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Rishab’s Best Guides
Hand-picked guides written from real wins, not generic advice. Start with my story, see honest reviews of the big programs, then dig into the competitions worth your time.
From real wins
My Story & Strategy
How I got into Harvard, MIT, and Stanford, and the exact moves you can copy.
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The Ultimate Guide to Winning the Chemistry Science Bowl
A guide to the Chemistry Science Bowl: how the competition works, the best books and resources to study,…
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How I Won the Coca-Cola Scholars Award
How Rishab Jain won the Coca-Cola Scholars award (a $20,000 scholarship for 150 seniors a year): how the…
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How to Get a STEM Research Internship at a Local Lab
A step-by-step guide to landing a STEM research internship at a local lab through cold emailing professors, plus…
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How to Get Into Harvard: Successful College Application
Lessons from a successful Harvard application: what admissions officers look for in grades, activities, essays, and a clear…
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How to Craft the Perfect Science Fair Question
A step-by-step guide to crafting a strong science fair research question: start from a passion, research it, then…
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The Stats that Got Me Into Harvard, MIT, and Stanford + Bonus Tips!
The grades, test scores, awards, and activities that got Rishab Jain into Harvard, MIT, and Stanford, plus tips…
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The Ultimate Guide to get into MIT & CEE’s Prestigious RSI Program!
How to get into the Research Science Institute (RSI) at MIT, run by the Center for Excellence in…
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Study Hacks for High School Success: Time Management and Productivity Tips
Study hacks for high school success: practical time-management and productivity tips, from prioritizing and deep work to beating…
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Ultimate Guide to Crafting an Impressive College Resume: Dos and Don’ts
College applications often allow for a resume, which can showcase your achievements beyond the standard application sections. This…
No fluff
Honest Program Reviews
Straight answers on the big programs. What’s worth it, and what isn’t.
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STEM vs. The Humanities: Which Should You Pursue?
STEM or the humanities? What each path involves, the honest pros and cons of both, and how to…
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Is Harvard Summer School Worth It? 2026 Review
A review of Harvard Summer School for high schoolers: the Pre-College and Secondary School programs, what each costs…
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Merit Achievements VS. Extracurriculars: Which is Better?
Do colleges weigh measurable achievements (awards, scores, competitions) or extracurricular involvement more? The honest pros and cons of…
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Should You Participate in National Honor Society in High School?
National Honor Society membership will not significantly boost your college application. The best way to stand out is…
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Is the Indigo Research Program Worth it?
Is the Indigo Research program worth the time and money? A look at the common criticisms, what they…
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Is Polygence High School Research Program a Scam?
A critical look at the Polygence high school research program: what it offers, its cost, the concerns this…
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Is Inspirit AI Summer Research Program Worth It?
A critical review of the Inspirit AI summer research program: what it offers, the cost, and why this…
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Is The International Research Olympiad Valuable? 6 Pros and Cons
Is the International Research Olympiad (IRO) worth it? An honest look at the pros and cons, from research…
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ACT vs. SAT: Which Test Is Right for You? A Comprehensive Comparison
ACT vs. SAT, updated for the digital SAT and the 2025 enhanced ACT: how each test is structured…
Fact-checked
Top Competition Guides
Deep, fact-checked playbooks for the competitions that matter most for college applications.
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The Ultimate Guide to the AMC 10/12
Everything you need for the AMC 10/12: format, scoring, AIME cutoffs, prep strategy, and the best resources to…
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Ultimate Guide to the International Biology Olympiad in 2026
A guide to the International Biology Olympiad (IBO) and the USABO path to Team USA: the rounds, who…
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How to Win the Thermo Fisher Junior Innovators Challenge
How to win the Thermo Fisher Junior Innovators Challenge (JIC), the top US middle school science competition: the…
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Ultimate Guide to Win the Regeneron Science Talent Search
How to win the Regeneron Science Talent Search: what it is, how the competition works, strategies for a…
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How to Win the Davidson Fellows Scholarship in 2026
A guide to the Davidson Fellows Scholarship: the $100,000, $50,000, and $25,000 awards, eligibility, the video and application…
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The Ultimate Guide to the USA Biology Olympiad (USABO)
The USA Biology Olympiad (USABO) is the top biology competition for U.S. high schoolers. How the three rounds…
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How to Win Regeneron ISEF: Rishab Jain’s Winning Project
How Rishab Jain won 1st place in Biomedical Engineering at Regeneron ISEF 2022 with ICOR, an AI codon…
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Research Science Institute (RSI): Everything You Need to Know About RSI
How to apply to the Research Science Institute (RSI): application components, test-score benchmarks, deadlines, the six-week program timeline,…