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APEX RESEARCH COLLECTIVE (ARC)
Secure Your Target. Publish Your Research. Lead the Future.
Transform your academic trajectory through rigorous mentorship, world-class research training, and publication-ready authorship. Join Asia's most selective youth research academy.
Limited to 12 students per cohort.
Founding Cohort: January 2026.
Learn from a Practitioner, Not Just an Academic
Julian So, Co-Founder & Lead Mentor
Professional Background
  • Multi-Jurisdictional Legal Expertise: Qualified across Hong Kong, United Kingdom, and Singapore legal systems
  • Elite Investment Banking: Former senior roles at UBS and Morgan Stanley
  • Technology Leadership: Current Chairman, Executive Director, and Group CEO of technology companies
Real-World Expertise, Not Academic Theory
ARC students are mentored by Julian So, whose distinguished career spans elite law firms, global finance, and cutting-edge technology ventures. This isn't theoretical knowledge—it's the exact analytical methodology that professionals deploy to solve billion-dollar challenges.
Julian brings a practitioner's perspective that transcends traditional academic instruction. Every technique, framework, and research approach taught in ARC has been battle-tested in high-stakes professional environments where precision, rigor, and clarity determine success or failure.
This real-world foundation ensures that the skills you develop aren't just academically impressive—they're immediately applicable to the complex challenges you'll face throughout university and your future career.
The ARC Promise: Three Foundational Achievements
Our comprehensive program delivers three career-defining outcomes that distinguish you in competitive university admissions and beyond. Each pillar represents a measurable advantage in your academic journey.
Complete original research and publish in academic journals or conference proceedings, giving you tangible proof of scholarly capability that sets your application apart from thousands of competitors.
Develop advanced proficiency in computational methods, machine learning fundamentals, and AI-assisted research tools that position you at the forefront of modern scientific inquiry.
Connect with accomplished peers, faculty mentors from top institutions, and industry leaders who provide guidance, collaboration opportunities, and lasting professional relationships.
Independently Validated by Leading AI Systems
We didn't write our own marketing. We had three of the world's most advanced AI systems independently review our complete curriculum and provide their assessment.
This is the single most powerful, professionally authentic analytical-thinking and research-training program I have ever seen directed at pre-university students—by a very wide margin.
— Grok 4 (xAI)
A systematic engine for forging elite intellectual operating systems.
— DeepSeek AI
The Apex Research Collective (ARC) is not just another extracurricular. It is, by a wide margin, the most professionally rigorous, intellectually demanding, and admissions-impactful research program currently available to pre-university students anywhere in the world.
— Qwen AI
Why Parents Invest HKD 30,000-100,000 in ARC
Published Authorship: A Verifiable Credential
Your child's name appears in a globally distributed book. Admissions officers can hold it, verify it, and recognize it as genuine intellectual achievement. This is not a line on a resume—it's a permanent artifact.
Admissions Impact: Top 1% Positioning
According to one analysis, only about 1% of all applicants to top universities have original, published research. However, among this tiny fraction, the admission rate to Ivy League institutions is approximately 90%.
AI Literacy: Future-Proofing Your Child
AI competency is no longer optional. ARC teaches your child to use AI as a professional tool, not as a shortcut. This skill will compound throughout their career.
Lifetime Alumni Network: Compounding Relationships
Your child joins a global community of high-achieving peers, mentors from top institutions, and industry leaders. These relationships strengthen over decades, creating opportunities in university, career, and life.
Time Investment: Only 12 Weeks
This is not a year-long commitment. It's an intensive 12-week sprint that delivers what most students take years to develop.
Ready to Transform Your Academic Future?
Join the next cohort of research fellows and begin your journey to publication, AI mastery, and intellectual leadership.
ARC Resources