While a high school curriculum is great for gaining fundamental knowledge covering many different academic pursuits, it tends to remain fairly broad and doesn’t allow for specialization. If your student has independent interests and areas of study they want to pursue not offered in a traditional curriculum, there may be limited opportunities for study in school.
In these cases, a student may want to pursue an independent study, or a “capstone project,” to show their unique interests and academic capabilities, as well as gain valuable skills that may prepare them for the more open curriculum awaiting them at the college level. In this blog post, we’ll explore types of capstone projects, their importance in the college admissions process, and how to choose the right project for you.
What is a Capstone Project?
By definition, a capstone project is “an interdisciplinary, independent project that students complete in their final year of study to solve a real world problem or issue.”
A capstone project typically takes an entire academic year to complete. During their capstone project, a student will be challenged to use their critical thinking, problem-solving, and time management skills to learn about and solve an issue, creating a deliverable in the process that can provide hard and soft professional skills that will be useful in the college setting and beyond.
What Other Names Do Capstone Projects Go By?
A “capstone project” is just one way to label a cumulative study project. You may see it referred to at your high school as independent study, senior project course, self-directed learning seminar, or a number of other names. If you pursue this project independent from a learning institution, you may hear it referred to as a “passion project.” No matter what you call it, a capstone project boils down to a significant project that a student pursues independently.
What Are Typical Capstone Projects?
There are several different types of extracurricular capstone projects you might consider:
Research Paper
A research paper is the most typical deliverable that will come out of a capstone project. Through this process, students will learn valuable skills such as research methodology, literature review, data collection, and data analysis. Students may also learn how to use PowerBI and Tableau, two statistical software programs that are commonly used in the workplace. And bonus points if you can get your research paper published.
Internship or Field Program
Some students may complete an internship or field program to gain hands-on experience in their area of interest. Students can also make professional connections through networking and gain skills that are specific to their future career.
Portfolio Building
Students who are studying in a more creative field might pursue a capstone project in order to build upon or create a portfolio. For example, a student who is interested in architecture may use their capstone project to research a style of architecture and then create their own sketches based on that style for their professional portfolio.
Group Project
In industries where collaborative work is valuable, a capstone project may be conducted in a group. For example, if the capstone project was centered around creating an advertising campaign for a local company, an entire team would be needed to take care of the many demands that come with creating a full-scale campaign.
…And More!
Depending on the project, there are many different deliverables that could be created. For example, someone who wants to work in software development may create a phone application, and in the process, gain coding skills. The possibilities are endless!
Why Should I Do A Capstone Project?
There are several reasons to consider pursuing a capstone project as a high school student:
Pursue Your Academic and Professional Interests
A capstone project provides students with a great opportunity to pursue an area of study that is tailored to their personal interests. It is also a good chance to study an academic area that may not be available in their normal curriculum.
Show Your Interests Clearly In Admissions Applications
Pursuing a form of independent study is a good way to show an admissions committee that you are committed to a specific major or area of study. Colleges want to know that you are genuinely interested in the major you are applying for!
Show Intellectual Curiosity
Colleges value students who are excited about learning. Capstone projects are a great way to show the depths to which your student will dive into their academic pursuits.
Gain Useful Skills for Future Studies and Work
The deliverables that come out of a capstone project require students to gain new skills, like modes of research or coding languages, that may be useful in their college courses or future jobs.
What Can I Use My Capstone Project For In The Future?
There are a number of ways that a capstone project can be useful beyond the college application process! The skills that you gain can be used to design a future culminating project; some colleges and universities require students to complete a similar project during their final year of study. The technical and soft skills gained from a capstone project could come into play in academic, professional, and personal settings for years to come. Completing a capstone project may also help you narrow down your academic interests beyond your bachelor’s degree or select a future career.
What Should I Do For My Capstone Project?
What you do during a capstone project will be specific to what you want to study, what skills you want to gain during the process, and the resources available to you. Each capstone project should be unique to your strengths and interests. A HelloCollege counselor, trusted teacher, or academic mentor can help you brainstorm project ideas and methods that will be the most useful and interesting to you.
Conclusion
A capstone project can provide a motivated, independent, and academically engaged student an opportunity to explore their interests at length. If you’re looking to further explore an interest and stand out in college applications, consider embarking upon a capstone project.
Capstone projects can showcase a student’s unique skills and interests. Recognized by Forbes as one of the Best College Admissions Consultants of 2025, HelloCollege guides students to highlight their achievements in ways that impress admissions committees. Our expert tutors and college consultants can help you brainstorm ideas, stay organized, and highlight your project on college applications. Reach out to us today to get started.
