Capstone Projects: Why They Matter & Examples of Success

What is a capstone project, what makes it important, and what are good examples of capstone projects?

More than just an assignment, a capstone project represents the final piece of a your learning experience. In this blog, we'll explore what capstone projects are and what they really mean for high school students when it comes to college admissions. We'll also assess a few examples of successful capstone projects..

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What Is a Capstone Project?

A capstone project is a long-term final project a student works on at the end of a program. More specifically in the context of high school, it’s a substantial project you would take on in your senior year.

The literal meaning of the word “capstone” is the final stone laid atop a building to complete its construction, and the meaning is similar for you as a student: it’s the final piece that sets your academic career apart.

Capstone projects should ideally be all of the following:

• A memorable solution to an existing issue
• Oriented towards community service
• Interdisciplinary: combining passions, interests, and skills in a unique way
• Measurable in its impact
• Aligned with a ‘hook statement’ or application ‘theme’
• A potential supplemental essay

What Makes Capstone Projects Important?

Your capstone is a self-driven project with tangible real-world impact, and it’s the most important activity on your list. It tells admissions officers a lot about you, and gives your application a lot of depth.

Admissions officers at top universities are looking for students who are committed to positive change in their communities & demonstrate deep interests.

Writing about these interests and contributions in an essay isn’t always enough – a long-term, substantial project is an excellent way to show college admissions officers your commitment both to your community and passions.

What Is a Good Capstone Project?

When brainstorming a capstone project, there are 4 main factors you have to consider. Ask yourself these questions when evaluating your idea: 

• Does it present a novel solution to an existing issue? 
• Does it keep in mind the betterment of a specific community?
• Is it interdisciplinary – does it combine a student’s passions, interests, and skills in a unique way? 
• Is it scalable – can it be expanded to reach a wider audience?

Based on this, let’s take a look at a few examples and evaluate them to determine why they were good capstone projects.

Capstone Project Examples

Example 1

The Preliminary Hook Statement:

[Student name] is an eco-warrior and climate activist who wants to address extreme weather issues in Australia and the global landscape more broadly. He plans to major in computer science.

The Project:

The student developed deep learning models to predict floods. The project won the Australian Science and Engineering Fair, and the student and his brother will represent Australia at the World Regeneron ISEF Competition in Los Angeles, California.

Now, let’s assess the project:

Does it present a novel solution to an existing issue?

Yes! The student uses deep learning models to predict  the issue of  floods, providing an innovative approach to mitigating the impact of extreme weather.

Does it keep in mind the betterment of a specific community?

Yes! The project aims to improve disaster preparedness and response, potentially saving lives and reducing damage in flood-prone areas.

Is it interdisciplinary - does it combine a student’s passions, interests, and skills in a unique way?

Yes! This project combines the student’s passions for climate activism and computer science, utilizing technology to address climate issue.

Is it scalable?

Yes! The project has advanced to the international stage of competition.

Example 2

The Preliminary Hook Statement:

This student, an avid singer and advocate of Japanese culture, prioritizes sustainability and social responsibility, aiming to establish a business that promotes ethical development and minimizes our environmental footprint.

The Project:

This student is creating a clothing and accessories brand that uses discarded Kimonos (bought in Japan) to create a line of clothing and bags. Her hope is to bring Kimonos back in fashion by creating trendy clothing that will be advertised on social media.

Assessment:

Does it present a novel solution to an existing issue?

Yes! The student addresses the issue of textile waste by repurposing discarded Kimonos into trendy clothing and accessories.

Does it keep in mind the betterment of a specific community?

Yes! The project promotes sustainability and supports ethical fashion practices while preserving Japanese culture.

Is it interdisciplinary - does it combine a student’s passions, interests, and skills in a unique way?

Yes! The student merges her passions for Japanese culture, sustainability and utilizes her creativity for social responsibility.

Is it scalable?

Yes! The student can scale by increasing production, expanding her product line, and leveraging social media to reach a broader audience.

Example 3

The Preliminary Hook Statement:

They say chemistry is a lot like travel; it’s all about discovering new worlds. This student aspires to leverage her interest in chemistry and voyaging to explore creative solutions for making cities more sustainable and eco-friendly, drawing inspiration from existing landscaping and architectural perspectives to enhance her vision.

The Project:

The student's blog captures recipes of dishes that members of the community are most nostalgic about. This blog is aimed at teenage Chinese born outside of China, who have little or no connection/knowledge to/about Chinese culture.

Assessment:

Does it present a novel solution to an existing issue?

Yes! The student addresses the disconnect between teenage Chinese born outside of China and their cultural heritage through nostalgic recipes.

Does it keep in mind the betterment of a specific community?

Yes! The project aims to strengthen cultural ties and identity among teenage Chinese diaspora, fostering a sense of cultural appreciation.

Is it interdisciplinary - does it combine a student’s passions, interests, and skills in a unique way?

Yes! This project combines The student's interest in chemistry her passion for cultural exploration, and her skills in writing and content creation.

Is it scalable?

Yes! The student can scale by adding more recipes, engaging with a larger audience through social media, and collaborating with other cultural organizations.

Example 4

The Preliminary Hook Statement:

The student is a hard working artist with passions for business and communication design who believes that bridging the arts and business together is critical to making the world a better place. In the long term, the student hopes to incorporate her artistic skills to visually teach and educate children in underserved communities around the world.

The Project:

The student collected 2600 toothbrushes and 2600 toothpastes from students and organizations around Ho Chi Minh City. She also designed resources and hosted workshops to teach about dental hygiene. Completed surveys show an increase of knowledge.

Assessment:

Does it present a novel solution to an existing issue?

Yes! The student addresses the issue of dental hygiene in underserved communities by providing necessary resources and education.

Does it keep in mind the betterment of a specific community?

Yes! The student’s project directly benefits the underserved communities by improving their dental health and hygiene awareness.

Is it interdisciplinary - does it combine a student’s passions, interests, and skills in a unique way?

Yes! The student combines her artistic skills, business acumen, and communication design to promote dental hygiene.

Is it scalable?

Yes! The student can host more workshops in additional communities, potentially incorporating digital resources for broader reach.

Final Thoughts

A capstone project is the final piece that ties your academic career together - make sure it counts! 

Brainstorming and implementing a capstone project that suits your profile could be tricky, but working with experts makes it a lot easier.

Our expert strategists guide you through the entire process of college application from A to Z, including working on your capstone from conceptualization and getting it off the ground to execution and wrap-up.