Top Senior Project Ideas: How To Get Started

Going into your senior year is an exciting time! You’re at the culmination of your high school education and on the cusp of setting off on new adventures. Before you finish the school year, you might be required to do a senior project. Or maybe you’re looking for a good way to get your college applications to stand out from the crowd and want to use a special project to do so. 

Whatever your reasons are for a senior project, it can feel tough to pick the perfect project idea. Read on to get some inspiration for picking a senior project and tips to help you get started. 

Understanding the Purpose of Senior Projects

A senior project is designed to be the culminating experience of high school. It’s an opportunity for you to take the skills and knowledge you gained in classes and apply it to the world around you. That’s why so many schools require these projects and why colleges take them seriously on applications. 

Typically, the project takes about a semester to complete, and it can come in so many different forms. It’s an opportunity to explore one of your passions or to develop skills you might need in your future career. 

Choosing the Right Senior Project Idea

Almost anything can become a successful senior project. To help narrow down all of the options, consider some of these factors: 

• Interests and passions. What do you love? The project will turn out better and be much more enjoyable if you choose something that you’re passionate about. So if you’ve always wanted to learn more about something in particular or want to dive deep into something, now is the perfect time. 
• Available resources. Some projects are more feasible than others. Before getting excited about a topic, make sure you and your school have enough resources to make it possible. You might want to volunteer at a particular shelter, for example, but you’ll need to make sure that’s possible before getting started. 
• Time constraints. You might also have a limited window when you can do your project. Maybe it’s because it has to align with a class or maybe you decided you wanted to do a project a little later. Consider these restrictions as you pick a project topic. 
• Academic and career goals. What do you want to do in college? Afterward? Consider choosing something that will help you get started developing the right skills. This project can prepare you for your future. 

Popular Senior Project Ideas by Category

Let’s dive into some popular senior project ideas to get you started. These are all broken down into categories, so you can look at the ones that might interest you most. 

Science and Technology

• Build a functional prosthetic arm using a 3D printer.
• Design and build a solar-powered car.
• Design and build a robotic arm that can perform simple tasks.
• Develop a smartphone app that addresses a specific social issue.
• Build a functioning wind turbine.
• Develop an AI project.
• Design and build a functioning hovercraft.
• Build a functioning Rube Goldberg machine.
• Design and build a model rocket that can reach high altitudes.
• Design and build a hydroponic garden.
• Develop a virtual reality experience that explores a historical event.
• Build a drone capable of autonomous flight and obstacle avoidance.
• Design and build an automated irrigation system for gardens.
• Build a weather station and collect data to analyze local climate patterns.

Arts and Humanities

• Write and perform a one-act play.
• Create a documentary film on the history of your town or city.
• Research and write a biography of a historical figure who has inspired you.
• Create a photography exhibit that explores a social issue.
• Write and record an original song.
• Write a collection of short stories or poems.
• Create a public art installation.
• Write and perform a stand-up comedy routine.
• Create a board game that teaches financial literacy.
• Create a fashion line using sustainable materials.
• Write and illustrate a children’s book.
• Write a novel or a series of interconnected short stories.
• Write and illustrate a graphic novel.
• Write and direct a short play or film based on a classic literary work.

Community Service and Social Issues

• Create a website that promotes environmental awareness and sustainability.
• Develop a smartphone app that addresses a specific social issue.
• Create a short film that raises awareness about a social issue.
• Design and build a community garden.
• Develop and lead a community service project.
• Create a business plan for a socially responsible company.
• Develop a nutrition program for a local school or community center.
• Create a marketing campaign for a local nonprofit organization.
• Develop and implement a recycling program for a local business or organization.
• Design a campaign to reduce single-use plastic in your community.
• Create a detailed historical documentary on a significant event in your community.
• Create a multimedia project that documents the cultural heritage of a local ethnic group.
• Create a mental health awareness campaign for teenagers.