By SK, CS Content Editor, MehtA+ High School Thriving Guide

Passion Projects are a fun way to take a hands-on deep dive in a subject of your choice!

As the college admissions process becomes more competitive, it’s important for students to find ways to stand out from the crowd. One way to do this is by creating a passion project. A passion project is a personal project that allows you to pursue your interests and showcase your skills and talents.

In addition to increasing a student’s chances of being accepted, having a passion project can also help students stand out when applying for scholarships and internships. Many scholarship committees and employers are looking for students who have demonstrated leadership, creativity, and a commitment to their community. A passion project can demonstrate all of these qualities and more. In this article, we will discuss how to create a passion project for college admissions and provide ideas for computer science-related passion projects.

Pursuing passion projects help with personal growth and development

Benefits of Pursuing a Passion Project

Pursuing a passion project can have several benefits for college applicants. To colleges, it shows that you are a self-motivated and proactive individual who takes initiative. It also demonstrates your creativity and problem-solving skills — traits that are highly valued by colleges.

Besides helping you stand out in a crowded field of applicants and making you more memorable to admissions officers, here are the top 8 reasons every student should pursue a passion project:

1. Personal growth and development
2. Opportunity to explore interests and passions
3. Increased creativity and innovation
4. Expanded knowledge and understanding of a subject
5. Opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals
6. Potential for new hobbies or career paths
7. Enhanced critical thinking and decision-making abilities
8. Increased motivation and drive

A good first step is to identify your interests and brainstorm ideas for a passion project.

How to Find Your Interests and Connect the Dots?

As a high school student, it can be difficult to figure out how to get started out on a passion project. With so many options and possibilities, it can feel overwhelming. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to get started:

Step 1: Identify Your Interests

The first step in creating a passion project is to identify your interests. Think about what you enjoy doing in your free time or what subjects you excel in at school. Do you enjoy coding, writing, art, music, or sports? Once you have identified your interests, write them down.

Step 2: Brainstorm Ideas

The next step is to brainstorm ideas for your passion project. Start by thinking about how you can combine your interests to create something unique and meaningful. For example, if you enjoy coding and also have a passion for environmentalism, you could create a website that promotes sustainable living practices. Or if you enjoy writing and art, you could create a blog that showcases your artwork and writing.

Step 3: Research

Once you have some ideas for your passion project, it’s time to do some research. Look online for examples of similar projects or websites that inspire you. Take note of what works well and what doesn’t. This research will help you refine your ideas and come up with a plan for your project.

Step 4: Create a Plan

Now that you have some ideas and have done some research, it’s time to create a plan for your passion project. This plan should include a timeline, a budget (if necessary), and a list of resources that you will need. It’s also important to set goals for your project and determine how you will measure success.

Step 5: Get Started

The final step is to get started on your passion project. This may involve learning new skills or working with others to bring your project to life. It’s important to stay organized and focused on your goals as you work on your project. Remember that this is an opportunity to showcase your skills and creativity, so take the time to do it right.

Step 6: Getting help

If you need help while brainstorming and researching ideas or while working on your passion project, it is a great idea to reach out to a parent, a school teacher, a university professor or a mentor who is knowledgable about the field that you are passionate about. You can also always turn to MehtA+ for help — we have mentors who would love to help you with your passion project in a variety of fields — including but not limited to computer science and the social sciences. You can fill out our Project Mentorship form and we would be happy to help!

There are so many great ideas for a passion project! If you’re passionate about culture and technology, consider creating a virtual reality experience that explores different cultures.

Here are 15 Ideas for Computer Science-Related Interdisciplinary Passion Projects:

1. Create a mobile app that helps people learn a new language.
2. Develop a website that showcases local artists and their work.
3. Build a game that teaches children about financial literacy.
4. Design a virtual reality experience that explores different cultures.
5. Create a chatbot that assists people with mental health issues.
6. Develop an algorithm that predicts weather patterns.
7. Build an e-commerce platform for small businesses.
8. Design a software program that helps people manage their finances.
9. Create a website that connects volunteers with local charities.
10. Develop a mobile app that helps people track their daily water intake.
11. Build a platform that matches job seekers with employers based on their skills and interests.
12. Design a program that uses machine learning to predict stock prices.
13. Create a website that promotes sustainable living practices.
14. Develop a game that teaches children about cybersecurity.
15. Build a platform that connects students with tutors for online learning.

If you’re passionate about finance and technology, consider designing a program to predict stock prices.

Conclusion

Creating a passion project can be a great way to shine in the competitive college admissions process. By identifying your interests and connecting the dots between them, you can develop a project that demonstrates your creativity, problem-solving skills, and self-motivation. Whether you choose to pursue a computer science-related passion project or something else entirely, the key is to choose something that you are passionate about and that will allow you to present your passion to the admission officer.

When working on a passion project, it’s important to remember that you are only competing with yourself, and that the ultimate goal is personal growth and development. By pushing through challenges and obstacles, students can gain valuable skills and experiences that will serve them well in college and beyond. So if you have a passion or interest that you want to pursue, don’t be afraid to create a project and see where it takes you. The possibilities are endless!