RECO Writes

A highly selective capstone writing course for students in Grades 10-12. Applications will open in January 2026.

Advanced students craft and publish a portfolio of original public-facing writing alongside seasoned intellectuals in The RECO Review.

3 months | 12+ live hours | 6000+ words | Individual Mentoring

Overview and Purpose

RECO Writes is our capstone course for students ready to share their ideas with the world.

Over 3–4 months, students work one-on-one with a mentor to develop a portfolio of three distinct pieces of writing — each in a different genre.

Portfolios may include op-eds, critical essays, scholarly reviews, letters, narratives, explainers, and more.

Themes and Article Types

Students work with their mentor to select a theme and design a portfolio that align with their interests and goals. Each portfolio includes one short piece (1000 words), one medium-length piece (2000 words), and one long piece (3000 words). Themes can range widely — from culture, politics, and technology to health, education, and human rights.

Explore the different article types below. To illustrate how different genres can approach the same theme, we’ve used biotechnology as an example.

  • Argument-driven pieces expressing strong, thoughtful perspectives on complex issues.

    Example: An argument for and against the ethics of gene editing.

    Skills: Creative thinking, evidence-based argumentation, and social awareness.

    Suggested length: 1,000–1,500 words for op-eds; 2,000–3,000 words for critical essays.

  • Analytical take on a book, article, film, piece of media, or scholarly source.

    Example: A review of The Code Breaker by Walter Isaacson.

    Skills: Close-reading, textual analysis, ability to put texts in conversation.

    Suggested length: 1,500–2,000 words.

  • Personal experience woven with ideas, texts, or social observations.

    Example: Reflecting on a family health history after reading about CRISPR breakthroughs.

    Skills: Self-awareness, literary ability, ability to bring academic texts in conversation with personal questions.

    Suggested length: 2,000–3,000 words.

  • Open or imagined letter that explores personal or social themes.

    Example: A letter to biotech leaders urging equitable access to medical innovation.

    Skills: Critical thinking, persuasive writing.

    Suggested length: 1,000–1,500 words.

  • Clear, accessible breakdown of a complex topic for general readers.

    Example: An explainer on how mRNA technology works in vaccines.

    Skills: Conceptual clarity, ability to simplify ideas, writing for engagement.

    Suggested length: ~1,000 words.

  • Research-informed article written for non-academic, curious audiences.

    Example: “Are GMO crops dangerous to consume? A data-driven analysis.”

    Skills: Research, analysis, structured thinking, conceptual clarity.

    Suggested length: 2,500–3,000 words.

The RECO Review

All writing created through RECO Writes can be published in The RECO Review — an online publication driven to make research accessible to the public and promote critical thinking on diverse social issues.

Here, students’ work appears alongside well-known and emerging intellectuals, PhDs, and undergraduates, showcasing their ability to contribute to public conversations.

The first issue of The RECO Review will be released in January 2026.

Testimonials

  • “Most students go to college without purpose. RECO is doing important work in helping students make the most of their time in college."

    Anuja Kohli Mariwala, Education Consultant

  • “The approachability and friendliness of the team made my experience extremely enjoyable. I’ve connected with my mentors even post the program.”

    Aarush Kamdar, Grade 11, Don Bosco International School, Mumbai

  • “I appreciated how flexible they were, prioritizing each student and their specific needs and not burdening them with additional work.”

    Fuad Agha, Grade 12, Reva Independent PU, Bangalore

Applications will open in January 2026, when the first edition of The RECO Review is released.

FAQs

  • The application is very selective, as most students do not have the drive and stamina to sustain the work that we require them to do in this course. Students who have completed RECO Reads may find the process easier.

  • We don’t expect students to be polished academic writers when they start. What matters more is a willingness to express their ideas clearly and to take feedback seriously. Students should be open to exploring different angles of a topic, and willing to revise and rethink their writing as they go. We are not looking for students who simply want to pad their CVs.

  • In most cases, the articles will be connected by a theme the student chooses at the start of the course. This usually allows deeper and more well-rounded thinking. The articles, however, will be distinct from each other in their precise focus.

    All this said, we are committed to ensuring that a student’s writing portfolio brings together their diverse academic, extracurricular, and personal interests by finding and drawing connections between these!

  • Given the rigorous application process for RECO Writes and the demands of the course, there is a high chance that all the articles a student writes will be published in the RECO Review.

    However, students will have to go through the independent process of publishing in The RECO Review. The cost of this process will be free for students of RECO Writes.

    After RECO Writes, students will have a future directions call with the Founder of RECO, in which they will discuss how students can take their work forward and where they can publish any work they have created that is not published in The RECO Review.

  • The RECO Review has an editorial board, which includes only PhD students, professors, and other thought leaders. To get published, high school students and all other authors go through the same process of two stages.

    In Stage 1, writers submit their writing along with a form explaining their process and motivations, and pitching their work. Only if selected, writers will enter Stage 2, in which they work with our editors to refine and finalize their work.

    There is no fee for writers to submit their work to be considered in Stage 1. If a writer’s work is selected for publication and they would like to move on to Stage 2, there will be a publication fee.

  • The RECO Review has an editorial board, which includes only PhD students, professors, and other thought leaders from the world’s finest universities. We also regularly feature publications by individuals of similar credibility. We have high standards of quality, a commitment to social good, and a rigorous application process. For all these reasons, The RECO Review is considered a high-quality publication, especially among academics.

  • The student leads the content, voice, and direction of each piece. Mentors provide feedback, structural guidance, and challenge the student to push deeper — but they don’t rewrite or dictate. Students revise based on suggestions, and the final work is their own. Ownership is core to the program’s design.