. Creating an app that helps students manage their study efficiencies.
17. Developing a game that teaches basic coding skills using AI.
18. Developing a Chatbot for a specific purpose, like providing mental health support, or assisting with extracurricular inquiries.
19. Designing a showcase experience using AI based on historical events like the Vietnam/American War.
20. Launching a tech blog or YouTube channel reviewing the latest gadgets that can help students’ productivity.
Participating in environmental projects shows your awareness of global issues. It demonstrates your capacity for critical analysis of challenging issues and your dedication to long-term fixes. It’s a quality that is becoming more and more crucial in higher education.
In this category, you can try:
21. Starting a mini-project to turn your house’s resources into solar energy
22. Organizing workshops on DIY upcycling crafts.
23. Leading a team to plant a community forest.
24. Researching the water quality of the neighborhood lake.
25. Running a school program on water conservation techniques.
Working on cultural exploration projects reflects your curiosity about the world and possibly your origin. It shows that you appreciate diversity and are willing to engage in different perspectives. As the world becomes more multicultural, this is a key to a modern educational experience.
Passion projects ideas that might satisfy your cultural curiosity:
26. Invite your friends whose origins are different from you and host a multicultural food festival
27. Creating a podcast series on the historical stories of immigrants in your community.
28. Organizing an art exhibit featuring traditional crafts from around the world.
29. Collect children's books about local folklore from different countries and display them in your neighbourhood. Make it more fun by organizing a small event.
30. Producing a series of short films on different cultural celebrations.
Calling all students who want to go to business majors. You can start early with your entrepreneurial projects! These projects showcase your initiative, creativity, and business understanding. They indicate your capability to identify opportunities and take action towards them.
If you are looking for passion projects for business majors, then these are for you:
31. Starting a candle-making business using eco-friendly materials.
32. Launching a line of custom-designed eco-friendly tote bags.
33. Creating a mobile app that connects local farmers with buyers.
34. Make and sell jams. You can make your own brand, try out ingredients you like, and improve your customer service skills.
35. Developing an app for students' notes-sharing on a subscription basis.
Literary projects demonstrate your communication skills and your ability to clearly express complicated ideas. They demonstrate your interest in language and concepts, which are essential for success in the related academic field.
Examples of literary project ideas:
36. Writing a collection of short stories based on local or international legends that intrigued you
37. Starting a poetry blog with weekly themes and challenges.
38. Authoring a graphic novel portraying a local event that happened in your neighbourhood, eg. a recent Typhoon, or local awards.
39. Compiling a cookbook with family recipes and their stories.
40. Creating a reliable and credited self-published magazine that features young local artists and writers.
Health and wellness initiatives show your commitment to personal and community well-being. Especially if you are interested in pursuing medicine for your college majors. They show you understand the need for a balanced life, which is important to handle in college life.
Examples of health and wellness initiatives and passion project ideas for medicine majors:
41. Volunteering at Healthcare facilities and creating a report explaining what you learn in this facility.
42. Conduct a research project on medical topics, eg. long-term effects of covid-19, development of liver cancer on covid-19 patients, etc.
43. Conduct a survey to assess the community’s health needs in your neighbourhood
44. Organizing a weekend yoga retreat for teenagers and focused on mindful meditation.
45. Creating a series of healthy, easy-to-cook meal plans for student.
Choosing psychology for a passion project is both fun and educational. This project brings insights into how people think and behave that can be useful for your future education.
Here are some ideas:
46. Start a campaign in your school or community to raise awareness about mental health issues. This could include organizing workshops, creating informational brochures, or setting up support groups.
47. Create a blog or podcast discussing various psychology topics. You can also invite & interview professionals in the field and share resources with your audience.
48. Conduct simple observational studies or surveys to understand behaviours in your school or community. For example, you might study the effects of social media on students’ mental health.
49. Organize workshops on mindfulness and meditation, teaching techniques to reduce stress and improve concentration.
50. Start a psychology club at your school where members can discuss interesting psychology topics, watch and analyze films with psychological themes, and invite guest speakers.
Let's be honest. Our main objective to do this passion project is to get into top universities or even Ivy League Universities. For college admissions officers, your extracurricular activities are the second-most important part of your college application after your grades. Top universities seeking candidates who have dedicated time and energy to meaningful projects.
There are many passion project topics to choose from. But some passion projects stood out. Here are some Ivy League passion projects examples:
Participant, Research Program
Researched the relationship between colour and human experience. In particular, it explores people’s associations with colour, colour preferences across cultures, and how colours in one’s environment affect emotions and productivity.
Co-President, Tikkun Olam (Jewish cultural group)
Organized a field trip to the Holocaust museum for 100+; planned Holocaust awareness assembly with 400+; planned cultural events promoting Jewish heritage.
Founder of a Child Rights Group
Working with NGOs in India to develop computer solutions aimed at addressing issues like child abuse & food deprivation; running a crowdfunding campaign
Participant, Entrepreneurship Summer Program
Conceptualized & prototyped smart band for people w/ panic disorder; conducted market research w/ 281 ppl; devised business plan; pitched to 8 investors
Summer Research Intern, News Service
Researched Recurrent Neural Networks (NN) for automatic identification of named entities in the local language; worked on an NN architecture to enhance accuracy
Vice President, Kalliope Organization Committee
Initiated school's first charity green fashion show; liaised with designers, models, and performers' which attracted 600+ audiences; raised 1K+ for bursary fund.
Volunteer & Fundraiser, Service Trip
Over $10,000 through various fundraising; assembled school supply care packages; crafted lessons & taught at schools in East Timor
The possibilities for meaningful projects are endless. Let these examples inspire you to start your own passion project!
Passion project ideas are endless! You can start literally on anything you like. Creating a passion project shows your initiative and can boost your confidence in real life. Not to mention, the story you can tell when you grow up!
Now, pick your passion and start creating! Good luck!
If you want to do research for your passion project, consider joining Indigo Research Program! We pair high school students with mentors from top universities to turn a project into publishable research. The best part is you can start anytime and choose any topics that you are passionate about!
