FAQ
If your question is not answered here, ask us directly below. The first conversation is complimentary.
How do you decide whom to work with?
The short form gives us context. The interview decides fit. We look for a student who wants to do ambitious work, is coachable, and is ready to remain responsible for every part of the research. If the fit is strong, we will invite the family to complete the full application and discuss scope.
Is the first conversation free?
Yes. The first conversation is complimentary. It is a direct conversation with the student and family, not a sales presentation, and both sides can decide whether the partnership makes sense.
Does the student need an existing project?
No. We can begin with an early interest, a developing question, an active project, or a completed study that needs stronger competition preparation.
What does an engagement include?
The scope depends on the student. It can include question selection, competition strategy, study design, technical learning, troubleshooting, data analysis, figures, abstracts, displays, submissions, mock judging, and competition-week preparation. The three engagements differ in where a student is when they arrive, not in how much attention they get, and we define the specifics with you after the interview.
Which competitions and pathways do you advise for?
Our direct experience includes Regeneron ISEF and affiliated fairs, JSHS, GENIUS Olympiad, the National STEM Festival, the International Research Olympiad, and research publication. We advise on other programs as well but these are our focus areas. We are independent from every organizer and always work from the current official rules.
Who owns the research?
The student retains their original ideas, data, code, designs, manuscripts, inventions, and other work. Vantor takes no equity, royalties, authorship, publication rights, or license to use it. Separate agreements with a school, laboratory, sponsor, collaborator, or publisher still apply.
Who actually performs and presents the work?
The student. We advise, teach, question, review, and rehearse. We do not fabricate data, ghostwrite submissions, take over the project, or prepare a student to claim work they cannot independently explain and defend.
Is the relationship confidential?
Yes. Engagements are private. We do not publish, submit, share, or commercialize a student's work without express written permission. We also expect families to honor any confidentiality or disclosure obligations created by laboratories, schools, collaborators, sponsors, or competitions.
What kind of access does a family receive?
Each family gets our personal email and phone numbers. The cadence follows the work and becomes especially active around deadlines and competition week.
Will you travel to a competition?
A founder can hold final rehearsals on site, accompany the family through competition week, and host private dinners. Travel is planned together in advance and built into calendars when possible.
How does pricing work?
There are three engagements and each one has a published price and a published number of seats: The Partnership at $30,000 for a full season, Competition Season at $12,000 for twelve weeks, and The Final Read at $1,800. We do not sell hours. Fees never vary with a competition result, and what the work becomes inside an engagement is still scoped with you after the interview.
Do you guarantee an award, publication, or admission?
No. No credible advisor can guarantee a judge's, editor's, or admissions committee's decision. We promise candor, attention, rigorous preparation, and advice grounded in firsthand competition experience.
Start with a free consultation
Our first session is to determine fit and get to know you. Please do not feel pressured to overly prepare!
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