RECO Spark
Discover your academic interests by exploring new subjects and real-world issues through case studies and more.
Ideal for Grades 8-10, who want broad exposure to discover their interests.
2 months | 8+ live hours | 1000+ words | Individual Mentoring
Overview and Purpose
RECO Spark is the perfect starting point for curious students who want to explore new subjects before deciding what to pursue deeply. At this stage, many students are unsure about their interests. They might be drawn to everything from psychology to technology to policy, but don’t yet know what fits them best. Spark helps them make sense of that curiosity.
Through case studies, interactive online tools, and collaborative discussions, students learn how to ask better questions, connect ideas across disciplines, and think critically about real-world problems. Along the way, they begin building their own blog—a growing portfolio of reflections, analyses, and research notes that showcases their evolving voice and intellectual journey to colleges. Spark is not just an introduction to research and writing; it’s the first step in discovering what kind of thinker and problem-solver you want to become.
A new way to explore interests
At RECO Spark, no two student journeys look the same. Each learner explores a mix of subjects and real-world problems through themes that make ideas come alive—like studying biology through vaccine trials or understanding economics through global trade. Across the sessions, students are introduced to new ways of thinking and researching, experimenting with different tools and disciplines to see what sparks their curiosity most. The goal isn’t to pick a subject from a list—it’s to discover what excites you by doing, questioning, and connecting ideas in your own way. Take a look at a sample student journey below.
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Discovery call with RECO’s founder to identify themes/pedagogies
Need to elaborate some more
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Session 2
Subject: Physics
Real-World Issue: Funding for research
Methodology: Newspaper articles
Session 3
Subject: Economics
Real-World Issue: Poverty
Methodology: Online tools
Session 4
Subject: Sociology
Real-World Issue: Immigration
Methodology: Research Articles
Session 5
Subject: Business
Real-World Issue: AI bubble
Methodology: Case studies -
Write 1000+ words on your journey and publish your blog!
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Call with parents, counselor and founder to discuss next steps.
Alumni Story
When Aditya, a Grade 9 student at Oberoi International School, first joined RECO, his mother had just one goal — to get him reading again. Each week, Aditya explored a new lens of the world with his mentor, experimenting with ideas from logic, anthropology, economics, and politics. He dissected Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic speech, explored global trade through a Harvard simulation, and reflected on how systems shape society. Through this mix of tools, texts, and perspectives, Aditya began to see how his curiosity for people, power, and justice connected — and by the end of the course, he’d found his spark in politics.
Tools and Resources
In Spark, students tinker with many different kinds of tools. Here are a few
Speeches
Case Studies
News Reports
Classic
Texts
Online University Tools
Starting a Blog
Starting a blog through RECO Spark helps students build a long-term record of their academic and intellectual growth. The first post reflects what they’ve explored, read, or written, forming the foundation of a portfolio they can continue throughout high school. By the time students apply to college, this blog becomes a powerful showcase of their evolving interests, writing skills, and independent thinking — qualities universities value deeply in admissions. Many RECO Alumni have included their blog URLs in their college application.
How To Join
Step 1 (Optional): Book a free consultation to understand the course
Step 2: Fill out our short application form
Step 3: Be yourself in our friendly interview
Step 4: Start RECO-ing!
Spark & Beyond: Explore More Options
Testimonials
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“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
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“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
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“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
FAQs
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.