Last Updated on October 1, 2026
Quick answer: The top science competitions for high school students include Regeneron ISEF, the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the USA Biology, Chemistry, and Physics Olympiads, the AMC and AIME math competitions, and Science Olympiad. Top placements show exceptional ability, but sustained participation and growth also add value in college admissions.
Science Competitions for High School Students
If you’re researching science competitions for high school students and hoping to pursue a STEM major in college, you’ve probably heard that these academic challenges can significantly boost your admissions profile. From Olympiads to ISEF and JSHS to the AIME, each of these competitions carries significant weight in the admissions process. But how do you know which ones are the most tailored to your interests and are considered prestigious in the first place?
Science competitions for high school students are rigorous and demanding, and doing well on them requires a significant commitment of time and effort, in addition to an abiding love for the subject. [5] It’s absolutely true that students who succeed in these competitions are more likely to impress admissions officers at top schools. For example, MIT Admissions once reported that 13 graduating seniors represented the United States at the international STEM Olympiads in a single year. Of those 13 seniors, 10 enrolled at MIT. [1] Needless to say, getting to an Olympiad is a big deal!
These science competitions for high school students below are more than resume builders; they signal initiative, intellectual curiosity, and sustained commitment, which admissions officers highly value.
Olympiads
Olympiads are subject-based competitions in which students advance through national exams and training camps to represent their country at an international event. These science competitions for high school students are effectively designed to find the smartest students in the world for their respective field. The major international Olympiads are outlined in the table below, with the oldest (the IMO) dating to 1959:
| Science | Symbol | Year |
|---|---|---|
| International Mathematical Olympiad | IMO | Since 1959 |
| International Physics Olympiad | IPhO | Since 1967 |
| International Chemistry Olympiad | IChO | Since 1968 |
| International Olympiad in Informatics | IOI | Since 1989 |
| International Biology Olympiad | IBO | Since 1990 |
| International Philosophy Olympiad | IPO | Since 1993 |
| International Astronomy Olympiad | IAO | Since 1996 |
| International Geography Olympiad | iGeo | Since 1996 |
| International Linguistics Olympiad | IOL | Since 2003 |
| International Junior Science Olympiad | IJSO | Since 2004 |
| International Earth Science Olympiad | IESO | Since 2007 |
| International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics | IOAA | Since 2007 |
In the era of holistic admissions, very rarely can a single achievement swing an admissions committee on the basis of academic abilities alone. However, a gold medal from an International Olympiad holds a lot of power. Qualifying processes for each Olympiad vary by country and by subject, but typically involve a series of rigorous tests (such as the American Mathematics Competition (AMC) and American Invitational Mathematics Exam (AIME) in the case of the IMO) culminating in a training camp.
Slightly fewer than half of attendees receive medals (gold, silver, bronze, usually given in the ratio of 1:2:3), but most medalists are likely to be flagged during the admissions process as a ‘star’ or ‘talent’ much like a D1 athlete. Accordingly, they are given extra attention during admissions processes.
Research and Science Fair Competitions
Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)
Hosted by the Society for Science, ISEF is one of the biggest deals when it comes to high school science competitions, especially if you want to attend an undergraduate engineering school. [3] Every year, some of the brightest high school minds in the world come to ISEF to showcase their research, and its potential to make a significant positive impact on our world. For example, one past top award winner devised a way to help spinal surgeons improve the accuracy of their screw placement using machine learning and computer vision. That’s definitely a game changing creation!
Even just attending ISEF is considered an honor. Getting there requires students to participate in an ISEF Affiliated Science Fair, held across nearly every U.S. state and in more than 60 countries, regions, and territories. If you are just starting out, these research opportunities for high school students can help you build a project worth entering. Many attendees continue their research well beyond the competition.
Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS)
Like ISEF, STS is another research competition hosted by the Society for Science. [2] While ISEF is the largest research competition in the world, STS is a national competition, meaning only students in US High Schools (or US Citizens abroad) can participate. From a pool of roughly 2,600 high school seniors, the top 300 are named scholars, and 40 finalists travel to Washington, D.C., to compete for the top awards.
To give you an idea of the types of projects STS looks for, one past top award winner devised a mathematical model to determine the possible locations of exoplanets – planets outside our solar system – that may have been missed by NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope. That’s pretty out of this world (dad-joke)! Again, like ISEF, the emphasis is on science research that has the capacity to change our world – exactly what STEM-heavy colleges like MIT, Caltech, and Stanford in particular are all about.
Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS)
The Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS), backed by the U.S. military’s STEM programs, including those of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, invites high school students to present original research at regional symposia, with top presenters advancing to a national symposium where finalists compete for national recognition. Like ISEF, it rewards independent research, but its regional structure makes it a practical first competition for students without a university lab.
Davidson Fellows Scholarship
Open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents living in the United States who are 18 or younger, the Davidson Fellows Scholarship looks for students who are pursuing a ‘significant piece of work’ as defined by experts in their respective fields. [4] Fellows are recognized in eight categories: science, technology, engineering, mathematics, literature, music, philosophy, and Outside the Box. One past Fellow constructed an early warning system to detect the Zika virus in mosquitos (reducing current research methods of 2-4 weeks down to 15 minutes). Amazing, right?
Computing, Biology, and Math Competitions
Meta Hacker Cup
Google has retired its Code Jam competition, but Meta Hacker Cup continues as an annual online programming contest. It draws college students and professional programmers, so advancing past the early rounds as a high school student is a notable result. For a contest built around high school coders, the USA Computing Olympiad (USACO) offers four divisions, from Bronze to Platinum, and selects the U.S. team for the International Olympiad in Informatics.
iGEM
Initially founded as a class at MIT in 2003, today the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition is an opportunity for high school and college students around the world to work on serious global challenges using ‘synthetic biology’. Examples of past projects include environmental bioremediation, medical delivery systems, and alternative energy sources. Successful projects require hard work and dedication, and, unlike the other competitions on this list, iGEM is a team competition, so you will work closely with a group of students and mentors.
Harvard-MIT Mathematics Tournament
The Harvard MIT Mathematics Tournament is one of the few high school science competitions organized by college students. Founded in 1998, HMMT has been around for more than 20 years and has built quite a solid reputation in admissions circles.
There are two tournaments held each year – in November (held at Harvard) covering more general topics, and in February (held at MIT), covering Algebra, Geometry and Combinatorics.
If you so happen to make it to the Top 10, your name will be listed on the HMMT website for all eternity, so a curious admissions officer may just notice.
American Invitational Mathematics Exam (AIME)
Probably the most widely recognized test for mathematicians on this list and one of the most prestigious high school science competitions, students qualify for the AIME by reaching a set score on the AMC 10 or AMC 12. To see how it compares with other contests, explore these math competitions for high school students. AIME scores are then the main factor in selecting the students invited to the USA Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO) and USA Junior Mathematical Olympiad (USAJMO). The MAA has set a minimum age of 13 for the AIME. The exam has 15 questions, each with an integer answer from 0 to 999, split into two 90-minute parts. A high score would indicate to an admissions committee that you possess commendable abilities in mathematics.
The AIME is now given as a computer-based exam at testing centers during a two-day window in February, according to the Mathematical Association of America. [6] Each student may take the AIME only once, so plan your preparation around a single attempt. Check the MAA website for current registration details.
In today’s competitive admissions landscape, students who excel in science competitions for high school students often get noticed for their initiative, curiosity, and ability to solve complex problems. If your goal is to pursue a STEM pathway, engaging in these competitions can demonstrate depth, not just participation. Pair them with the other steps in this overview of how to present yourself as a STEM college applicant.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Get a clear, honest read on which path actually fits your goals, and the specific next steps to build a competitive application. Click here to book your complimentary consultation.