Uncharted: the Pioneer Academics Alumni Podcast

Jan 22 2025 22 ep. 43 mins 4
Uncharted: the Pioneer Academics Alumni Podcast artwork

For ambitious young people, university life presents remarkable opportunities and challenges - the most fundamental of which is how to carve out their own path. Welcome to “Uncharted”, a podcast where Pioneer alumni share how they have navigated making some of the most important decisions every university student faces. Uncharted is hosted and produced by alumni of the Pioneer Research Program. Widely respected for its high standards in selectivity and academic rigor, it is the only fully-accredited and college-credit bearing online research program for high school students.

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Exploring Nonprofit Innovation and Academic Pathways with Christina

Jan 22 2025 35 mins  
“I found my passion for nonprofit work through volunteering in high school, which led me to study inequality within the sector. My goal is to enhance inclusivity and equity, particularly in foundation funding.” — Pioneer alumna Christina In this episode of Uncharted, Tuana interviews Christina, who conducted Pioneer research in apocalyptic literature in 2019 and is now pursui

Navigating College Applications, Finding Your Academic Path, and Unlocking Career Opportunities

Jan 22 2025 27 mins  
How can high school students stand out in college applications? Why is researching colleges and majors important? How does participating in programs like Pioneer shape your academic and career journey? In this episode of Uncharted, Pioneer alumna Christina shares how her research on apocalyptic literature at Pioneer in 2019 influenced her academic path and prepared her for success.

Pioneer alumnus Isaac shares his professional insights on the finance industry, career preparation, and global opportunities

Jun 12 2024 53 mins  
“I found the most effective way to build relationships, instead of saying I don't understand question 4 on problem set 5, was to have something interesting to say; go to office hours, and discuss [ideas] broadly.” — Pioneer alumnus Isaac This episode of Uncharted features Mariam, who conducted research in biophysics at Pioneer in 2021, interviewing Isaac, who conducted r

Finding new academic passions in university, finding a sense of belonging in your college community, and developing a career in finance

Jun 12 2024 33 mins  
Why is it important to explore different interests? How can you deal with the transition from high school to college? How can you use your time in undergraduate to explore different career paths? In this episode of Uncharted, Pioneer alumnus Isaac, who conducted research at Pioneer in 2016, shares his unique experience adapting to university life, insights on developing relationshi

A trip from courses to real life: Pioneer alum Gayatri shares her insights from high school and college life

Apr 14 2024 32 mins  
This episode of Uncharted features Wendy, who conducted research at Pioneer in 2022 in economics, interviewing Gayatri, who conducted research at Pioneer in 2019 in history. Gayatri studies psychology, history, and economics at Barnard College. Gayatri likes applying theoretical knowledge in real life. She highlights how having close conversations with professors has helped her i

Practical psychology and economics: Barnard scholar shares her experience in interning, researching, and applying theoretical knowledge in life

Apr 14 2024 44 mins  
How does what we learn at school and college translate in real life? Why is it important to do practical research? And how can internships better equip you technically for the market and mentally to make educated decisions? Gayatri, who conducted research in history in Pioneer 2019, shares all of that and more. Gayatri studies psychology, history, and economics at Barnard College.

Choice optimization in the competitive world of finance and business: Pioneer alum Luccas shares his unique journey at McKinsey & Company and as an aspiring entrepreneur

Mar 19 2024 59 mins  
“Push yourself and put yourself in uncomfortable situations. But don't be too hard on yourself.” - Pioneer alumnus Luccas This episode of Uncharted, the Pioneer Alumni Podcast, features Gayatri, who conducted research at Pioneer in 2019 in history, interviewing Luccas, who conducted research at Pioneer in 2014 in economics. Luccas graduated from Harvard College and pursued

An entrepreneurial journey: Luccas' advice on college applications, summer internships, research opportunities, and mentorship

Mar 15 2024 32 mins  
What does “fit” really mean in the college application process? How does research in high school prepare for further academic excellence and research opportunities in college? How should you approach mentorship in college and in the workplace? Pioneer alumnus Luccas conducted research in economics at Pioneer in 2014 and graduated from Harvard College. He worked at McKinsey and

An insider look into the world of software engineering: Pioneer alum Rahil shares social and technical highlights as an international student and a silicon valley engineer

Feb 05 2024 51 mins  
“Finding your community within the larger place you're at, I think, is something that helped me. I think once I found my group of people or my community at college is what helped me a lot.” - Pioneer alumnus Rahil This episode of Uncharted, the Pioneer Alumni Podcast, features Ishaan, who conducted research at Pioneer in 2020 in math, interviewing Rahil, who conducted rese

University vs high school: work, academia, and social life advice

Feb 03 2024 36 mins  
In this episode of Uncharted, the Pioneer Alumni Podcast, Rahil reflects on his experiences applying to universities, adapting to campus culture as an international student, applying to full time jobs, and his experiences as a software engineer in Silicon Valley. Rahil also sheds light on the importance of community and belonging, specifically from his experience adapting to the US