Onward Fellowship - World's First G&T Prep for Grades 5-12
Onward Fellowship is the world's first Gifted & Talented (G&T) prep programme for Grades 5-12. Harvard student mentors guide small cohorts (1 mentor : 20 students) through a project-based curriculum. Every student finishes with a portfolio piece, a live Demo Day presentation to industry judges, and a Certificate of Completion. Sessions are 2 hours, live on Zoom, weekly. Programmes run as 6-week online programmes or 10-week extended terms.
Pathways
- Creative Writing - Narrative craft using Will Storr's "Flaw & Change" framework. Flagship pathway.
- STEM & Innovation (STEAM for Junior) - Project-based science, technology, engineering, arts, math. Mars-mission narrative for Junior.
- AI & Entrepreneurship - Build a real AI-powered product with the Fellowship no-code stack (Lovable, Base44, Canva AI, Brand-in-a-Box, AI Pitch Writer). Dreamer / Builder / Founder progression.
- Communication & Leadership - Storytelling, debate, advocacy campaigns, public speaking.
- Sustainability - Verified case studies (Ecosia, Patagonia) and competition prep (ISEF).
- Test Prep - AI-tutor supported, trap-pattern based.
Programmes
Partner schools and programmes
Mentors
All mentors are current Harvard undergraduates. Concentrations represented include Computer Science, Economics, Government, Statistics, Applied Math, English, History, Molecular & Cellular Biology, and Engineering Sciences. Every mentor completes cross-cultural mentoring training before leading a cohort. We always describe them as "Harvard student mentors" or "Harvard student-led" - never "Harvard-mentored" or institutional descriptors.
Methodology
- Onward Creator Cycle: Wonder, Investigate, Imagine, Build, Show, mapped to 8 core exit competencies.
- Weekly student loop: Learn, Study, Watch, Do.
- Skills Intelligence System: 20-skill taxonomy with an 8-level rubric and per-skill mastery score (0-100). Weighting: Level 40%, Freshness 25%, Velocity 20%, Consistency 15%.
- Capstone formats: 5-Day Summit, 3-Day Intensive, 1-Day Showcase, or Virtual Showcase.
Programme specifications
- Grade ranges: Junior Grades 5-8, Senior Grades 9-12
- Mentor ratio: 1:20
- Session length: 2 hours, live on Zoom, weekly
- Programme Fee (6-Week Online Programme): USD 349-399
- Outcome: portfolio piece + Demo Day + Certificate of Completion
- Application: Two-step: (1) submit the application form, (2) proceed directly to payment. Applications write to the Onward backend and payment runs through the branded /pay gateway.
Partners
HPAIR - Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations; HUSO - Harvard Undergraduate Society of Outdoors; WiCS - Women in Computer Science (Harvard); Next Billion Lab - venture-building partner for the Entrepreneurship Olympiad; Base44 - vibe coding tools for the Fellowship AI & Entrepreneurship pathway; Gavel - debate / leadership content partner.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is this programme for?
- High-aspiring students in Grades 5-12. Junior cohort covers Grades 5-8; Senior cohort covers Grades 9-12.
- Is the programme fully online?
- Most regional programmes are fully online via live Zoom, with the Demo Day held online. Selected programmes, such as Onward Brazil Scholars, include an in-person intensive capstone.
- How long are the sessions?
- Sessions are 2 hours, live on Zoom, weekly. Programmes run as 6-week online programmes or 10-week extended terms.
- What is the mentor-to-student ratio?
- 1 mentor : 20 students. This ratio is fixed across every cohort.
- Who are the mentors?
- Current Harvard student mentors lead each pathway. Concentrations represented include Computer Science, Economics, Government, Statistics, Applied Math, English, and Molecular & Cellular Biology. All mentors complete cross-cultural mentoring training.
- What does my child finish with?
- A completed portfolio piece (essay, AI product with pitch deck, STEM prototype, or leadership campaign), a live Demo Day presentation, a Certificate of Completion, and competition submission guidance.
- What is the Programme Fee?
- For the 6-Week Online Programme, the Programme Fee is USD 349-399 depending on cohort. Scholarship codes may be available. Regional and school-partner programmes are priced separately.
- How does this fit my child's school schedule?
- Live sessions run on weekends or inside school enrichment periods. Designed for zero school disruption.
- Will my child receive a certificate?
- Yes - a Certificate of Completion on completion.
- Is there homework?
- Light project work between sessions, structured by the Learn, Study, Watch, Do framework.
- How are pathways differentiated by age?
- Junior (Grades 5-8) uses STEAM branding and visual / narrative scaffolding. Senior (Grades 9-12) goes deeper into AI & Entrepreneurship and analytical work.
- What competitions can my child enter?
- Recommended competitions are listed in the Competitions Library, including ISEF for Sustainability and the Entrepreneurship Olympiad through Next Billion Lab.
- How do schools partner with Onward?
- Through the Onward-Managed delivery model - zero teacher workload, weekend Zoom or enrichment-period delivery, co-branded materials.
Key pages