Personal Enrichment
Project (PEP) Program

Beyond the Activities List

OVERVIEW

A teacher standing at the front of a classroom smiling with students seated and raising their hands. The whiteboard behind her has notes and a skeleton model to the side.

Structured guidance to take a project from concept to launch.

This service is for motivated students whose interests don't fit traditional extracurriculars, or who thrive with independent work that lets them think creatively and deepen their skills. Independent projects also demonstrate to admissions officers intellectual curiosity, initiative, and drive, while also showing what a student brings to an academic department. Past projects include a Congressional App Challenge app, an online teen journal, a nonprofit launch, and a graphic novel headed for publication.

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What to Expect in the Program

HOW IT WORKS

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  • Current freshmen (second-semester only), sophomores, and juniors.

  • Over a three-month period, students will work in a weekly 1:1 capacity with a PEP advisor to:

    • Identify their specific area(s) of interest.

    • Conceive a project that allows them to deepen those interests.

    • Develop a structured plan and timeline, identify incremental goals and deadlines, and define
      a culminating deliverable.

    • Take action to launch their project.

  • Scholar Co. runs this course in three-month windows, with rolling enrollment throughout the year. If additional time is needed beyond the three-month period, families can work with advisors to extend the duration of the project.

    • One 60-minute launch meeting to review specific interests and determine an area of focus for the project.

    • Ten weekly 30-minute sessions to check in about progress and refine tasks.

    • One 60-minute closing meeting to debrief key achievements and strategize next steps (if applicable).

  • Please express your interest via this form. Families will have an initial call to discuss the student’s background and project ideas in order to be matched with an advisor. Advisors will coordinate a launch meeting. Afterwards, families complete the service agreement and remit payment to officially begin the program.

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