Starts September 21 · Founding cohort $397
A guided 4 week program that gives the most ambitious high school students the structure, feedback, and accountability to stop overthinking and start building their passion project.
Enrollment closes September 18 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time, or earlier if all 20 founding cohort spots are filled.
Enroll your student
Designed for high school students.
A passion project is something your student creates around a subject, problem, or community they genuinely care about, such as: a business, research project, community initiative, app, event, educational resource, podcast, or campaign.
Unlike an activity they simply join, a passion project gives your student the opportunity to make decisions, solve real problems, and build something they can genuinely call their own.
CASE STUDIES
Jiwon L. ('25, Founder of Sightshare)
Jiwon came to Melody knowing she wanted to build a passion project to not only stand out for colleges, but more importantly, help make positive impact. Inspired by someone close to her who is visually impaired, Jiwon founded Sightshare, but needed help choosing the right direction to grow its impact.
I helped her narrow her ideas into a focused, actionable initiative: Voice Letters, which mobilizes students to record messages of encouragement for patients undergoing eye surgery.
Today, Sightshare has engaged students from 38+ high schools and colleges, raised over $5,000, supported more than 150 patients, and delivered over 800 Voice Letters.
Jiwon is now a student at Cornell University.
HOW DOES THE PROGRAM WORK?
01
Find the project
Turn broad interests into a focused project that feels realistic to build.
02
Make it real
Build the first real version instead of staying stuck in planning mode.
03
Get real feedback
Put the work in front of real people, learn from them, and improve it.
04
Launch it
Finish, launch, document the work, and share progress at Demo Day.
EVERYTHING INCLUDED IN THIS PROGRAM
Students get a step by step roadmap, direct feedback from Melody, weekly Build Clinics, recordings, and practical templates. If they miss a live session, they can continue asynchronously and still get feedback.
Step by step project building curriculum
Direct feedback from Melody
Weekly Build Clinics (Live Calls)
Recordings and asynchronous participation
Supportive community of ambitious students
Project planning templates and resources
No program can guarantee admission to a specific college. This program helps your student build something genuine and substantial that reflects their interests, initiative, and ability to execute.
Melody Dao
Founder of Study For You Bestie and Seretii
I've mentored hundreds of students to build their passion project that got into top universities like the Ivy Leagues, and Top 20 US News Colleges. My main focus is helping students turn interests into meaningful projects and opportunities. These skills not only apply for college applications, but will eventually come in handy with internship/job applications. Many of my students (and myself) began working for Fortune 500 companies with their resume listing their passion project experience. Personally, I've gotten multiple 6 figure post grad opportunities, all thanks to my passion project.
More Content About Passion Projects
Your student launches a passion project. Or get your money back.
We’ll provide the roadmap, deadlines, direct feedback, and support your student needs to turn their idea into a real first version.
If your student completes the lessons and weekly milestones, participates in the Build Clinics live or asynchronously, and asks for help when they’re stuck, but still does not launch their project by the end of the four weeks, you can request a 100% refund.
No perfect project or massive results required. Just a real first version your student can proudly call their own.
FAQs
Does my student need an idea before joining?
No. Students can join with one idea, several competing interests, or no idea at all. The first week helps them choose a project that is both meaningful and realistic.
What exactly is a passion project?
A passion project is something a student independently creates around an interest or problem they care about. Examples include a business, community initiative, research project, educational resource, event, app, podcast, campaign, or creative project.
How can this help with college applications?
A meaningful project can give a student concrete experiences to discuss in their essays, activities list, interviews, and supplemental responses. It can demonstrate initiative, curiosity, leadership, and follow-through. However, the Challenge does not guarantee admission to any college.
Is this a college admissions counseling program?
No. This is primarily a project building program. Melody helps students develop, launch, and grow a meaningful project. By the end, students understand how to connect it to their interests, personal story, and future college applications. Students will learn how to present their project in a way that highlights their initiative, impact, and growth. However, the program does not include college selection, application management, or full essay editing.
What is included in the $397 price?
The founding cohort price includes the 4 week curriculum, prerecorded lessons, live Saturday calls, recordings, project templates, community access, weekly milestones, and feedback from Melody.
What is the refund policy?
All sales are final, except under our Launch Guarantee. If you complete all required weekly milestones, participate in the program, and make the required real-world attempts but still don’t launch an eligible passion project by the end of the four weeks, you may request a full refund in accordance with the Launch Guarantee terms.
FOUNDING COHORT · $397
Includes the roadmap, direct feedback, Build Clinics, recordings, resources, Demo Day, and the Launch Guarantee.
Enroll your student now
Launch Guarantee applies; see full terms for eligibility.
Questions? Please email: studyforyoubestie@gmail.com