Initiative
The student chose a meaningful direction and took ownership of real work.
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A Personify Project Track
Design an original invention - and make the idea official.
Students identify a meaningful problem, study existing technology, engineer a complete solution, write a technical report, and prepare a provisional patent filing.
Grades 7–12
The tangible outcome
a novel invention concept
We’ll assess the idea, timeline, and strongest path forward.
90-day money-back guaranteeWhy this matters
Go beyond participation. Build something real.
Strong grades and familiar clubs are baseline credentials. They rarely show what a student can originate, build, and carry into the world.
Personify turns a genuine interest into a public, verifiable body of work with a clear story, real execution, and visible impact.
Designed impact
A fully documented invention and provisional filing are designed to become a highly distinctive Top 3 extracurricular, with competitions as a natural next step.
A provisional filing establishes an early filing date; utility-patent review and competition recognition are separate external processes.
Admissions perspective
Why this project matters in admissions
A well-executed project gives an admissions reader evidence of how a student thinks, follows through, and contributes beyond the classroom.
Follow-through
The finished output shows sustained effort, revision, and execution.
A distinct story
The project creates credible experiences a student can explain in essays and interviews.
What your child will walk away with
a novel invention concept
A concrete, portfolio-ready a novel invention concept created and owned by the student.
a complete engineering design
A concrete, portfolio-ready a complete engineering design created and owned by the student.
a professional technical invention report
A concrete, portfolio-ready a professional technical invention report created and owned by the student.
a filed provisional patent
A concrete, portfolio-ready a filed provisional patent created and owned by the student.
The exact roadmap
From first idea to a finished, public result
01
Problem Discovery
Identify a meaningful real-world problem that connects the student’s interests with genuine engineering potential and an impact factor.
Milestone
A focused problem statement
02
Prior Art and Technical Research
Study patents, technical papers, products, and reference designs to understand what exists and where real innovation is possible.
Milestone
A prior-art analysis
03
Solution Ideation
Use structured prompts and design frameworks to generate multiple viable invention concepts before selecting the strongest one.
Milestone
A selected invention concept
04
Engineering Design
Develop the technical system step by step: components, materials, interactions, and the mechanical or technical function of the invention.
Milestone
A complete design and drawing set
05
Technical Invention Report
Turn the research, design, drawings, and system description into a formal technical document that meets professional and academic standards.
Milestone
A formal invention report
06
Provisional Patent Filing
Prepare the complete, well-defined technical system and documentation required for a provisional filing with the USPTO.
Milestone
A filed provisional patent with a documented filing record
Meet the specialist who can turn the next milestone into a concrete assignment.
90-day money-back guaranteePossible directions
Structured - but never one-size-fits-all
Assistive device
Engineer a product around a disability, health, or accessibility challenge the student understands.
Sustainability invention
Design a system that reduces waste, energy use, or environmental harm.
Real work. Real evidence.
The people beside them
Mentors who know how to ship this work
PhD - Duke · 9+ years in the lab
Dr. Joy Li
Selected for direct experience with this project’s subject matter and execution challenges.
Meet Dr. Joy Li →
MIT Engineer · Makerspace Mentor
Paola Romero
Selected for direct experience with this project’s subject matter and execution challenges.
Meet Paola Romero →
Johns Hopkins Researcher
Caden Tan
Selected for direct experience with this project’s subject matter and execution challenges.
Meet Caden Tan →Timing
When should we start?
Most projects require several months of research, ideation, design, documentation, and filing preparation. Physical prototyping may extend the timeline.
Questions parents ask
Before your child gets started
Does my child need to arrive with an idea?
No. Discovery is part of the work. The mentor helps turn broad interests into several feasible directions before the student commits.
How much support does the student receive?
The mentor gives direct feedback, examples, and specific assignments while keeping the thinking and finished work authentically the student’s.
What makes this valuable for admissions?
The project creates evidence of initiative, intellectual curiosity, execution, and impact - the qualities that can make it a potential Top 3 or #1 standout extracurricular.
Leave the consultation with clarity on fit, scope, and next steps.
90-day money-back guarantee