Stand Out in College Applications with STEM-Away®: A High Schooler’s Path to Success
As a high school student preparing for college—or as a parent guiding your teen—you understand how competitive admissions have become. STEM-Away® is here to turn your genuine curiosity and passion for STEM into a powerful, standout narrative for college applications. Here’s how:
Step 1: Find Your Passion Projects
- Visit the AIVIA Projects Page.
- Choose projects aligned with your genuine interests—not just what you think colleges want to see.
Step 2: Take the First Step with Low-Stakes Evaluations
- Familiarize yourself with your chosen project.
- Attempt the initial MCQ evaluation provided at the top of each project page.
- You have two free attempts per project.
- No pressure: You only need to attempt this evaluation—not necessarily pass—to access mentors.
Step 3: Track Your Progress Easily 
- Visit your personalized AIVIA™ Dashboard.
- Easily track all projects you’ve engaged with.
- If you haven’t attempted an evaluation, your dashboard stays empty, and you’ll miss valuable mentorship opportunities.
- (Reference image below is a UX prototype; actual appearance may vary slightly.)
Step 4: Connect with Project-Specific Mentors
- Click Get Mentorship to connect directly with mentors who specialize in your specific project.
- Unlike general tutoring, our mentors are vetted experts familiar with exactly what you’re working on.
- The marketplace launched in March 2025, with many more mentors expected by summer!
Why Is Project-Specific Mentoring Unique? 
Imagine working on your college application portfolio and getting stuck on a specific technical challenge. Instead of generic advice, you can quickly consult an expert mentor who knows your project inside out. This targeted, timely support makes your learning highly effective, saves valuable time, and reduces stress—benefitting both students and parents.
Step 5: Showcase Advanced Mastery (Optional)
- If you succeed on the MCQ evaluation, unlock the comprehensive AIVIA evaluation.
- This deeper dive includes three objective-style questions with follow-up inquiries, offering meaningful feedback colleges value highly.
- Complete this evaluation thoughtfully, and you’ll receive a clear competency rating: Beginner, Intermediate, or Expert.
Alternate Option: Forum-Based Mentorship
Prefer interacting openly? You can request mentorship publicly by replying directly to project posts on our forums.
Privacy and Recognition:
- Only your successful MCQ scores and Intermediate/Expert AIVIA ratings are publicly visible; everything else stays private.
- Only Intermediate or Expert-rated participants are eligible to mentor others, enhancing credibility.
Let STEM-Away® help you turn authentic STEM interests into college admission success stories. 
