Program Structure Research Topics Pricing & Scholarships FAQs

Program Structure

A clear, guided path from idea to publication

Overview

ThesisPathways is a structured, one-on-one research mentorship program designed for high school and undergraduate students. We are NOT a tutoring service. Students at ThesisPathways are NOT research assistants. They lead their own projects with a mentor's guidance. Each student works closely with a PhD or MD-level mentor to complete an original research project or a literature review and submit it to a student research journal. Mentors include both PhD and MD candidates and graduates.

The program consists of 20 individual 30-minute sessions or 10 individual 60-minute sessions, conducted remotely, with clearly defined milestones to ensure progress, accountability, and successful completion.

What Students Work On

Mentors support students in designing projects that are safe, ethical, and achievable, providing guidance every step of the way.

Original Research vs. Literature Review

Original Research Project

In an original research project, students investigate a novel question by collecting or analyzing data. This may include experiments, simulations, surveys, interviews, or analysis of open-source datasets.

  • Follows the scientific or scholarly method
  • Involves data collection or data analysis
  • Generates new insights on a focused question
  • Common in STEM and some social sciences

Example: Analyzing air quality data to study links between pollution and asthma outcomes.

Literature Review

In a literature review, students synthesize and critically evaluate existing research on a specific topic. Rather than collecting new data, students analyze published studies to identify trends, gaps, and future directions.

  • Focuses on critical reading and synthesis
  • No new data collection required
  • Identifies debates, patterns, and gaps in research
  • Common in humanities, social sciences, and STEM fields

Example: Review existing studies on how social media use affects teenagers’ sleep patterns, comparing findings, identifying gaps, and summarizing overall trends.

Both project types are rigorous, mentor-guided, and eligible for submission to student research journals. Students and mentors select the format that best aligns with the student’s interests, experience level, and academic goals.

The standard 20-Session Journey

The 10-session journey has a similar framework

Sessions 1–3: Foundations

Students meet their mentor, refine their interests, and develop a clear project title and research question.

Sessions 4–7: Project Design

Students design their methodology and create a detailed paper outline. Mentors ensure the project is well-scoped, rigorous, and feasible.

Sessions 8–13: Research & First Draft

Students conduct their research or literature review and complete a full first draft of their paper.

Sessions 14–17: Revisions & Final Draft

Mentors provide detailed feedback as students revise their work into a polished, submission-ready manuscript.

Sessions 18–20: Submission & Review

Students prepare a cover letter, submit their paper to a journal, and respond to reviewer feedback with mentor support.

Program Outcomes Goals

Ready to Begin Your Research Journey?

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Contact Us

Have questions or want to learn more?

Reach out to us at:

thesispathways@gmail.com