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College Preparation & The Senior Year

2023 Senior Projects: AP Research Spotlight

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AP Research, taken in Grade 12, is an extension of AP Seminar, taken in Grade 11, and the second half of AP Capstone. Students who pass AP Capstone and four additional AP courses in their high school careers will qualify for the AP Diploma, awarded by the College Board. As in AP Seminar, students investigate issues of their choice, develop research methodologies, review and evaluate sources, articulate original arguments in paper and presentation formats, and define themselves as interdisciplinary scholars.

Whereas AP seminar is primarily skill-focused and ends with performance tasks and an AP exam to measure students’ mastery of skills, AP Research is product oriented and ends with a mini-dissertation based on data and research students have collected independently.

Students define themselves in AP Capstone not by the content or skill sets they have acquired, as in many other AP courses, but by the outcomes and articulation of their own research.

To view a sample of this year’s AP Research Projects, keep reading below.


Student: Ayush A.

Project Title: Correlations Between Academic Rigor and Financial Independence

Abstract: The reason I pursued this research is that I’ve always been interested in pursuing a balance between my academic life and also trying to develop in other areas, such as getting a job, etc. However, what I noticed is that after entering high school, especially at BISV, the increased academic rigor threw off this balance as academics became the number one priority and decreased the time available to focus on other areas of personal development. I think this is a more general trend not just as students progress from middle to high school but also over the decades as high school, in general, has gotten more competitive as students compete for spots at the top colleges. This paper aims to establish a correlation between increased academic rigor in schools and decreased financial independence of high school students in the Bay Area. This region is one of the most competitive in the country, with students taking Advanced Placement and honors courses at extremely high numbers compared to the rest of the United States. I aim to identify if this increased academic rigor comes at a cost to the financial development of high school students. Are they working fewer part-time jobs? Are they creating fewer small businesses? I wish to collect data from multiple high schools throughout the Bay Area by surveying students, asking them how many APs they are taking and if they have ever worked for the purpose of earning money, and analyzing that data to determine if there is a correlational relationship between the two variables.

Student: Meha G.

Project Title: Slay Or Nay? An Analysis Of MET Gala Fashion

Abstract: The concept of fashion has evolved from a utility-based invention to protect the human form from our surroundings (in nomadic times), to indicators of status (in medieval times), and more recently, a form of art and expression. One of the most celebrated annual fashion events in the modern era is the MET gala, hosted by Anna Wintour, editor in chief of Vogue Magazine, every year at the New York Metropolitan Museum for art. I aim to uncover what makes certain MET gala outfits more popular in the public eye than others. Social media has become a large part of fashion, inducing trends and revealing public consensus. Using the instagram account @themetgalaoffical, which has amassed almost 600k followers, I conduct a sentiment analysis of comments, likes, and shares of posts of different celebrity outfits. Each celebrity is compared to themselves, meaning I compare different annual MET outfits of the same person in an attempt to uncover the root of fashionability based on each individual image (examining for things like silhouettes, color ratios, and textures of outfits, as well as other factors like sustainability), controlling for the popularity of each individual celebrity. The general attractiveness/success of an outfit is based on each post’s comment section. Through this research, I hope to provide a basis for future MET gala attendees to achieve success in their fashion choices.

Student: Alyson J.

Project Title: Arcane: League of Legends: Animating Women from Video Games Without Catering to the “Male Lens”

Abstract: Arcane: League of Legends (Arcane) is an animated show produced by Riot Games as an extension of their popular video game, League of Legends. Since its release in 2021, Arcane has received 4 Emmys in addition to widespread recognition for its animation, story, worldbuilding, and characters. However, while the remarkable blend of 3D and 2D animation in Arcane has already been praised for its revolutionary effect on the animation genre, I intend to analyze specifically how the art contributes not only to the show’s reputation, but the actual content and themes within. Specifically, through an in-depth examination of the main plotline and a study of the production, animation and writing process behind the show, I intend to study how Arcane’s development of female characters and lesbian relationships is enhanced by the specialized combination of realism and cartoon-animation in the show’s art style, which has enabled the show to portray nuanced, complex women without catering to male fantasies or one-off stereotypes. In addition to the show’s contents, I will consider its unique status as an adaptation from a well-known video game almost entirely dominated by a male audience. The deliberate changes made between the videogame character designs and the show’s marks a change in the intentions of both the creators and Arcane’s target audience. This, in combination with its remarkably positive reception across all audiences and critics, has resulted in a significant cultural effect wherein the very notion of adult animation has been shifted from the standard 2D animated, cartoonish media that has been popularized in the early 90s and 2000s.

Student: Claire W.

Project Title: Why Y/N May Represent Women Better Than Simone De Beauvoir Does; Fanfiction and Female Fantasies

Abstract: Arcane: League of Legends (Arcane) is an animated show produced by Riot Games as an extension of their popular video game, League of Legends. Since its release in 2021, Arcane has received 4 Emmys in addition to widespread recognition for its animation, story, worldbuilding, and characters. However, while the remarkable blend of 3D and 2D animation in Arcane has already been praised for its revolutionary effect on the animation genre, I intend to analyze specifically how the art contributes not only to the show’s reputation, but the actual content and themes within. Specifically, through an in-depth examination of the main plotline and a study of the production, animation and writing process behind the show, I intend to study how Arcane’s development of female characters and lesbian relationships is enhanced by the specialized combination of realism and cartoon-animation in the show’s art style, which has enabled the show to portray nuanced, complex women without catering to male fantasies or one-off stereotypes. In addition to the show’s contents, I will consider its unique status as an adaptation from a well-known video game almost entirely dominated by a male audience. The deliberate changes made between the videogame character designs and the show’s marks a change in the intentions of both the creators and Arcane’s target audience. This, in combination with its remarkably positive reception across all audiences and critics, has resulted in a significant cultural effect wherein the very notion of adult animation has been shifted from the standard 2D animated, cartoonish media that has been popularized in the early 90s and 2000s.

BASIS Independent Silicon Valley is a TK – Grade 12 private school, providing students with an internationally benchmarked liberal arts and sciences curriculum, with advanced STEM offerings. Considering joining the Bobcat community?

2023 Senior Projects: STEM Spotlight

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The Senior Project, the pinnacle of the BASIS Curriculum, is a selective program that involves an off-campus research project or internship of the student’s choice and design for the last trimester of their senior year.

Seniors select a BASIS Independent Schools faculty member as their advisor and work with a mentor at their research site. These students create detailed project plans, bibliographies of resources, and a personal syllabus for their projects, all of which are approved by a committee of teachers and administrators.

At the end of the trimester, students return to campus and present an analysis of their findings to peers, staff, and parents. To remain connected to their school community while in the field, students are required to blog throughout their experience.

To view a sample of this year’s Senior Projects, keep reading below.

Student: Alison D.

Project Title: Illustrating Jane Eyre: Reviving Classics Through Art

Internship Location: Virtual

Abstract: Many classic novels have been adapted into visual mediums like TV, graphic novels, and web comics to give an element of modernity to historical stories and make them appealing to students. However, these works are often far more simplified than the original and fail to embody the complex themes and nuances of the text. Additionally, since the visuals portray each scene explicitly, readers no longer have to pay close attention to the writing in order to visualize the descriptions. My project explores a middle ground between a graphic novel and a text-only book. With the guidance from my advisor, Mr. Bucci, I will create a few illustrations for a novel that will provide the reader with a visual base for their imagination while preserving the original text. I’ve chosen Jane Eyre as my book since it is a well-known and ever-relevant classic. I will use the Medibang Paint software to digitally draw my historical illustrations in a modern art style that will appeal to the younger generations and encourage them to read the book. The final product will be a set of 5 – 10 illustrations of scenes from Jane Eyre.

Student: Timothy H.

Project Title: The Dissection and Arrangement of Music Using Computer and Instrumental Composition

Internship Location: San Jose State University

Abstract: When creating music, it is important to understand the ins and outs of the various sounds that are used to create the melodies that are produced. From learning how to create a rhythm to adding the right percussion and bass to even finding a catchy and appropriate melody, each part of the song is an important aspect that needs tuning to create a coherent song. Through arrangements, it is important to take those key components of a song and translate them in a new and original way, potentially utilizing different instruments or even software to generate the notes and melodies. Whether it’s simple guitar arrangements from Sungha Jung or Andrew Foy to the fully fleshed post-modern arrangements of Weird Al, my work analyzes these various arranging styles and how they use their creativity to utilize the musical tools to create their own arrangements. Through the understanding of these complex arrangements, I am creating my own arrangements of songs for people to listen to through researching and adopting various arranging styles of well-known artists and music creators.

Student: Cindy W.

Project Title: Generosity and Vulnerability in Conditional Cooperation

Internship Location: Carnegie Mellon University

Abstract: Standard economic theory assumes that all agents are rational, acting in their own best interest. Yet, we often find real-life decisions to be far from rational as they are affected by our emotions and environment. Specifically, I am focusing on the factor of vulnerability through a virtual project with Carnegie Mellon University’s Social & Decision SciencesScreenshot 2023-05-31 142845 Department. Vulnerability has often been studied in psychology as a facilitator of trust and intimacy. Considering this, I am researching whether vulnerability can also induce trust in an economics setting through reciprocity, generosity, and cooperation. By creating my own economic game and distributing it through Prolific, an online site for completing surveys and conducting research, I am gathering a sample of subjects to participate in my study. In my game, there is a clear Nash equilibrium; however, due to the effects of vulnerability, some subjects may not choose the most rational choice for themselves. Instead, they may be more inclined to give to other people. I expect that vulnerability can induce connections between humans, which is extremely pertinent in real-life interactions, specifically in business through sales and marketing. The results of my research add an additional explanation for why real-life human behavior is not the same as that predicted by economic models, and more importantly, it may advise us on sales and marketing strategies that can induce customers to give back more to the business.

BASIS Independent Silicon Valley is a TK – Grade 12 private school, providing students with an internationally benchmarked liberal arts and sciences curriculum, with advanced STEM offerings. Considering joining the Bobcat community?

2023 Senior Projects: Humanities Spotlight

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The Senior Project, the pinnacle of the BASIS Curriculum, is a selective program that involves an off-campus research project or internship of the student’s choice and design for the last trimester of their senior year.

Seniors select a BASIS Independent Schools faculty member as their advisor and work with a mentor at their research site. These students create detailed project plans, bibliographies of resources, and a personal syllabus for their projects, all of which are approved by a committee of teachers and administrators.

At the end of the trimester, students return to campus and present an analysis of their findings to peers, staff, and parents. To remain connected to their school community while in the field, students are required to blog throughout their experience.

To view a sample of this year’s Senior Projects, keep reading below.

Student: Anavi C.

Project Title: The Conundrum of the Morally Ambiguous Female Character

Internship Location: Paramount

Abstract: This research explores the portrayal of morally ambiguous female characters within media, and more specifically cinema. While there is nothing inherently novel about this topic, through further research, there remains a gap in the presence of moral ambiguity and female likability. Through analysis of various television shows and movies, this study aims to examine the ways in which these characters are developed and portrayed, and the implications of their complexity for societal understandings of femininity and morality. This study will also consider the cultural and societal context in which these texts were created, and how that may have influenced the portrayal of these characters. This study will also investigate the potential for these characters to challenge traditional gender roles and stereotypes. Ultimately, this research seeks to shed light on the importance of well-developed, multi-faceted female characters in shaping cultural narratives and perceptions of women. By reviewing several female-led shows and movies, ranging from Gone Girl to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo to Handmaid’s Tale to Fleabag, this study will aim to create an archetypal character that exhibits these attributes. By analyzing these morally ambiguous female characters, this study will strive to provide insight into the ongoing conversations surrounding representation and representation within media.

Student: Brandon F.

Project Title: Blending Abstract Expressionism With Chinese Art

Internship Location: Fong Chung-Ray Studio

Abstract: What is the relationship between Abstract Expressionism and traditional Chinese art? There is a familiarity between the two in their glyphs, fluidity, and ideology. Yet, how does some Abstract Expressionism resemble Chinese aesthetics so closely while remaining distinct from traditional work? In this Senior Project, I create a painting after analyzing artworks from acclaimed artists in both fields and putting art into practice, where unveiled similarities can bridge Western and Eastern art, and encourage a holistic view. The final work I paint blends these cultures together while using key techniques from both styles, such as Xie-Yi, Shui-Mo, calligraphy, “paint splatter, drip, splash”, and collage. I am working at Chinese Abstract artist Fong Chung-Ray’s art studio, where he will guide me in addition to my advisors Mrs. Karen Ourthiague and Ms. Carolyn Phillips. By the end of this Senior Project, I am now able to compare manners of style in Abstract Expressionism and traditional Chinese art and see how they can come together.

Student: Savitha S.

Project Title: Legacies of Inter-Ethnic Tensions and Colonization on the Mental Health of South Asian Youth

Internship Location: San Jose State University

Abstract: South Asians have generally avoided discussions about mental health, resulting in serious detriments as time goes on when unresolved stressors accumulate. However, among other factors, historic South Asian conflicts like British colonization also affect youth mental health. The Bay Area, the region of focus of this project, is especially unique because of the large South Asian demographic. As such, the purpose of my project is to understand how South Asian history and the retellings of past events, from the internet or family, impact the mental health of South Asian American youth from the Bay Area. To do this, under the guidance of Dr. Trung Ngyugen, who is the assistant professor of Ethnic Studies at SJSU, I am conducting and analyzing interviews of South Asian youth to better understand how influential ethnic history is on current youth mental health. Additionally, I am incorporating the sociological technique of “haunting,” which is the process in which both the manifestations of history in everyday life and the missing pieces of the past are equally studied to gain a larger perspective of the human experience. Ultimately, the project will help policymakers and medical professionals make more informed decisions to better battle social stigmas and stereotypes often placed on South Asians. With this, public resources can be made more culturally sensitive to South Asian history and South Asian American experiences, through more staff trainings, better-informed institutional policies, and more.

BASIS Independent Silicon Valley is a TK – Grade 12 private school, providing students with an internationally benchmarked liberal arts and sciences curriculum, with advanced STEM offerings. Considering joining the Bobcat community?

Congratulations Class of 2023: Raising the Bar for College Acceptances

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We are exceptionally proud of our seniors’ achievements as they move forward to the next phase of their exciting academic journey. As they are about to step into the world’s top colleges and universities this fall, we know they are prepared to excel, determined to stand apart, and ready to prove the success of the BASIS Curriculum. 

The Class of 2023 from our three high schools including, BASIS Independent Brooklyn, McLean, and Silicon Valley have yet again set the standard in national and international college acceptances. For the Class of 2023, the past school years have been filled with countless hours of test preparation, essay writing, campus visits, and more. The hard work and determination over this and prior years have shown as our graduates are now well-prepared to enter world-renowned higher education institutions and thrive.

“Each year we are incredibly proud of the achievements of our graduating classes,” expressed Toby Walker, Vice President of BASIS Independent Schools. “They have all contributed so much to their school community and any college or university is fortunate to now count them among their student body. The Class of 2023 has raised the bar once again for BASIS Independent Schools. Congratulations!”

College Acceptances by the Numbers

Below is a summary of the acceptances to U.S. News & World Report’s list of 2022-2023 Top National Colleges and Universities. This list includes all graduates from our three high schools.

BINS Class of 2023 Achievements

The Class of 2023

The Class of 2023 represents 174 graduates who applied to a wide range of colleges and universities across the U.S. and around the world. College counseling preparation begins in Grade 9 at BASIS Independent Schools. In their senior year, students take a daily college counseling class for two trimesters in length, which is led by one of our college counselors. This class allows students to dedicate time and focus on preparing an application that stands out.

“College admissions seem to get more and more competitive each year, yet our seniors continue to amaze us all,” said Amanda McCollum, a college counselor at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley. “A heartfelt congratulations and I have no doubt all of our graduates from coast-to-coast will pursue their greatest dreams, and we can’t wait to see and hear about their next steps.”

We have compiled a complete list of all acceptances to U.S. colleges and universities, followed by a list of all acceptances to global institutions. We are excited to share the results!

BINS National US Acceptances 2023

Congratulations Class of 2023 on this huge achievement. We are incredibly proud of you!

College Counseling Spotlight: Preparing for Decision Day

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Every year on May 1, students are cementing where they will attend college on National Decision Day. What are we doing to prepare our students for this big, impending decision?

This year, our College Counselor, Ms. Abrams, has been working with students and parents in grades 9-11 to ensure they feel confident and comfortable with the college admissions process, and we are also pleased to share some of the standout internships and programs our soon-to-be seniors are doing this summer.

Our students learn a lot about the college process and how this journey will be unique for each one of them. During the vital junior year, grade 11 students have:

Individual, weekly meetings in the College Counseling office to form college lists and identify the “right fit” schools that suit their personalities and support their academic goals.

Group sessions to discuss major college application checkpoints, such as essay writing, resume building, and summer program enrollment.

Collaboration time with teachers to share information and prepare for the recommendation letter writing process.

Our grade 9-10 students have access to Ms. Abrams’ resources and are encouraged to stop by her office to start discussing their plans for the future. She helps them choose high school courses that will be beneficial for completing their goals, and her door is always open for them to discuss volunteer and summer program opportunities, and college research.

Once students reach their senior year, they take a daily college counseling course to help them succeed in successfully planning for the next stage of their education journey.

Admissions Reps Visiting Our Campus
Further, we host college admissions representatives on campus in the fall, and this year we welcomed reps from over 50 colleges and universities. These visits provide an advantageous opportunity to learn straight from the source about what makes a college unique, and they allow students of all grade levels to get their questions answered. This process helps our students hone their college choices to the point where they will be happy to attend anyone on their list.

Supporting Parents in the Process
Every month, Ms. Abrams distributes an informational newsletter on local college fairs, parent workshops, and organizations in the community that can help build student resumes. For example, families have access to a curated list of hundreds of Pre-College Summer Program opportunities and volunteering.

Additionally, Ms. Abrams hosts various webinars for parents about topics such as Financial Aid, The Common Application, and the SAT/ACT tests. She also makes time for individual check-ins to ensure that she, the families, and the student are all on the same page and that everyone’s goals align.

Preparing for Senior Year
Our students are currently brainstorming for their personal statements and supplemental essays, which will help them get ahead before the rush of college applications in the fall semester. After their AP tests, juniors will work on these essays in their English classes with Ms. Abrams and their English Subject Expert Teacher to ensure they receive constructive and valuable feedback.

Additionally, students are working on leveling up their resumes and conveying themselves in the best way possible. They are visiting colleges both in person and online, and we are excited to take all of our high school students to SUNY New Paltz this May to get a feel for a college campus.

Pre-College Summer Programs for Our Students
Many students will engage in pre-college summer programs at major universities or through community organizations. These programs help teach students important skills for their futures, such as collaboration, time management, organization, and advocacy. See below for some student highlights!

Ashley W. (Class of ’24) is attending New York University’s Pre-College program this summer. She is so excited to dive into two courses: Applied Psychology and Intro to Marketing. Ashley has loved NYU for a very long time and is looking forward to making new friends and expanding her passions this summer.

Deniz E. (Class of ’25) has lots of plans for this upcoming summer. First, he will attend Columbia University’s three-week Summer Immersion Program where he will focus on two courses: Globalization and Challenges in International Economics and Politics, and Political Economic Ideologies of The Modern World. Deniz loves New York City and is excited to work on Columbia’s campus this summer. He will also work at the USTA’s Tennis Summer Camp as a Junior Coach and help young children improve their tennis skills.

Hudson L. (Class of ’25) is excited to attend The University of Pennsylvania’s Pre-College Summer Program. After thoroughly enjoying both his AP Biology and AP Psychology courses, Hudson is enrolled in UPenn’s Neuroscience Research Academy. He is looking forward to learning more about the brain and how it connects to our emotions. Specifically, he is excited to spend time on a beautiful college campus.

Julia N. (Class of ’26) will attend Columbia University’s Pre-College program for Architecture this summer. Besides being a dedicated student and soccer player, Julia loves art. She is eager to explore her more creative side while working alongside like-minded peers on a college campus this summer.