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RECO Pre-College

You are done with school. You have gotten into college. You are about to make a major investment of time and money. Are you prepared to make the most of it?

RECO Pre-College upskills high school graduates to succeed at the specific college they will attend.

1-1 Mentorship | 3-5 weeks | Personalized Report

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Founder’s Note

“You got into Stanford. Now make the most of it.” As I prepared to leave Mumbai for college, this is what all my well-wishers told me. And each time I replied, “Yes! How could I not?”

When I eventually graduated, I remember feeling a deep sense of regret. The panels on technology and hackathons on campus? I should have participated in more. The philosophy sequence that my friends loved? I would have gained more from it if I had put in more work. The famous student startup club? I really should have joined. 

While I had thoroughly enjoyed and benefited from Stanford, I certainly could have “made more” of my time there. And yet, I can’t blame myself. Entering college meant navigating a new culture, the reality that I wasn’t as smart as I had thought, and serious questions about identity, privilege, and what really mattered to me. It takes time to find your feet – academically and personally.

You will go on a similar journey. But you can go prepared. You can make the most of college.

That’s why we created this course.

Customized by college

Every college has a distinct academic culture and approach to education.

Some are hubs for innovation. At others, discussions on global affairs or social justice fill the air. Some require students to read classical texts. Others encourage interdisciplinary thinking through open curricula.

That’s why we tailor your course curriculum, pedagogy, and assessments to prepare for the distinct environment of your future college. See more below!

  • These universities aim to develop students who think independently about fundamental questions of human life and society. Students are encouraged to read texts by influential thinkers such as Plato, Freud, and Marx and discuss them in seminar-style courses.

    If you plan to attend one of these universities, your RECO Pre-College course will help you develop skills in close reading, textual analysis, and argumentative writing, and build your familiarity with classical texts so you can fit into your college’s intellectual community.

  • These universities aim to develop students who chart their own intellectual paths, connecting ideas across fields to address complex contemporary problems. For example, a student interested in climate change would be encouraged to explore it through science, culture, policy, and technology, building an academic journey that draws from multiple disciplines.

    If you plan to attend one of these universities, your RECO Pre-College course will help you develop a structured approach to interdisciplinary thinking and prepare you fpr self-directed learning.

  • These universities are known for training students in the methods and traditions of academic disciplines. Students work closely with faculty on research projects and are expected to be well-versed in understanding, critiquing, and using research.

    If you plan to attend one of these universities, your RECO Pre-College course will help you build a strong base in academic research. You will explore quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods approaches, and learn about various types of studies, including case-based, experimental, and reviews.


  • These universities aim to develop students who think critically about how institutions and culture shape society, and are committed to social justice. Students are expected to be well-versed in using critical theory to analyze and tackle social problems.

    If you plan to attend one of these universities, your RECO Pre-College course will help you build familiarity with social and political theories, apply them to contemporary issues, and write clear, persuasive arguments.

  • These universities prepare students to become thought leaders on global issues and ethics. Students are expected to read widely on international affairs and use theory to analyze political and economic issues.

    If you plan to attend one of these universities, your RECO Pre-College course will help you analyze large-scale global problems, evaluate institutions and policies using evidence, and write clear, value-driven arguments.

  • At these universities, students learn to become impact-driven innovators through technology, entrepreneurship, and policy. Students are expected to work with theory and data to define, analyse, and develop practical solutions to real-world problems.

    If you plan to attend one of these universities, your RECO Pre-College course will help you develop skills in problem modeling, data sourcing and analysis, and concise analytical communication.

Your future college is more unique than this short description captures. Let’s dive into the details. Click here to schedule a call.

Choose between 2 tracks

Essentials (3 weeks)

  • Work one-on-one with a mentor to prepare for the specific college you will attend. Ideal for IB Diploma and A-Level graduates.

    Includes 6 sessions (75 mins each) over 3 weeks, a highly customized curriculum, and provision of curated readings and tasks, as well as a final report analyzing your growth.

  • Step 1: Take a Pre-Course Assessment to determine your baseline skills. Meet your mentor.

    Step 2: Receive a customized curriculum based on your college, intended major, assessment results, and schedule.

    Step 3: Start your journey! Meet your mentor twice weekly to discuss curated readings and complete tasks.

    Step 4: Complete a Post-Course Assessment and receive a detailed report analyzing your growth and next steps.

  • This is a sample curriculum for a student who plans to attend Stanford University and study human biology.

    Based on Stanford’s intellectual culture, the course focuses on the following learning outcomes:

    • Interpret research and quality

    • Understand and apply theory

    • Synthesize data sources

    • Communicate concisely

    The student should also engage with the following types of texts:

    • Scientific research papers

    • Theoretical texts

    • Policy analysis and briefs

    • Real-world case studies

    • Interdisciplinary readings on health and society

    Based on the above and the student’s intended major, the following curriculum has been designed:

    Session 1: Reading Scientific Research
    Pre-session: Read one biomedical or public-health research paper.
    In-session: Analyze the research question, methods, evidence, and conclusions.

    Session 2: Understanding Theory
    Pre-session: Read a theoretical text (e.g., a framework for understanding health outcomes).
    In-session: Discuss the framework and apply it to a contemporary health issue.

    Session 3: Evaluating Evidence
    Pre-session: Read a second research paper on a related issue.
    In-session: Compare methods, evidence, and conclusions across the two papers.

    Session 4: Research to Policy
    Pre-session: Read a policy brief addressing a health challenge.
    In-session: Analyze how research findings translate into policy recommendations.

    Session 5: Case Study Analysis
    Pre-session: Read a case study of a real-world health intervention or innovation.
    In-session: Connect insights from research, theory, and policy to analyze the case.

    Session 6: Applied Analysis
    Pre-session: Read an interdisciplinary text linking health to a broader social issue.
    In-session: Write and discuss a concise analytical response integrating multiple readings.

Extended (5 weeks)

  • Work one-on-one with a mentor to build academic foundations (Part 1) and prepare for the specific college you will attend (Part 2). Ideal for CBSE, ISC and State board graduates.

    Includes 4 sessions on Academic Foundations (Part 1), plus the Essentials course (Part 2). Total 10 sessions (75 mins each) over 5 weeks.

  • Step 1: Take a Pre-Course Assessment to determine your baseline skills. Meet your mentor.

    Step 2: Complete Part 1, the 4-session Academic Foundations module.

    Step 3: Receive a customized curriculum for Part 2 based on your college, intended major, assessment results, and schedule.

    Step 4: Start Part 2. Meet your mentor twice weekly to discuss curated readings and complete tasks.

    Step 5: Complete a Post-Course Assessment and receive a detailed report analyzing your growth and next steps.

  • Part 1: Academic Foundations

    Right from the first term, you will be expected to read research critically, evaluate arguments, and use sources in your own writing. In Part 1, you will prepare for this challenge by studying a single research paper in depth.

    Session 1: Understanding the Argument — What is the paper’s central question, core argument, and main conclusions?

    Session 2: Evaluating Strengths and Limitations —How effective is the paper’s use of data, methods, and sources?

    Session 3: Decoding Structure — How does each section move the argument forward? Where does the author make leaps? 

    Session 4: Using Research in Your Own Writing — Write a text using the paper, learning how to paraphrase and cite without plagiarism.

    Part 2: College-Specific Module. Similar to Sample Curriculum mentioned in Essentials.

Personalized Report

In addition to emerging better prepared for college, you will also receive a report analyzing your growth on the competencies your college values most.

Based on pre- and post-course assessments and your mentor’s observations of your discussions, your report will provide targeted suggestions to support your academic transition into college.

Click here to view a sample pre-course assessment and rubric for a student applying to Yale University.

Registration Deadlines

Early Bird Discount (10% off): Sunday, April 19, 2026

Final Deadline: Sunday, May 17, 2026

Note: You do not need to have finalized your college choice to register.

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FAQs

Curriculum and Outcomes

  • Please reach out to us. We will review the academic structure of your future university and let you know if we can meet your expectations.

  • Yes. Courses for these destinations will be subject-specific, depending on the degree you have applied for. Please reach out to us. We will review the academic structure of your future university and let you know how we can help.

  • Each university has a different intellectual culture and approach to undergraduate education. We will tailor the learning outcomes, texts and assessments of your course to prepare you for the environment you will enter.

  • Students typically have substantial freedom in choosing the courses they will take in their first year. Syllabi for these courses also change year-on-year. It is not possible, therefore, to predict which texts you will be assigned. Our focus will be to prepare you for the broader approach your university takes to undergraduate education. If your college has a core curriculum, we will assign readings that you are likely to encounter in college.

  • No. The course is open to students across all majors. The course design will be informed by your intended major while still retaining focus on developing your skills in the broader areas that you need to thrive at your future college.

Logistics and Registration

  • Our mentors are PhD students with prior teaching or academic mentoring experience from leading Indian universities, such as Ashoka, Krea, and the IITs. We take great care when pairing students with mentors, and have, thus far, not received a single request from a student/parent for a mentor change! Please see our Team page for more information.

  • Students typically spend around 10 hours per week on the course. This includes 2 sessions 75 minutes each with their mentors, and 2-3 hours of independent work per session (reading, writing, and preparation). Besides this, students also spent 40 minutes each on their pre- and post-course assessments.

  • Your pre-course assessment will evaluate you on skills that are important for success at your future college and provide insights that will inform the course outcomes and design. In your final report, these results will be compared against your post-course assessment to measure your growth. The report will highlight your strengths and provide suggestions for how you can grow in your weaker areas going forward.

  • You can begin the course any time after completing your Grade 12 board exams and before your college term begins. Please sign up at least 3 weeks before you would like to begin the course. 

  • No problem! If you would like to do the course, please register even if your have not confirmed your final college choice. Please contact us, and we will discuss the best way to proceed based on the universities you are considering.