Is Veritas AI Worth It? What You Get, Outcomes and Reviews
Veritas AI is worth it for a high school or middle school student who wants to learn AI from working researchers and finish with a real project, and who will put in the work between sessions. It is not the right fit for a student who wants an in-person camp, needs a guaranteed publication, or wants a certificate without the project behind it.
What you get
AI Trailblazers: live group classes at a 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio, 25 hours over 10 weeks or a 2-week summer intensive. For grades 6–8, no experience needed. Ends with a group AI project.
AI Scholars: live group classes at 5:1, 25 hours over 10 weeks or a 2-week intensive. For grades 9–12, no experience needed. Ends with a group AI project.
Deep Dive (AI + Medicine or AI + Finance): live group classes at 5:1, 10 sessions of 2.5 hours. For grades 9–12 with Python basics or AI Scholars. Ends with a group project in that field.
AI Fellowship: 1-on-1 with a mentor, 15 mentor sessions over 15 weeks, plus 4 sessions with a publication specialist. For grades 9–12 with Python basics or AI Scholars. Ends with an independent project submitted to a journal or competition.
AI Accelerator: 1-on-1 with a mentor, 30 sessions plus 4 sessions with a publication specialist, usually weekly. For grades 9–12 with Python basics or AI Scholars. Ends with a paper aimed at college-level journals and national competitions.
Combination: AI Scholars, then the AI Fellowship (group, then 1-on-1). For grades 9–12, no experience needed. Ends with both of the above.
Every class and session is live on Zoom, taught by one of 200+ mentors from 39 universities. Mentors include Jonas Katona (PhD in Applied Mathematics, Yale), Soy Choi (PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Stanford) and Nikita Gourianov (PhD in Computational Physics, Oxford).
What it costs
High school programs start at $2,690 (AI Scholars). Need-based financial aid covers up to 100% of the fee. You apply for it inside the application form, and Veritas AI has awarded more than $290,000 in aid. Students who complete a high school program are eligible for 3 units of UCSD Extended Studies credit, for which UCSD charges a processing fee.
What students achieve
3,200+ students from 160+ countries have taken a Veritas AI program. Of student papers submitted to peer-reviewed journals, 79% have been accepted. Our alumni were admitted at 36% against an 8% average at the same universities; those students chose to do research, so this is not proof that the program caused the difference. Veritas AI research has been presented at Regeneron ISEF. All figures are from Veritas AI's internal data.
What students say
"I was nervous as someone with little coding experience, but I found this program to be incredibly interesting and educational! The mentors were so helpful, and I had a lot of fun working with my group." — Audrey S., Kamiak High School, Grade 11
"I loved the structure of the classes in which we learned a particular concept and then applied it. The classes were extremely interactive and inclusive and the small groups allowed us to get personal attention and have our questions answered." — Devika M., Greenwood High International School, Grade 11
"Working one-on-one with another mentor in the Fellowship program has granted me the opportunity to further dive into the specifics of AI." — Fiona V., Bernards High School, Grade 10
Who it's for, and who it isn't
A good fit: students curious about AI who want structure and a mentor; students who want a research project of their own; students aiming to study CS, data science, medicine or economics who want to see how AI applies there.
Not a good fit: students who want an in-person or residential camp; students who need a guaranteed publication; students who won't have a few hours a week outside sessions.
How it compares: see Compare Programs for every Veritas AI track side by side.
FAQs
Is Veritas AI legit?
Yes. Veritas AI is run by Lumiere Education. It has taught more than 3,200 students from over 160 countries, and its programs carry eligibility for UCSD Extended Studies credit.
How hard is it to get in?
In 2025, about 3 in 10 applicants received an offer; places with financial aid are the most competitive. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. (Veritas AI internal data.)
Is publication guaranteed?
No. Acceptance is the journal's or competition's decision. 79% of student papers submitted to peer-reviewed journals have been accepted.
Is financial aid available?
Yes: need-based, up to 100%, applied for inside the application form.
About the author
Dhruva Bhat is co-founder and director of Lumiere Education, the education group that runs Veritas AI. He is a Rhodes Scholar with a doctorate from the University of Oxford.
