Why refer your students to Polygence?
Better outcomes for your students
Polygence students report 2-5x higher acceptance rates to elite universities.
Flexible programs
Polygence programs are personalized and flexible. Your students will choose the subject, project outcome, and timeline for their unique project.
Peace of mind
Polygence facilitates safe, monitored communication and runs background checks on all mentors.
Polygence has served students from around the world, 44 countries and growing
Polygence Counselor Interest Form
Turn Passions Into Research Projects!
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Educator Reviews
Every single one of our 50+ students & families have spoken extremely highly about Polygence, the top-tier mentors they have, and excitement the students’ have when meeting with their mentors and working on their research projects. Having worked in the education space for the past 10+ years, I’ve seen many organizations that come and go and there is not another organization that I have been as thoroughly impressed with as I am with Polygence…
Counselor with 10+ years experience, Director of large counseling team
I have been enormously impressed with the professionalism and the opportunity that Polygence has offered my students. [The research projects offer] far more depth than what can be found in a high school curriculum. Students have completed a deep dive into topics relating to science, art, literature, and linguistics. As an advisor, I have immensely enjoyed seeing my students progress. Many of my students really see these mentorships in the truest sense of the word.
Teacher, college admissions counselor and school founder with more than 20 years experience
Polygence does a wonderful job matching students with mentors in their interest fields -- and they go beyond to help students achieve their full potentials. The whole team is extremely supportive -- fast responses with questions; thorough summary after each sessions and customized research experience for every student. One of my seniors last year completed a policy/law related project and leveraged her project for college admissions. She's happily attending USC Marshall School of Business now!
Educational Consultant, member of NACAC and HECA
While many programs offer students the opportunity to research under the guidance of faculty members the uniqueness of Polygence is that this is a program for students with a clear point of view and research interest. The mentors also work to engage students from around the world at a time that is convenient for them rather than solely engaging at a fixed time. The growth that students experience truly builds their intellectual curiosity and academic self-confidence.
Counselor with 35+ years experience in Selective and International College Admissions
Our students have been involved in a range of projects spanning an array of different interest areas including fashion, government, computer science and research science. What I appreciate are advisors who are both experts in their field and caring mentors for their students. The Polygence team has worked hard to make sure students are academically challenged and not just completing a program. I appreciate their partnership and keep up the good work!
Counselor with 20 years experience, Director of large counseling team, Member WACAC + IECA
As a consultant, I can say the student tracking system Polygence offers to partners is especially impressive. The email notices from Polygence have helped us to track our students' progress (both their admission interviews and sessions), enabling us to better serve our students' needs and expedite our workflow. Also, the students' profiles on our Polygence account dashboard have been beneficial to...explain the students’ process and potentials of research to their parents...
Counselor with 8 years experience, Member IECA + ACA
Every single one of our 50+ students & families have spoken extremely highly about Polygence, the top-tier mentors they have, and excitement the students’ have when meeting with their mentors and working on their research projects. Having worked in the education space for the past 10+ years, I’ve seen many organizations that come and go and there is not another organization that I have been as thoroughly impressed with as I am with Polygence…
Counselor with 10+ years experience, Director of large counseling team
I have been enormously impressed with the professionalism and the opportunity that Polygence has offered my students. [The research projects offer] far more depth than what can be found in a high school curriculum. Students have completed a deep dive into topics relating to science, art, literature, and linguistics. As an advisor, I have immensely enjoyed seeing my students progress. Many of my students really see these mentorships in the truest sense of the word.
Teacher, college admissions counselor and school founder with more than 20 years experience
Do you offer benefits for counselors?
We love to work with counselors! Polygence has a dedicated partnerships team built specifically to support counselors, educators, and institutions as they serve students and families. Please fill out the interest form above or book a meeting with our team to learn more about benefits and membership.
I am already a partner counselor. Who is my partnerships manager?
As a partner, you have a dedicated partnerships manager who is well informed about your organization and standing by to support you in your service to students. You can find out who your partnership manager is and get in touch with them by logging on to your counselor dashboard. Their friendly face and contact information awaits you there.
I am already a partner counselor. How do I access my counselor dashboard?
Use this link to log in to your counselor dashboard. If you cannot remember your login credentials, use the Forgot Password button or reach out to your partnerships manager for assistance. You can also email [email protected] anytime.
How do I see my enrolled students on my dashboard?
In the top right corner of your counselor dashboard landing page, you will see a button to “See all of my students”. After clicking that button, you will see the full history of your students’ engagements with Polygence, ordered by enrollment date.
I think I have a partnership with Polygence. How do I confirm?
We would love to hear from you! Email [email protected] anytime. Or, Use this link to log in to your counselor dashboard. If you cannot remember your login credentials, use the “resend activation link” button to see whether you have an active account with us.
I am not a partner yet but I have a student who is interested. How do I refer a student to you?
Please email [email protected] to get set up as a partner with Polygence. From there, we will establish your custom student landing page where your students can enroll in Polygence programs through our partnership, and access the associated partnership benefits.
If you believe your student has already applied, it is not too late to extend partner benefits if you do wish to become a partner. Please reach out to us to discuss further!
How do I help my student showcase a Polygence project on their application?
Polygence will likely be the most distinct extracurricular in a student’s application. Polygence projects give colleges a sense of what students care about, and who they wish to become.
Admissions results from our students indicate that highlighting their projects strengthens their applications. A survey of thousands of Polygence alumni revealed that students featured their Polygence projects at multiple points throughout their applications:
- 97% of students mentioned their Polygence project in their Activities List or CV
- 58% mentioned their project in their Supplemental Essays
- 32% mentioned their project in their Personal Essay
- 27% included a Letter of Recommendation from their Mentor
- 25% described their Polygence projects in admissions interviews
Acceptance rates from our alumni demonstrate the benefit of their projects on admissions:
- 92% acceptance rate to at least R1 research university - 51% acceptance rate to USNews top 25 colleges and universities
- 33% acceptance rate to top 10 Liberal Arts Colleges
- 24% acceptance rate to Ivies A full resource guide is available here.
Is Polygence “Pay-to-Play”?
No. However, like most student extra-curricular activities, we charge tuition to compensate our mentors for their time and expertise, provide a best-in-class user experience, and support students, counselors, and families with timely and high-quality support.
More broadly, our aim is to someday democratize access to research. Polygence partners with a number of NGOs, non-profits, grass-roots organizations, as well as public schools to offer our services to communities in need. Additionally, we offer financial aid to need-based applicants.
Is Polygence a summer program?
No. Each month we start a new cohort so students can enroll year round. We do have high numbers of students complete projects over the summer.
How long is the Polygence program?
The Polygence program is uniquely flexible. Upon enrollment, students choose the time range for project completion. Projects typically range from 3-6 months. (The average project length is 4 1⁄2 months.)
Do you offer financial aid?
Yes! When students apply to Polygence, they’ll need to submit proof of family income when applying for financial aid.
Is there a minimum age or grade requirement for students?
No. Although most Polygence students are in high school, we’ve enrolled middle school and college students as well. We request that students arrive excited to jump in and engage with their mentor, and believe in students’ ability to do real research despite their youth.
Does Polygence help students brainstorm their topic idea?
Yes! One of the goals of the Admissions Interview is to continue to brainstorm the research project idea. If your student is interested in exploring potential project ideas with a mentor, we have a 3-session program called Launchpad where your student can workshop project ideas with up to three different mentors in up to three different subjects. Additionally, students can explore our completed Projects page and our Project Ideas page for inspiration.
What’s the acceptance rate?
We do not abide by a strict acceptance rate. We look for students who demonstrate authentic intellectual passion and curiosity and who will be engaging thought partners to our mentors. We do not ask for GPA or recommendation letters in our application process because we believe that the most important ingredients in a successful Polygence project are intellectual passion and grit.
Do you help students get published?
Yes! We recommend students enroll in our Premium Showcasing Support program for those aiming to publish their work. Polygence students can also publish their research in our Research Archive of Rising Scholars (RARS).
What is your refund policy?
If a student wishes to withdraw from the program, they must reach out to [email protected] with their request to withdraw. Polygence's refund policy is program specific and outlined below:
Polygence’s 10-session Core Program*:
- If you have paid and not had your 1st session → Eligible for refund of up to 100%
- If you have paid and met for 5 or fewer sessions → Eligible for refund of any unused session
- If you have paid and have met for more than 5 sessions → Ineligible for refund
Polygence’s 3-session Pathfinders Program, Launchpad, and Premium Showcasing Support Program**:
- If you have paid and not had your 1st session → Eligible for refund of up to 100%
- If you withdraw from the program before completing all 3 sessions → Eligible for refund of any unused session
6-session Polygence Pods:
- If you have paid and the 1st session has not been held → Eligible for refund of up to 100%
- If you withdraw from the program before completing all 6 sessions → Eligible for refund of any sessions that have not run
Please note that upon enrolling, you are confirming that you understand the timing for the Pod sessions. Recordings for all pod sessions are available in the workspace after the session is held, and no refunds will be provided for unattended sessions.
Polygence’s research course offered in partnership with UCIxGATI:
- If you have paid and the final UCIxGATI enrollment deadline has not passed → Eligible for refund of 100% tuition, or transfer into a later cohort
- If you have paid and withdraw from the program after the final UCIxGATI enrollment deadline → No refund will be provided, and you may no longer transfer into a later cohort
Polygence Mentor Guarantee: Polygence stands behind the quality and expertise of our talented mentors. If you’re not satisfied with the knowledge or support of your mentor, please notify the Polygence team as soon as possible by emailing [email protected]. After your first session, if you’re not fully satisfied with your mentor’s knowledge or expertise, we will rematch you with a new mentor, or provide you with a full refund.
*As projects are student-driven, successful outcomes will depend on the individual student effort and time commitment. Polygence does not guarantee specific project outcomes or exact project deadlines, or provide refunds due to failure to complete projects within the original program duration.
**As an ethical and academically rigorous program, Polygence does not guarantee publication or publishing outcomes in peer-reviewed journals, and does not provide refunds for projects not selected for publication to specific journals. For research paper submissions, Premium Showcasing Support will provide support for submission to up to 3 journals (or equivalent showcasing opportunities) identified as appropriate for the work created.