High School Database

I'm going to be honest—being passionate about research alone isn't enough to guarantee a spot in these structured programs. Because opportunities are so limited, they are extremely competitive. Programs like Mt. Sinai and Sunnybrook receive over 200 applications for just ~25 spots. The Hamilton Health Sciences bursary sees around 60 applications for 15 spots. ASPIRE has only 3–4 spots with about 20 applicants (but it's expected to become even more competitive as it restarted after COVID). You’ll typically need very high academic averages (95%+) to be seriously considered.

Fortunately, you don’t need previous research experience to apply. In fact, for some programs (such as Hamilton Health Sciences), having no formal experience can actually work in your favour. However, it’s very unlikely you’ll get a publication out of these programs (although it’s possible if you show strong initiative and go above expectations).

That’s why we highly recommend cold-emailing professors using our directory. While many labs don't have the capacity to take on high schoolers, there are always smaller or newer labs that may be open. It might take sending 200+ emails—a grind, I know—but if you’re motivated to get research and communicate that clearly, someone will be happy to give you a chance. Don’t limit yourself to 'prestigious' universities either; any research experience in high school is incredibly valuable.

Another great way to get your foot in the door is through programs like the STEM Fellowship Research Exploration Opportunity (REO). They place students in a lab over March Break, giving you that initial exposure to real research. It’s a great gateway to securing longer-term positions—after your placement, you can easily ask the researcher hosting you if they'd be open to having you stay on to continue shadowing, volunteering, or even taking on small projects. Many students use this route to build relationships that eventually lead to full-time research opportunities. REO can be competitive, especially if you’re applying from metropolitan areas like the GTA. In that case, we highly recommend not just applying to "top universities." Instead of only applying to places like the University of Toronto, consider universities like Guelph, Toronto Metropolitan, and others. The quality of your placement and experience will be equally strong — what matters most is the opportunity to learn, not the university name.

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General cold-emailing tips are listed on our Outreach tab, but for high schoolers specifically:

• Highlight any independent research projects you've done (IB IAs, AP Capstone projects, science fair work, personal research).

• Acknowledge your lack of formal lab experience, but show your willingness to learn, commit, and contribute. One way to do this is by thoroughly researching their lab and previous papers, and referencing them directly in your emails.

• Understand that unpaid full-time hours are often expected—but the experience will set you far ahead.

• Be as low-commitment for the lab as possible at first. Instead of asking directly for a volunteer position, start by asking if you can attend lab meetings to learn more. Gradually, you can build trust and transition into shadowing or volunteer work. Labs will appreciate your patience, professionalism, and seriousness in making sure it’s the right fit for both sides.

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I personally got involved in research when I was in high school and went through all of these steps. This advice only scratches the surface—if you want LabPath to make more detailed resources about this, or if you have any questions, feel free to email us. I'd be more than happy to help.