Top 11 Competitions for High School Students

Competitions for high school students give you a way to prove what grades and test scores can’t: that you can produce original work, perform under pressure, and commit to something difficult over months or years. Admissions officers at selective colleges look for exactly these signals when they review your extracurricular activities.

In this blog, you’ll learn about 11 of the best competitions for high school students spanning science, math, writing, debate, business, and service. Each entry covers what the competition is, how it works, and why it matters for college admissions. You’ll also find direct links to our in-depth guides so you can dig deeper into the ones that fit your interests and goals.

• Best Competitions for High School Students
• Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)
• Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS)
• USA Math Olympiad (USAMO)
• USA Science Olympiads (USAPhO, USABO, USNCO)
• Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
• John Locke Essay Competition
• National High School Journal of Science (NHSJS) and Columbia Junior Science Journal (CJSJ)
• The Concord Review
• National Speech & Debate Tournament
• Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) National Leadership Conference
• National Honor Society (NHS)
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

Best Competitions for High School Students

The strongest college applications show sustained commitment in one or two areas. Competitions help you build that kind of depth, and they give you a structured goal, a timeline, and external validation that’s easy for admissions officers to verify. A Regeneron STS semifinalist designation or a Scholastic Gold Key tells a reader something specific about your abilities, while a line on your activity list that says “member of science club” does not.

Below is a summary of the 11 competitions for high school students covered in this guide, along with each one’s category and a key detail worth knowing.

If you’re unsure which competitions fit your profile, our guide on how to choose the best academic competitions can help you narrow things down.

Now, let’s look at each one in detail.

1. Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)

• Dates: May 9–15, 2026 (Phoenix, AZ); May 10–16, 2027 (Los Angeles, CA)
• Location: Phoenix Convention Center (2026)
• Prizes: $7M+ in total awards; top prize of $100,000

The Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair is the world’s largest pre-college STEM competition, bringing together more than 1,700 finalists from roughly 60 countries each year. Run by the Society for Science for over 75 years, ISEF covers 22 scientific categories, from biomedical engineering and environmental science to robotics and computational biology. If you want to compete on a global stage, this is the one to aim for.

To join ISEF, you must qualify by winning a top prize at a Society-affiliated local, regional, state, or national science fair. That feeder system means millions of students worldwide enter the pipeline each year, and only the strongest projects advance. Once you reach ISEF, a panel of roughly 1,000 judges evaluates your work on scientific rigor, creativity, and real-world impact.

For a full breakdown of how to qualify and prepare, check out our complete guide to Regeneron ISEF.

2. Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS)

• Dates: Application deadline November 5, 2026; finalists week in March 2027 (Washington, D.C.)
• Location: National Building Museum, Washington, D.C. (finals)
• Prizes: $3.1M in total awards; top prize of $250,000; all 40 finalists receive at least $25,000

The Regeneron Science Talent Search is the oldest and most selective science competition for high school students in the United States, running continuously since 1942. Unlike ISEF, which accepts projects from grades 9 through 12, STS is open only to seniors. It also evaluates you holistically. You submit an original research paper, essays, recommendations, and a full application, much like a college admissions portfolio with a research centerpiece.

Each year, roughly 2,600 students apply. From that pool, 300 are named scholars and receive $2,000 each, along with a matching award for their school. Forty finalists are then selected to travel to Washington, D.C. for a week of judging, presentations, and meetings with working scientists and policymakers. Judges evaluate projects on scientific rigor, originality, critical thinking, and communication. The 2026 competition drew its largest applicant pool since 1967.

For tips on building a strong application, read our complete guide to the Regeneron STS. If you’re still developing your research project, our Science Research Program can help you find a mentor, refine your methodology, and prepare your paper for submission.

3. USA Math Olympiad (USAMO)

• Dates: March 21–22, 2026 (two-day exam); AMC 10/12 in November, AIME in February
• Location: Administered at designated competition sites nationwide
• Recognition: Certificates, Honor Roll, medals; top scorers invited to the Mathematical Olympiad Program (MOP)

The USA Math Olympiad is the final and most selective stage of the American Mathematics Competitions (AMC) pathway, and qualifying for it is one of the strongest math credentials a high school student can earn.

The AMC program starts with more than 300,000 students taking the AMC 10 or AMC 12 each fall. High scorers advance to the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME), and the top performers on the AIME receive an invitation to the USAMO or its junior counterpart, the USAJMO.

The exam itself is a two-day, nine-hour test consisting of six proof-based problems. There are no multiple-choice questions. You write full mathematical arguments, and judges evaluate the logic, rigor, and elegance of your solutions.

What makes USAMO matter beyond the exam itself is the pipeline it feeds. The highest scorers are invited to the Mathematical Olympiad Program, an intensive summer training camp where the six-member U.S. team for the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) is selected. Even if you don’t reach MOP, USAMO qualification tells admissions officers at schools like MIT, Caltech, Harvard, and Stanford that you operate at a level most applicants never reach.

If you’re working toward qualification, our Olympiad Training program offers 1-on-1 preparation for AMC, AIME, and USAMO. For a deeper look at the full pathway and how to prepare at each stage, read our guides to USAMO and AMC.

4. USA Science Olympiads (USAPhO, USABO, USNCO)

• USAPhO: F=ma exam in February → USAPhO exam in April → U.S. Physics Team camp in May–June → IPhO
• USABO: Open Exam in February → Semifinal in March → National Finals in June → IBO
• USNCO: Local exam in March → National exam in April → Study Camp in June → IChO
• Recognition: Certificates, honors, medals; top performers represent the U.S. at international Olympiads

The USA Physics Olympiad, USA Biology Olympiad, and U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad follow the same basic structure: a multi-round national exam that filters thousands of students down to a small team that represents the United States at an international competition. All three are Tier 1 extracurriculars, and even reaching the semifinal round in any of them signals serious ability in your field.

The USAPhO starts with the F=ma exam, a 75-minute multiple-choice test focused on mechanics. The top 20 scorers are invited to a training camp at the University of Maryland, and from that group, five students are selected to compete at the International Physics Olympiad.

The USABO draws nearly 12,000 students each year. You take the Open Exam in February, and top scorers advance to a Semifinal in March. The top 20 semifinalists are invited to the National Finals, a 12-day residential program that includes advanced instruction and two days of testing. Four students are then chosen for the U.S. team at the International Biology Olympiad.

The USNCO follows a similar ladder. Local section exams in March feed into the National Exam in April, which more than 1,000 students take. The top 20 scorers attend a two-week Study Camp in June, and four are selected for the International Chemistry Olympiad.

For deeper breakdowns of each pathway, read our guides to USAPhO, USABO, and USNCO.

5. Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

• Dates: Portal opens October 1, 2026; regional deadlines vary (December 2026 – January 6, 2027); Regional Announcement Day January 27, 2027; National Announcement Day March 31, 2027; National Awards Week June 8–11, 2027
• Location: Online submissions; regional judging sites nationwide; national ceremony in New York City
• Prizes: Regional Honorable Mentions, Silver Keys, and Gold Keys; national Silver and Gold Medals; scholarships up to $12,500; publication and exhibition opportunities

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards have recognized creative teenagers since 1923, making them the longest-running program of their kind in the United States. Each year, students in grades 7 through 12 submit more than 330,000 works across 29 art and writing categories, including poetry, short fiction, personal essay, journalism, flash fiction, and critical essay.

The judging process runs in two stages. Your work is first evaluated at the regional level by panels of working artists and writers, who award Honorable Mentions, Silver Keys, and Gold Keys. Gold Key pieces advance automatically to the national round, where a separate panel selects Silver and Gold Medalists. Judges evaluate entries on originality, technical skill, and the emergence of a personal voice. All judging is anonymous, so your background doesn’t factor into the decision.

Past winners include Sylvia Plath, Andy Warhol, Stephen King, and Toni Morrison, though the program is built for emerging voices, not established ones.

For a deeper look at how to prepare a strong submission, read our full guide to the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. If you’re interested in working with a writing coach, our Writing Competitions program provides line-by-line feedback and 1-on-1 guidance through every stage of the process.

6. John Locke Essay Competition

• Dates: Registration February 2 – March 31, 2026; submissions April 1 – May 31, 2026 (paid late extensions to June 7 or June 21); shortlist notification July 7, 2026; awards dinner October 3, 2026 (London)
• Location: Online; awards ceremony in London
• Prizes: Scholarships up to $10,000 for John Locke Institute programs; certificates for shortlisted candidates, commendations, and high commendations

The John Locke Essay Competition, officially called the Global Essay Prize, is one of the few internationally judged humanities credentials available to high school students. Run by the John Locke Institute, an independent educational organization based in Oxford, England, the competition is free to enter and open to anyone under 19.

You choose one question from a set of prompts spanning ten subject categories, including philosophy, politics, economics, history, psychology, theology, law, and three categories added in 2026: public policy, international relations, and science and technology.

Essays are capped at 2,000 words, which forces precision. Judges are faculty from universities like Oxford and Princeton, and they evaluate entries on the clarity of your argument, the quality of your reasoning, and your ability to engage with complex ideas. Only 25 students are named official prize winners in a given year.

For a full breakdown of how to prepare a competitive entry, check out our guide to the John Locke Essay Competition.

7. National High School Journal of Science (NHSJS) and Columbia Junior Science Journal (CJSJ)

• NHSJS: Rolling submissions year-round; peer review takes 8–12 weeks; $250 publication fee upon acceptance
• CJSJ: Submissions due September 30, 2026, for the 2026–2027 volume; semifinalist notifications in November, finalist notifications in December; free to submit and publish
• Recognition: Publication in a peer-reviewed journal; permanent, citable research credential

Getting a paper published in a peer-reviewed journal as a high school student is a different kind of credential than winning a competition. A competition result is a ranking, while a publication is a permanent addition to a scholarly record. Admissions officers at research-heavy universities understand that distinction, and both the National High School Journal of Science and the Columbia Junior Science Journal offer that opportunity.

NHSJS is a free, online, student-run journal that accepts original research papers and review articles across biology, chemistry, physics, computer science, neuroscience, math, social sciences, and STEM policy. Submissions go through a three-step peer review process overseen by a Scientist Advisory Board of professional researchers. The review process itself is educational. Even if your paper needs revisions, the feedback you receive from graduate students, postdocs, and working scientists sharpens your writing and your thinking.

CJSJ operates on a tighter cycle. It’s managed by the editorial board of the Columbia Undergraduate Science Journal and publishes one volume per year. You submit a two-to-three page original research paper or a four-to-five page review article by the September 30 deadline. The journal accepts papers in the natural sciences, physical sciences, engineering, and social sciences, and it’s open to high school students worldwide.

For deeper breakdowns of each journal’s submission process and what reviewers look for, read our guides to NHSJS and CJSJ.

8. The Concord Review

• Submission deadlines: August 1 (Winter issue), November 1 (Spring), February 1 (Summer), May 1 (Fall); rolling consideration for up to four issues after submission
• Location: Online
• Prizes: Publication in The Concord Review; Emerson Prize (~$3,000) and Fitzhugh Prize for top published essays; National Writing Board evaluation available separately

The Concord Review is the only quarterly journal in the world dedicated to publishing academic history research papers by secondary school students. Founded in 1987 by William Fitzhugh, a Massachusetts educator, it has published student work from 42 states and 39 countries.

Published authors have gone on to Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, Oxford, Cambridge, and dozens of other selective institutions. The journal accepts fewer than 5% of submissions, which puts its selectivity on par with many professional academic journals.

The requirements are demanding. Your paper must be a sole-authored history research essay, averaging around 8,500 words, with Turabian-style endnotes and a bibliography. You can write about any historical topic, ancient or modern, domestic or foreign. The essay must be completed before you finish secondary school, and it cannot have been previously published outside a school publication.

Five published essays per year are selected for the Ralph Waldo Emerson Prize, worth roughly $3,000 each, and one essay earns the Fitzhugh Prize as the top paper of the volume. You don’t apply for either prize separately. If your essay is published, it’s automatically eligible.

For a full breakdown of what editors look for, formatting requirements, and tips from published contributors, read our complete guide to The Concord Review. You can also learn more about the prize structure in our Emerson Prize guide.

9. National Speech & Debate Tournament

• Dates: District qualifiers throughout the school year; National Tournament June 14–19, 2026 (Richmond, Virginia)
• Location: Multiple venues across Richmond, VA
• Recognition: National championship titles, NSDA Honor Society degrees, scholarships, and cumulative merit points

The National Speech & Debate Tournament is the largest academic competition in the United States, and qualifying for it through your district tournament is a credential in its own right. Run by the National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA), the tournament draws from a membership base of roughly 140,000 students across 3,000 schools.

To compete at nationals, you first need an active NSDA membership and enough merit points to earn at least the Merit degree in the Honor Society. From there, you qualify through your district tournament, where the number of advancing slots depends on the size and competitiveness of your district.

Events span the full range of speech and debate formats: Policy Debate, Lincoln-Douglas, Public Forum, Congressional Debate, Extemporaneous Speaking, Original Oratory, Dramatic and Humorous Interpretation, Duo Interpretation, and several supplemental categories.

For a deeper look at event formats, qualification paths, and preparation strategies, read our complete guide to the National Speech & Debate Tournament. You can also explore our broader lists of speech competitions and language competitions for high school students.

10. Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) National Leadership Conference

• Dates: Regional and state conferences throughout the school year; National Leadership Conference June 29 – July 2, 2026 (San Antonio, Texas)
• Location: San Antonio, TX (2026); Columbus, OH (2027)
• Prizes: Trophies for top-10 national finishers, scholarships, and chapter awards

Future Business Leaders of America is the largest career and technical student organization for business-focused high schoolers in the country, with more than 220,000 members in 5,400+ chapters across all 50 states. If you’re interested in finance, marketing, management, technology, or entrepreneurship, FBLA gives you a structured competitive pathway that runs from the local level through state conferences and up to the National Leadership Conference each summer.

The competitive program covers more than 70 events. Some are individual objective tests in areas like accounting, economics, or cybersecurity. Others are team-based performance events where you present business plans, marketing campaigns, case study analyses, or management proposals to panels of judges. A few events combine both formats. You compete first at the regional or district level, then at your state leadership conference, and state winners advance to nationals.

For a full breakdown of how FBLA works, its event categories, and how to leverage your results for college applications, read our complete guide to FBLA.

11. National Honor Society (NHS)

• Eligibility: Sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA (individual chapters may set higher thresholds); must demonstrate service, leadership, and character
• Structure: 17,000+ chapters nationwide; Faculty Council at each school selects members
• Scholarships: $2M+ awarded annually; top national scholarship of $25,000; 24 national finalists receive $5,625 and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C.

The National Honor Society is not a competition in the traditional sense, but it earns a place on this list because membership is selective, and the organization’s scholarship program is genuinely competitive. Founded in 1921 by the National Association of Secondary School Principals, NHS now operates more than 17,000 chapters with 1.4 million active members. It is the oldest and most widely recognized honor society for high school students in the United States.

Membership is built on four pillars: scholarship, service, leadership, and character. At a minimum, you need a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, though many chapters set higher thresholds. A Faculty Council at your school evaluates your service record, leadership roles, and character references before extending an invitation. Once inducted, you’re expected to maintain those standards.

Where the NHS adds real value is in the scholarship program. Each year, the organization distributes more than $2 million in scholarships to graduating seniors. The application deadline for the 2026–2027 cycle is November 20, 2026. Twenty-five finalists are selected for the top awards, including one $25,000 National Pillar Winner and 24 finalists who each receive $5,625 plus an all-expenses-paid trip to D.C. for Trailblazing Leadership Week.

For a full breakdown of membership requirements, benefits, and how to make the most of your involvement, read our complete guide to NHS.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do competitions actually help with college admissions?

They do, but context matters. Admissions officers at selective colleges look for depth over breadth, and a strong competition result tells them something specific about your ability level that grades alone can’t. The key is that the competition aligns with your broader academic narrative and intended major.

2. How many competitions should I enter?

Fewer than you think. Going deep in one or two competitions over multiple years produces a stronger profile than scattering across six or seven with surface-level results. Choose competitions that match your academic interests, then commit to them.

3. Can international students participate in these competitions?

It varies. USAMO, STS, and USAPhO are restricted to U.S. citizens or permanent residents, while ISEF, the John Locke Essay Competition, The Concord Review, NHSJS, and CJSJ accept international entries. Always check each competition’s official eligibility rules before you start preparing.

4. What if I don’t win?

A competition doesn’t have to end in a trophy to be useful. USAMO qualification matters without a medal, and writing an 8,500-word Concord Review submission is a genuine academic exercise worth referencing in your application even if it’s rejected. Focus on what the process teaches you and what it produces, not just the outcome.

5. When should I start competing?

Early, if the competition has a progression path. The AMC-to-USAMO pipeline takes years, ISEF qualification starts with local fairs you can enter as a freshman, and FBLA and NSDA both reward cumulative involvement over time. For essay contests and journal submissions, junior year is a realistic entry point once your research and writing skills are more developed.

Takeaways

• Competitions for high school students give you verifiable, externally validated credentials that grades and test scores alone can’t provide. A strong result shows admissions officers that you can produce original work and perform under pressure.
• The strongest STEM credentials on this list are Regeneron ISEF, Regeneron STS, USAMO, and the science Olympiads (USAPhO, USABO, USNCO).
• For humanities and creative students, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, John Locke Essay Competition, and The Concord Review offer nationally or internationally recognized credentials with real admissions weight.
• Journal publication in NHSJS or the Columbia Junior Science Journal provides a different kind of credential: a permanent, citable research record that mirrors the work you’ll do in college.
• The National Speech & Debate Tournament and FBLA National Leadership Conference reward sustained involvement and progression through competitive tiers, making them strong fits for students who want to build a multi-year activity record.
• NHS membership is a respected baseline, but it becomes a differentiator when paired with officer roles, sustained service, or the organization’s competitive scholarship program.
• Choose competitions that align with your academic interests and intended major. Depth in one or two areas matters more than a long list of surface-level participation.
• If you need help identifying which competitions fit your profile or preparing strong entries, our Private Consulting Program and Academic and Extracurricular Profile Evaluation can give you a personalized roadmap.