100 Passion Project Ideas for High School Students

When it comes to preparing for university applications, you need to present yourself as the best candidate ever. To do this, you need more than just good grades. You need to show that you are genuine, passionate, creative and have grit. A great way to demonstrate this is through passion projects. A passion project is something you pursue outside the classroom that reflects what you truly care about, and to help you take your first steps, we’ve collated 100 passion project ideas across multiple areas.

It’s a personal initiative where you dig into a topic, cause, or idea because you want to—not because you’re told to. Whether it’s creating an app, starting a blog, organising a community event, filming a short documentary, or launching a sustainability initiative at your school, what matters is that it’s driven by you. Admissions officers love them because they show you’re self-motivated, capable of independent thought, and able to follow through on an idea—all of which go far beyond the tick-boxes of a curriculum.

In this article, we will guide you through the concept of passion projects, the benefits they bring, passion project ideas organised by interest area, and how to use them. Passion projects refer to an independent project, separate from academic and work requirements, that most high school students undertake during the summer time.

Such projects usually take a variety of forms, ranging from the arts and creativity to in-depth research, personal challenges and community outreach and involvement. Later in this article, we will explore 100 passion project ideas that can serve as inspiration.

In short, it gives you the perfect opportunity to explore and experiment with areas of interest, build confidence and express yourself. It also allows you to take ownership of your personal development and stand out in a very competitive environment.

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