While in high school, opportunity are the most valuable thing that we don't want to miss out. However, juggling through search engines social medias to look out for the exact opportunities available might be tedious for you as a high school senior, especially with the rigorous coursework of Nepal's NEB syllabus. Therefore, here are some of the mighty list of opportunities and strategies you can follow up to expand your hand and grab as much as you can without having feeling of dissonance. Note that, this will cover a very short but descriptive list of opportunities with regard to Nepal high schoolers. Getting into any of this program is really competitive so you must focus any one of them as achieving any of this may help tremendously in your future endeavours.
We all know that high school (esp. NEB curriculum) is very rigorous, and it is hard to manage time to excel both academics, ECAs, and CCAs. However, it is now impossible. As your time is so valuable during your high school years, focusing on right ECAs is just as important as choosing right course for your high school. So, beside all the recommendations you should also prefer surfing internets for legit extra curricular opportunities.
Here is a well-curated list of opportunities for high school students in Nepal, focusing on those that provide real value and can open doors for your future college journey as well. These include summer programs, scholarships, and initiatives you can take on your own. I’ll also point out some programs and internships you should avoid.
Categories of Opportunities
1. Summer Programs
2. Scholarship Opportunities
3. Things You Can Do on Your Own
4. Programs to Avoid
1. Summer Programs
When watching in youtube videos you may fall into some internationally renowned summer programs like Research Science Institute (RSI), YYGS, MITES, etc. However, they are specifically for the high school student residing in the US or international students with super driving forces. Although some of them are accessible or virtual programs, the financial burden constraints are another obstacle for Nepali students. Luckily, there are other programs tailored to Nepali high school students that are more feasible and equally enriching. Considering those factors, the summer programs like Incubate Nepal and Uunchai are the perfect fit in the context of Nepal. Further, the mentioned two of the summer programs are described below.
Incubate Nepal
Incubate Nepal is an eight week fully funded program that is conducted virtually, with its mentors residing in the US, graduates from top universities, and working on the vibrant and emerging fields. This program initialize a vision in a student with their collaboration in an open-end extensive projects. This is the wonderful opportunity for Nepali high school if they are looking to indulge them in a research based product development program to experience the actual outside workflow of the world.
Generally, Incubate Nepal opens their cohort application every year during or just after academic session ends, which is in between April and June. Only selected group of students from the applicants' pool get the opportunity to collaborate in the cohort, and yes, the selection is very competitive even if it is only confined to Nepal. For Nepali students, Incubate Nepal is wonderful summer program that you can explore and indulge your self to get better yourself.
Uunchai
Uunchai is newly developed fully funded summer program organized by the FountEd organization. Similar to Incubate Nepal, this program also establishes a platform where students can collaborate to build a project. Additionally, Uunchai also offers a post-program placements for potential candidates at top leading companies of Nepal. The whole program is led by mentors from the top institution abroad as well as from Nepal.
Uunchai launches it application for new cohort every year in between June and August. Uunchai is also just competitive as Incubate Nepal as they also have limited number of seats in every cohort. However, unlike Incubate Nepal, this program is only 5-6 weeks program held virtually for the ease of the cohorts. To be precise, Uunchai is inclined towards a project-development opportunity side rather than research-based summer program. However, it suggests the cohorts to expand their arms into research activity as well to get the best product from what is available.
Both Incubate Nepal and Uunchai offer meaningful experiences and valuable skills that are not only applicable to your future studies but also crucial in building your personal qualities.
2. Scholarship Opportunities
Nepal has various scholarships to study in Nepal as well as abroad, but you must be strategic in applying for them. These scholarships are highly competitive and require a mix of academic excellence, extracurricular achievements, and often, leadership or community service experience. While there are number of scholarships which you may find by internet surfing that are specific to your qualification and the field you are aspiring for, here are the two of the scholarships to mention scholarship opportunities for high school students if you are aspiring to study abroad (esp. United States) in Nepal are:
USEF-Nepal Opportunity Fund
Every year, USEF-Nepal selects handful of students for this competitive opportunity. USEF-Nepal is a body of US Government for education outreaches which associates with US embassy, Kathmandu. The selection process of this competitive opportunity is based on three steps i.e. application, assessment test, and interview round. For this program, you must have 3.6 GPA in your SEE exam. Furthermore, they select only 15-18 students each year based on overall performance in all of the three steps.
If you are a cadidate who is aspiring to study undergraduate in the United States, then this is the window you don't want to miss for your entrance to the US. This program bears all of your upfront costs that includes SAT registration, TOEFL registration, SEVIS fee, college application fees, financial forms, and many more. On the top of that, it also provide you a very specific guidance during your application. Furthermore, they connect with their massive alumni network who have already reached on the top colleges of the United States.
Next Genius Scholarship Award
The Next Genius Scholarship Award is one of the largest undergraduate scholarships offered to Nepali students by select U.S. and Indian universities. This scholarship provides full and partial tuition coverage to students who demonstrate academic brilliance, leadership potential, and a desire to give back to society.
The application process for Next Genius is rigorous, involving multiple rounds of assessment, including an online test, interview, and personal essays. However, the effort is well worth it, as winners receive a top-quality education, mentoring, and career opportunities through the program. However, you must consider a sum of amount they want you to pay, as the scholarships from are upto full tuition only, and you have to pay rest on your own.
Here, only handful of scholarships are listed to just provide an overview for your further scholarship research. Finding scholarships is the most important activity you should do during your high school if you are considering to study on a minimal family contribution.
3. Things You Can Do on Your Own
While summer programs and scholarships are invaluable, there are plenty of opportunities you can create for yourself without relying on external programs. Here are a few strategies:
Start a Passion Project
One of the most impressive things you can do during high school is start your own passion project. This could be anything from a blog on a subject you’re passionate about to a community service project that addresses a local issue. For instance, if you’re interested in technology, you might create a website or app that solves a problem in your community, or you could launch a YouTube channel where you teach coding skills to other students.
Passion projects demonstrate initiative, creativity, and commitment—all qualities that stand out to colleges and scholarship committees. Plus, they offer you the freedom to explore your interests and make a real impact.
Online Learning and Certifications
Another excellent way to stand out is by taking online courses and earning certifications in areas relevant to your future goals. Platforms like Coursera, edX, and Udemy offer a wide range of courses in everything from data science to entrepreneurship. These certifications not only help you gain valuable skills but also give you a competitive edge when applying for scholarships or internships.
4. Programs to Avoid
While there are many great programs out there, it’s essential to be discerning and avoid those that offer little to no value. Here are some red flags to watch for:
Unpaid, Non-Impactful Internships
Programs like Prodigy InfoTech Internships or similar low-quality internships are often tempting because they are free and easy to get into. However, these internships usually offer little in the way of actual skill-building or valuable experience. Sometimes, they may even charge you for certification which is a straight scam rather than opportunity. Instead of wasting your time on something that won’t help you grow, focus on internships or volunteer opportunities that align with your interests and offer real-world skills.
Unheard Paid Certifications
Be wary of paid certifications from unknown organizations. Many of these programs charge high fees but provide little value in terms of recognition or skill development. Instead, opt for free or low-cost programs from reputable platforms like Coursera or edX, where you’ll get a certificate that’s widely recognized and respected.
In Sum,
As a high school senior in Nepal, there are lots of opportunites. However, the important thing is that you must look for it, opportunity is never going to look for you. Consider internet surfing, being updated with the student opportunity platforms, and giving effort bag that opportunity also as a part of your high school. Just to give a reference you can also talk to your seniors or a gap year students. They may also have researched for the same opportunities. This will help you to get a reliable list of opportunities, which will also help you to filter out bad ones.
On the other hand, avoiding programs that offer little real value will save you time and allow you to focus on opportunities that truly matter. Remember, achieving any one of these will significantly contribute to your future endeavors, helping you build a strong foundation for college and beyond.