Don't pick an activity. Design something only your child could build.
CAAP's extracurricular consulting turns a student's genuine curiosity into an authentic, recognized body of work — through a proven three-stage system: Verify → Design → Connect.
A designed pathway, not a list of activities
Most consulting hands students a generic list of impressive-sounding activities. EC Designing does the opposite: we start from the student and engineer an original extracurricular pathway at the intersection of Curiosity × a real problem × Capability × Personal context. The result is a flagship project and a portfolio that could only belong to your child — the kind of authentic, initiated work selective colleges actually notice.
Verify
We work only from verified, vetted opportunities — never recycled internet lists — drawing on our continuously maintained database of competitions, programs, publications, and research pathways.
Design
We design an original flagship project where the student's curiosity meets real capability — specific to them, not chosen because it "looks impressive."
Connect
We connect the finished work to credible competitions, publications, audiences, and institutional partners — turning effort into recognized results.
Three stages, one coherent journey
EC Discovery & Strategy
We map the student's interests, strengths, and context to find a theme only they could own. Deliverables: Student EC Profile · Vetted Opportunity Shortlist · a 12–24-month EC Calendar · a Flagship Project Proposal.
Flagship Project Development
The student builds the real thing — research, an app, a publication, a program, a dataset, or a venture. CAAP provides structure, teaching, critique, deadlines, documentation, and mentor coordination. The student remains the author and decision-maker.
Competition, Validation & Portfolio Management
We select credible competitions and publications, prepare submissions and presentations, find authentic audiences or partners, maintain an evidence folder and build log, and organize a portfolio or project website — reassessing as results and interests evolve.
What a full engagement looks like
Months 1
Profile, shortlist, calendar, and flagship proposal.
Months 2–6
Flagship project development with structured milestones.
Months 6–12
Competitions, publications, and presentations.
Months 12–24
Portfolio management and roadmap reassessment.
The opportunities parents recognize — and many they don't
CAAP maintains a large, continuously verified database of extracurricular opportunities. We keep our full sourcing proprietary, but here is a sample of the well-known competitions our students target — so you can be confident we can guide these, and find lesser-known, higher-fit options too.
STEM & Research
- Regeneron ISEF & Science Talent Search
- Research Science Institute (RSI)
- Science & Math Olympiads (IMO/IPhO/IChO/IBO)
- USACO · AMC → AIME
- Regeneron / JEI research journals
- FIRST & VEX Robotics
Writing & Humanities
- John Locke Institute Essay Prize
- The Concord Review
- Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
- National History Day (NHD)
- Foyle Young Poets of the Year
- NYT Learning Network contests
Business & Economics
- Wharton Global HS Investment Comp.
- National & International Economics Olympiad
- Diamond Challenge · Conrad Challenge
- DECA ICDC · HOSA
- Hult Prize · The Earth Prize
- Modeling the Future Challenge
Arts & Media
- Scholastic Art Awards
- All-American High School Film Festival
- Sony World Photography Awards (Youth)
- Adobe Design Achievement Awards
- Cliburn & Menuhin (young musicians)
- iF & Red Dot design awards
Representative sample only. Our internal database and sourcing methods remain confidential to protect our students' competitive edge.
Choose the level of support
| Package | What's included |
|---|---|
| Discovery | Stage 1 EC Discovery and written roadmap only |
| Project Builder | Discovery + 8–20 weeks of flagship-project development |
| Portfolio Management | Ongoing competition, submission, evidence, and portfolio support |
| Comprehensive | A custom combination of EC discovery & development, writing support, and quarterly student & parent planning meetings |
Your child's most authentic work starts here.
Begin with an EC Discovery Consultation — we'll map the possibilities specific to your child.