Why is research a valuable experience? 

While strong grades and test scores are important, colleges and universities are increasingly seeking students who have conducted original research in high school. 

Research experience can: 

•  Provide an advantage on your college applications! 

“Research is the lifeblood of our institution, and it's a good way to connect our faculty and students,” says Hank Dobin, associate dean of the college at Princeton University. 

• Hone the skills that all employers seek in college students such as the ability to work effectively in teams, engage in critical thinking, and analyze and interpret data (Finley, 2021)

• Prepare for a job after graduation

• doing real research and discovering new connections and phenomena is REAL, joyful learning

ABOUT Our Science Research Program 

Long Beach offers a unique elite program providing highly motivated students the opportunity to perform authentic scientific research as part of their middle and high school experience. Research begins in the middle school where students work on detailed skill building, data collection, technology program learning and laboratory techniques. 

HIGHLY motivated high school students can partake in the research program. They will begin by identify their topic of research through a literature review seeking gaps in current literature. Students then carry out experiments using state of the art technology and authentic data collection. 

Researchers moving into grade 11 and 12 are required to seek out mentorships and/or summer programs to gain experience in labs and present their work with other Long Island schools most noble and exclusive group of student researchers. At a symposium, researchers are provided with an opportunity to present, network, and communicate with a wider scientific community, including scientists and college affiliated judges. 

Dedicated students in our Research Program prepare for participation in ISEF affiliated fairs such as LISEF and NYSSEF. In order to obtain an invitation to the ISEF competition, the research students are working on should address a current gap of knowledge in the scientific community and usually requires the use of a mentor. 

Other science related competitions and symposia include:

• BNL Science Bowl

• Long Island Science Congress (LISC)

• Barcode Long Island (BLI)

• South Asian American Women's Alliance (SAAWA)

These competitions result in college monies as placement prizes and/or acknowledgement among the Long Island science community, colleges and research field specialists. 

As a senior, researchers will have an opportunity to apply to Regeneron STS which is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science research competition for high school students. Placing at this competition provides an important forum for original research that is recognized and reviewed by a national jury of professional scientists.

All Science Research courses are considered Honors Level, and as such the final course grade will receive 1.05 weighting