If you’re interested in STEM, participating in a STEM competition is a great way to explore your interests and see how what you learn in class actually gets used in real life. In these competitions, you might design and test experiments, write code (using languages like Python or Java), build prototypes using basic engineering tools, or analyze datasets. You might work individually or in teams to solve specific problems or build projects. You can take part in a robotics competition that involves programming and controlling machines, or choose other competitions focused on math problem solving, research presentations, or science fairs. You might use tools like simulation software, basic lab equipment, or presentation slides to explain your work. You’ll also learn to apply concepts like physics principles, algorithms, statistics, circuit design, or scientific methods in a more hands-on setting.
Why should you participate in a STEM competition?
Taking part in a STEM competition gives you a chance to actually use what you learn in subjects like math and science. You’ll learn to apply concepts that you’ve studied to real tasks like writing code that works, testing an experiment, or fixing errors in your design. Competitions can help you explore areas like robotics, engineering, or data science, so you can figure out what you enjoy. You’ll also get used to tools and methods that are commonly used in STEM fields, such as coding platforms, data analysis, and structured problem-solving.
Here are 21 STEM competitions for high school students worth exploring. If you’re looking for STEM research opportunities, you can find them here. You can also check out winter science competitions for high school students here.
1. USA Computing Olympiad (USACO)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: In the most recent edition, 5,147 U.S. students took part in the first contest, while 3,203 participated in each of the second and third contests
Dates: January 9 – 12 (First Contest) | January 30 – February 2 (Second Contest) | February 20 – 23 (Third Contest) | March 28 (US Open)
Registration Deadline: Students can create an account and register on the official USACO website at any time
Eligibility: All high school students
The United States of America Computing Olympiad is an online programming competition for high school students in which you’ll solve algorithmic problems. You’ll start in the bronze division and move up to silver, gold, and platinum as your scores improve, with each level getting harder. Contests run from January to early spring, usually once a month. Each one lasts four hours, while the US Open, which serves as the national championship, lasts five hours. You’ll submit all your solutions online. USACO also provides free training resources, as well as past problems and solutions for practice. Strong performance can lead to national recognition. Around two dozen finalists may be invited to training camps for international competitions. From there, the top four U.S. students represent the country at the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI), and the top four female students compete at the European Girls’ Olympiad in Informatics (EGOI).
2. Purple Comet! Math Meet!
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Last year, more than 12,000 students took part across over 4,000 teams from 80 countries
Dates: April 14 – 23
Registration Deadline: Registration remains open until the end of the contest
Eligibility: Middle and high school students can participate. Anyone can join a non-competitive team, but competitive teams are open to students who have not finished high school and are under 20 at the time of the competition
The Purple Comet Math Meet is a free, online, international team competition for middle and high school students. You can join alone or in a team of up to six, and work together to solve a set of math problems. The contest runs over a ten-day window, and your team can choose a convenient start time. Once the clock begins, you can submit answers until time runs out. The middle school level has 20 problems in 60 minutes, and the high school level has 30 problems in 90 minutes. Problems range from easy to very challenging. Teams are grouped as large school, small school, mixed, or non-competitive, and each team needs an adult supervisor to register and start the contest. Competitive teams can earn award certificates, and winning teams are listed on the contest website. Non-competitive teams receive participation certificates only.
3. Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS)
Location: Virtual; the finals take place in Washington, D.C.
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 2,500 students participate in the competition each year
Dates: Students submit their research by November 6, the top 300 scholars are announced on January 7, the top 40 finalists are announced on January 21, and the Regeneron STS Finals Week takes place from March 5 to 11
Registration Deadline: June 1 – November 6
Eligibility: Students in their final year of high school in the U.S. or its territories can apply regardless of citizenship; U.S. citizens living abroad may also be eligible
Regeneron STS is a science competition for high school seniors that gives them a platform to present original research in science, math, or engineering. You’ll complete an independent research project, write a report with data and results, and submit it with project details, essays, a research paper of up to 20 pages, recommendations, transcripts, and optional test scores. Projects from any high school year are allowed if the data is collected and clearly explained. You may work with university faculty or industry experts and learn about real STEM careers and methods. All eligible entrants receive laptop stickers, a T-shirt, and a free one-year digital subscription to Science News. Around 300 scholars are selected each year and receive $2,000, with the same amount given to their schools. From this group, 40 finalists earn a fully funded trip to Washington, D.C., to compete for top awards, including the $250,000 top prize, and to share their research and meet experts.
4. Davidson Fellows Scholarship
Location: Virtual; the awards reception takes place in Washington, DC
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No fixed cohort size; students can participate individually or in teams of up to two members
Dates: Students must submit their work by February 18, and recipients are announced on or before July 15 each year
Registration Deadline: February 18; applications open in the fall
Eligibility: Students aged 18 or younger by the application deadline who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents living in the U.S., or are stationed overseas on active U.S. military duty, and have completed a major project in one of the submission categories
The Davidson Fellows Scholarship is for students who have completed projects in STEM, the humanities, or Outside the Box categories. The application process has two steps. First, you’ll submit a short project description to confirm eligibility. Then, you’ll share your nominators’ details, send them their forms, and complete all required materials for your category. You can earn scholarships of $100,000, $50,000, or $25,000 for work in areas like science, mathematics, technology, engineering, music, literature, and philosophy. The program focuses on projects that experts consider meaningful and useful for society. This could include developing a new idea with clear impact, creatively using existing ideas, building an innovative solution that can be widely used, or creating work that others can build on in the future. Past winners have identified new cancer targets, disproved mathematical conjectures, and used AI for drug development.
5. MAA American Mathematics Competitions (AMC)
Location: Multiple locations
Cost: $55–$115 registration fee, depending on the registration date
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No fixed cohort size; more than 300,000 students participate in the AMC each year
Dates: November 5 (AMC 10 A and AMC 12 A) | November 13 (AMC 10 B and AMC 12 B) | January 22 – 30 (AMC 8)
Registration Deadline:
- AMC 10 and AMC 12: September 30 (early bird deadline) | October 15 (regular deadline) | October 28 (late deadline)
- AMC 8: October 28 (early bird deadline) | January 5 (regular deadline) | January 15 (late deadline)
Eligibility:
- Students in grade 8 or below and under 15.5 take the AMC 8, those in grade 10 or below and under 17.5 take the AMC 10, and students in grade 12 or below and under 19.5 take the AMC 12
- Participants must be enrolled full-time at an accredited school or be homeschooled in the U.S. or Canada
- Students and parents don’t register directly with the MAA, so you can check with your school, local colleges, universities, math circles, or learning centers to see if they are hosting the AMC
The AMC is a math competition for middle and high school students with different grade and age limits for each level. The AMC 8 is a 25-question, 40-minute test for students in grades 8 and below, which covers basic geometry, estimation, counting and probability, spatial visualization, proportional reasoning, and interpreting graphs and tables. The AMC 10 is a 25-question, 75-minute multiple-choice test for students in grades 10 and below, and focuses on elementary algebra, area and volume formulas, number theory, basic geometry, and probability. The AMC 12 is also 25 questions and 75 minutes long for students in grades 12 and below and covers the full high school math curriculum, including advanced algebra, trigonometry, and advanced geometry. The AMC 10 and 12 each have versions A and B, and competition managers can choose dates or let students try both. Students who do well may be invited to follow-up competitions in February and March.
6. Zero Robotics: Galactic Greenhouse Championship
Location: Teams compete in person at their schools or community organizations, with some flexibility for online participation. The live International Space Station Finals are held at MIT, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 10 to 20 teams are invited, each including 4–15 high school students and an adult advisor, such as a teacher, parent, or coach
Dates: January 9 – February 21
Registration Deadline: November 28; you can find the registration form here
Eligibility: High school students
The Zero Robotics Galactic Greenhouse Championship is a programming competition in which high school teams write autonomous code to control NASA’s Astrobee robots aboard the International Space Station. Your mission is to manage space agriculture by planting, watering, and harvesting crops in microgravity. The arena has six garden plots, a Watering Zone, an Astronaut Zone, and a Home Zone. Each crop needs to be watered twice within 60 seconds, or it fails and must be removed with a virtual shovel. You can earn more points by harvesting different crops, and visiting the Astronaut Zone for bonus assignments can give a 50% harvest bonus. Points are also awarded for distance traveled and visiting unique plots. All code runs autonomously, handling navigation, resource management, and tasks. You’ll use a web-based IDE to write and test strategies in a 3D simulation. Top teams may form alliances, and the finalist code is uploaded to Astrobee robots on the ISS, with the live championship broadcast globally.
7. NFTE World Series of Innovation (WSI) — Impact League Challenge
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 3,951 students participated last year
Dates: September 9 – April 21; entries are due by December 12. The top 10 finalists are announced on February 20, finalist pitch videos are due by March 8, and winners are announced on April 21
Registration Deadline: September 9 – December 12
Eligibility: Students aged 13–24 can participate in the Impact League Challenge; high school students are especially encouraged to participate
The NFTE World Series of Innovation Impact League Challenge allows students to apply entrepreneurial thinking to tackle real-world problems aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). You can pick challenges in areas like education, clean water, solar energy, public health, financial literacy, and climate action. You can participate alone or as part of a team. Many challenges involve STEM, where you can design products or services using AI, renewable energy, or clean water technologies. You can also create apps or digital platforms, building coding and digital literacy skills. You’ll also learn about sustainability, climate change (SDG 13), and sustainable cities (SDG 11). STEM-focused challenges include the EY Responsible AI Challenge, CBT Tech Climate Solutions, and Aramco Sustainable Solutions. After registering, you’ll review the brief, submit your idea online, and receive help from mentors in refining it. Top teams will create pitch videos for the virtual finals. Prizes range from $300 to $1,500, with extra awards for teachers and mentors.
8. USA Biolympiad (USABO)
Location: The open and semifinal exams are conducted online, while the National Finals, the training camp, and the awards ceremony are hosted by a different institution each year. This year, the International Biology Olympiad will be held in Vilnius, Lithuania
Cost: The registration fee is $125 per school, regardless of the number of participating students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 12,000 students register each year
Dates: February 4 (Online Open Exam) | March 4 (Semifinal Exam); National finalists are announced on April 20, the National Finals take place from June 21 to July 2, and the International Biology Olympiad runs from July 12 to 19
Registration Deadline: August 7 – November 8
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12, or those not yet enrolled in college, who are permanent U.S. residents and attend a registered school
The USA Biolympiad is a national biology competition for U.S. high school students. It begins with the USABO Open Exam, a 50-minute multiple-choice test for biology students at registered schools. It is hosted on the Art of Problem Solving platform. The top 10% take the Semifinal Exam, which includes short-answer, multiple-choice true-or-false, and free-response questions. If you reach the top 20, you’ll advance to the National Finals. There, you’ll attend guest talks, work with biologists, and take more exams to compete for a place on the USA Biolympiad Team. The four gold medalists will earn the chance to represent the U.S. at the International Biology Olympiad, a global competition with teams from more than 70 countries. This competition will help you develop critical thinking, lab skills, and biological reasoning, and explore your interest in science.
9. Physics Bowl
Location: Varies depending on the region
Cost: $10 per student
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Last year, 12,725 students participated in the competition
Dates: The exam takes place between March 18 and April 3, depending on the region, and teachers must reserve a room, arrange supervision, and have students take the test at the same time on a chosen day within that window
Registration Deadline: February 23 (regular deadline) | February 25 (extended deadline)
Eligibility: High school students from around the world
The PhysicsBowl Contest is an international high school physics competition in which you compete through your school at regional events. You’ll take a 40-question, 45-minute multiple-choice exam under school supervision, with questions based on high school physics, ranging from conceptual topics to AP Physics and modern physics. You can compete in Division I as a first-year physics student or Division II as a second-year student. Each division has 15 regions, and specialized math and science schools compete within their respective regions. Team scores are based on the top five student scores from a school, though smaller teams can still participate. Schools can enter teams in both divisions. Awards vary each year, but the top two students and the top two schools in each region and division are recognized. The test is available online or as a printable PDF through EdVistas. Average scores are around 40-50%. Practice tests are also available for preparation.
10. ExploraVision
Location: Virtual; the awards weekend will take place in Washington, D.C.
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No fixed cohort size; teams include 2–4 students and are led by a teacher or coach, with the option to have a mentor
Dates: Projects must be submitted online by February 3, regional winners are announced on March 9, national winners on April 27, and the awards weekend takes place from June 3 to 6
Registration Deadline: February 3
Eligibility: K–12 students under 21 can apply if they are U.S. or Canadian citizens, live in the U.S., U.S. territories, Armed Forces locations, or Canada, and are enrolled full-time in a private, public, virtual, parochial, or homeschool program; students in grades 10–12 can compete in the high school level category
ExploraVision is a STEM competition for K–12 students in which you’ll work in a team of 2–4 students. You’ll choose a technology, study how it works and what it is used for, then predict how it could develop in the future. You’ll look at the breakthroughs needed to make your idea real and think about its benefits and risks for society. Your team will write a paper and create web pages to present the idea. If you are a finalist in grades 4 to 12, you’ll also build a prototype and a full website. Categories are based on the oldest team member and include primary, upper elementary, middle, and high school; each is judged separately. You’ll develop skills in teamwork, problem-solving, and communication, working across subjects such as STEAM, research, English, and history. Prizes include $10,000 savings bonds for first place, $5,000 for second place, a trip to Washington, D.C. for national winners and their families, and Chromebooks for regional winners. You can find more information here.
11. United States Invitational for Young Physicists Tournament (USIYPT)
Location: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA
Cost: Last year, the registration fee was $1,200 per team, covering up to four students and two faculty members, with extra charges for each additional student or teacher. USAYPT membership costs $150
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No fixed cohort size; each team includes 3–4 students from the same high school and up to two coaches
Dates: January 30 – 31
Registration Deadline: This tournament is by invitation only
Eligibility: The tournament is invite-only, and all team members must be registered students at selected U.S. or international secondary schools
The U.S. Invitational Young Physicists Tournament is an international physics competition that combines research with debate. It runs over two days with six or seven preliminary rounds, four final rounds, and a poster presentation session. You’ll study four assigned problems and present solutions in physics fights, where one team presents and another questions, similar to scientific discussions at conferences. In the preliminary rounds, each team presents three times, opposes three times, and may have one bye round if needed. Topics this year include friction on a roll, standing waves, diodes, and walking statues. You’ll study how rolling and braking friction change with pressure, speed, and surface conditions, how standing wave frequency depends on length, tension, density, and amplitude, build and test diodes, and examine how a rigid body moves through controlled rocking. You’ll be judged on theory, experiments, and communication. Top teams move to the finals, while others present their work in the poster session.
12. GENIUS Olympiad
Location: Rochester Institute of Technology, New York, NY
Cost: $60 application fee per project | $600 participation fee per participant
Acceptance rate/cohort size: This year, out of 3,254 projects that were submitted, only 892 projects were accepted (27.4% acceptance rate)
Dates: GENIUS Finals take place from June 8 to 12
Registration Deadline: March 7 (application deadline) | May 10 (registration deadline)
Eligibility: High school students
GENIUS Olympiad is an international high school competition focused on environmental issues, hosted by the Rochester Institute of Technology. You’ll submit a project in one of nine areas, including AI, art, coding, entrepreneurship, music, robotics, science, short film, or speech. You’ll study a specific problem and propose a technical or policy solution. You’ll present your project during a week-long event with judging and cultural exchange, and receive feedback from professors and industry professionals. If you are interested in STEM, you can build AI systems, create code-based solutions, or design robotics projects to address environmental challenges. All participants receive a certificate. Awards are based on scores within each category. The top project earns the Grand Gold Award, with a certificate and a gold medal. The top 5 percent receive gold medals, the next two groups receive silver and bronze medals, and the rest receive honorable mention certificates.
13. National Science Bowl (NSB)
Location: Regional rounds are held either online or in person at different locations across the U.S.; the National Science Bowl Finals take place in Washington, D.C.
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 10,000 students register each year; each team includes 4–5 students and a coach
Dates: Regional rounds run from January to March, and the National Finals take place from April 30 to May 4
Registration Deadline: October 6 – November 23 (Regional Rounds); regional round dates vary, and students must register at least three weeks before their selected event
Eligibility: Middle school and high school students
The U.S. Department of Energy National Science Bowl is a nationwide competition where you can test your science and math knowledge through fast-paced question and answer rounds. Your team usually includes four students, one alternate, and a coach. You’ll answer questions in biology, chemistry, energy, physics, Earth science, and math, with high school topics set around a college freshman level. Studying AP material and working with teachers or peers can help you prepare. Starting in January, you’ll compete in one of about 65 high school regional events. Questions begin easier and get more challenging as rounds progress, with regional rounds simpler than the national level. If your team wins regionals, you’ll advance to the national competition in Washington, DC, held in April or May. There, you’ll explore the city, attend seminars, and compete in the final rounds.
14. Harvard–MIT Mathematics Tournament (HMMT)
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (HMMT November) | Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA (HMMT February)
Cost: $80 per team application | $10 per individual application
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 1,000 students participate in the competition each year
Dates: November 8 (Harvard) | February 14 (MIT); students can participate in only one of the November or February tournaments in a given season
Registration Deadline: August 24 – September 21
Eligibility: High school students worldwide, including homeschooled students under 21 who have not received a high school diploma or equivalent, can apply, but they cannot represent more than one organization in a season, and must compete with their school team if their school submits an application
The Harvard MIT Mathematics Tournament is a high-level math competition where you’ll compete in individual and team rounds that test creative problem-solving. You can join a school team with 4 to 6 students in November or 6 to 8 in February. All members must attend the same school or live within 150 miles of one another, and teams must be officially affiliated with a recognized school. Both tournaments include individual tests, a team round, and a guts round, but the formats differ. The November tournament is held at Harvard and is closer in level to the AMC and AIME. The February tournament is held at MIT, includes subject tests in geometry, algebra, and combinatorics, and is more difficult, often at an olympiad level, requiring strong proof skills. You can only compete in one tournament per season. Awards are given to the top 10 individuals overall, top scorers on each test, top 5 teams in team and guts rounds, and the top 10 teams overall as Sweepstakes winners.
15. Genes in Space
Location: Virtual; the location of the in-person final round changes each year, and this year it will be at Countdown to Discovery, Houston, TX
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No fixed cohort size; students can participate individually or in teams of two with an adult sponsor (parent, teacher, or mentor)
Dates: Projects can be submitted anytime from January 5 to April 10, finalists are announced in May, they pitch their ideas in person from July 28 to 30, and winners are announced later in July
Registration Deadline: January 5 – April 10
Eligibility: U.S. students in grades 7–12
Genes in Space is a national science contest for students in grades 7–12 to design a DNA experiment for the International Space Station. You’ll focus on a molecular or genetic question, choose a space biology topic, and use the Genes in Space Toolkit to plan your experiment like astronauts do. You’ll define an open question, set a hypothesis or research goal, and pick your experimental approach. You can use the Student Resources page for ideas. Finalists and awardees receive complete P51 Fluorescence Biotechnology Kits for their schools, including micropipettes, viewers, and learning materials. The contest winner attends Space Biology Camp to prepare the experiment for space travel, and once approved, it will be conducted aboard the ISS. The launch date is set after the winners are announced. Participating schools also receive 25 chances to win a miniPCR Bio-DNA Discovery System, which includes a miniPCR thermal cycler and a blueGel electrophoresis system.
16. The Conrad Challenge
Location: Virtual; the final round takes place in person at Space Center Houston, Houston, TX
Cost: The Activation Stage is free; both the Innovation Stage and the Innovation Summit cost $499 each
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 4,480 students participated last year
Dates: August 28 – October 30 (Activation Stage) | October 31 – January 8 (Innovation Stage) | April 22 – 25 (Innovation Summit)
Registration Deadline: Varies for each stage; the initial ideas must be submitted by October 30
Eligibility: Students aged 13–18
The Conrad Challenge is a global competition where you’ll work in teams of 2 to 5 to solve real-world problems in areas like cybersecurity, health, aerospace, and energy using science and technology. You’ll work in areas like aerospace, renewable energy, cybersecurity, and medical technology to turn ideas into practical, usable solutions. The program follows a startup-style approach. You begin in the Activation Stage by registering, choosing a category, and building a Lean Canvas plan. In the Innovation Stage, you submit a video, a brief, and a website explaining your solution. If selected as a finalist, you’ll attend the Innovation Summit at Space Center Houston, where you’ll pitch your idea, join workshops and tours, and compete for scholarships and the Pete Conrad Scholar title. Prizes also include travel to international STEM institutions and networking with industry leaders.
17. American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Neuroscience Research Prize
Location: Research papers are submitted online, and winners present their work at the American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting, which changes location each year, with next year’s event in Chicago, IL
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; only four students are selected as winners each year
Dates: Research papers are due by October 21, judging happens in November and December, and winners are announced in January
Registration Deadline: August 5 – October 21
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12 who attend U.S. high schools can apply, with no age restrictions
The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Neuroscience Research Prize recognizes high school students who complete original research on the brain and nervous system. You’ll submit an application, a 300-word abstract, a research report, and a bibliography. Projects must be done individually and don’t need a formal lab. A panel of U.S. neuroscientists and physicians reviews all entries, and top abstracts move to the final round. Research can focus on anatomy, pathology, physiology, or brain function, with psychology projects accepted only if they relate directly to neurophysiology. Four winners receive $1,000 each, a certificate, and the opportunity to present their work at the AAN Annual Meeting. Winners can bring a parent or mentor, with travel, hotel, a daily stipend, and free registration included. This competition will allow you to explore neuroscience in depth, attend a major professional conference, showcase your findings, and gain recognition from experts in the field.
18. Technovation Girls Competition
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Last year, around 11,000 girls took part in the competition
Dates: The season begins on August 13, with final projects due by April 20. Judging runs April 23 – May 26 (Round 1) and June 1 – 15 (Round 2). The virtual celebration and announcement of finalists and regional winners take place in July, followed by the World Summit in September
Registration Deadline: August 13 – March 18
Eligibility: Girls aged 8–18
The Technovation Girls is a global program that allows you to use coding and AI to solve real problems and learn about business and entrepreneurship. You can join as a team of 1 to 5 through a local Chapter or Club, or participate online, with divisions based on age. Divisions are determined by the age of the oldest team member: Beginner for ages 8 to 12, Junior for ages 13 to 15, and Senior for ages 16 to 18. From October to May, you’ll build a project with a business plan, a pitch video, and a technical video that shows your app, its AI use, and feedback. You can use tools like Scratch or code in Java, Python, or Swift. With help from a mentor, you’ll learn about startups, research, marketing, and pitching. Judges select teams for the semifinals, then choose 15 Regional Honorees and 15 finalists (5 from each division). Finalists receive a $500 stipend and present at the World Summit, where three Grand Prize teams are chosen, with each member receiving $750.
19. American Invitational Mathematics Exam (AIME)
Location: Multiple locations; students take the AIME at the same location where they completed their AMC 10 or AMC 12 exam
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No fixed cohort size; about 12,000–15,000 students qualify for the AIME each year
Dates: February 5 (AIME I) | February 11 (AIME II)
Registration Deadline: There’s no registration deadline because this is an invite-only competition; you can check the details here
Eligibility: This is an invite-only competition for high school students who scored exceptionally well on the AMC 10 or AMC 12; you can check the AIME qualifying thresholds here
The American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME) is a challenging math contest for high school students who scored very well on the AMC 10 or AMC 12. The test has 15 questions, lasts 3 hours, and each answer is an integer from 0 to 999. The problems are tougher than those on the AMC. There are two dates, AIME I and AIME II, but you can only take the exam once. Eligibility usually includes the top 2.5% of AMC 10 scorers and the top 5% of AMC 12 scorers, though exact cutoffs vary. You’ll take the AIME at the same location as your AMC, or at another approved site with a Change of Venue form. High scorers on the AIME can then be invited to the USA Mathematical Olympiad or the Junior Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO and USAJMO).
20. U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP)
Location: Regional and state competitions take place at various locations within each region/state, and the National Competition location changes every year, with this year’s event in Chicago, IL
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No fixed cohort size; maximum 2 students per team
Dates: Regional competitions happen in winter, state competitions take place in spring, state winners join an online judging round in the first two weeks of May, and the National Competition runs from June 8 to June 10
Registration Deadline: Regional Competition deadlines vary by region; regional winners and self-nominated students must enter the State Competition by April 15, and State winners must submit their research papers for the National Competition by May
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12 who will be 15 or older by August 1 of the competition year and have completed a research project in water science
The U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP) honors high school students with outstanding water research projects. Teams of up to two students can participate, working on projects that manage water resources, improve water quality, or treat water and wastewater. Projects can focus on local, regional, national, or global issues and are judged on relevance, creativity, knowledge, methodology, practical skills, and presentation, with the research report weighted more than the poster. The competition has four levels: regional, state, national, and international. Regional competitions take place in winter, leading to state competitions in spring, with winners receiving a certificate and a state nomination. State winners receive a medal and an all-expenses-paid trip to the U.S. National Competition in June. At nationals, State winners compete in a virtual judging round in early May, with the top 20 moving to in-person finals in Chicago, IL. National winners earn a $10,000 scholarship, a trophy, a framed certificate, and a trip to Stockholm for World Water Week. The International winner receives $15,000, the International Crystal Trophy, and $5,000 for their school.
21. Congressional App Challenge
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No fixed cohort size; participants can join alone or in a team of up to four students
Dates: Students must submit their apps between May 1 and October 26, judging takes place in November, and winners are announced in December
Registration Deadline: May 1 – October 26; pre-registration opens on January 1
Eligibility: Middle and high school students who are U.S. residents can apply and compete in the district where they live or attend school. For team entries, at least half of the teammates must be eligible to compete in that district
The Congressional App Challenge is a district-based competition run by members of the U.S. House of Representatives that allows students to build apps and sharpen their coding skills. You can enter individually or with a team of up to four students. You’ll design a mobile or web app that tackles real-world problems using any programming language, from Python and JavaScript to C++ or block coding. Apps can run on any platform, including tablets, PCs, robots, wearables, AR/VR devices, smart devices, and embedded systems, and must demonstrate functionality to be competitive. You’ll submit a 1–3 minute demo video of your app. Prizes often include scholarships, mentorships, and invitations to tech events. Winning apps will allow you to present them to lawmakers and industry experts, make a positive impact with technology, and be showcased at the national #HouseofCode event in Washington, D.C. The top app may also be featured on House.gov.
One more option—Horizon Academic Research Program
If you are looking for a competitive mentored research program in STEM, you can consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! It is a selective virtual research program that allows you to engage in advanced research and come up with a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1,000+ high school students so far, offering 600+ research specializations to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image source: Rochester Institute of Technology