Online Competitions for High School Students
6 minute read
Participating in an online competition for high school students is a great way to challenge yourself, network with your peers, and maybe even win some scholarship money. What’s more, college admissions officers place a lot of value on these types of extracurricular activities. Online competitions for high school students demonstrate motivation, ambition, and maturity — all of which are traits that college admissions officers seek out in applicants.
By competing against peers from across the country or even around the world, students can gain valuable exposure to diverse perspectives and approaches. The competitive nature of these online events also cultivates crucial skills such as critical analysis, problem-solving, and the ability to work well under pressure. In an increasingly interconnected world, the growing importance of online competitions for high school students within a learning network cannot be overstated.
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Top 10 Online Competitions for High School Students
In this article, we’ll discuss 10 online competitions for high school students. Keep in mind, though, that there are plenty of other online academic competitions out there, including International Essay Writing Competitions for High School Students, 10 Engineering Competitions for High School Students, and 20 Art and Design Competitions for High School Students.
1. MIT THINK Scholars Program
The MIT THINK Scholars Program is designed for students with thoughtful, creative, and well-researched project proposals who are in need of funding and mentorship. Project proposals are science, technology, and engineering ideas that span countless fields. As long as the project can be completed with a $1,000 budget within a single semester, the possibilities are endless!
Eligibility Requirements: Full-time high school students with permanent residence in the US (students do not need US citizenship). Students may apply as an individual or with a partner.
Application Deadline: January 1st, 2025
Cost: Free to apply
Prizes: One-time budget of up to $1,000 to fund the project. Weekly mentorship meetings with MIT student mentors. All expenses paid trip to MIT, where students will meet with professors, attend classes, and receive personalized tours of research facilities.
2. Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS)
Founded in 1942, the Regeneron Science Talent Search is the nation’s oldest science research competition for high school students. Each year, approximately 2,000 students submit original research to be reviewed by a national jury of professional scientists.
Eligibility Requirements: High school seniors living in the US and its territories may apply, regardless of citizenship. US citizens living abroad are also eligible to apply.
Application Deadline: November 7th, 2024
Cost: Free to apply
Prizes: All entrants receive a t-shirt, sticker, and 1-year subscription to Science News magazine. The top 300 scholars receive $2,000 and are invited to apply to Regeneron’s summer internship program; an additional $2,000 is awarded to the students’ schools to support STEM programs. The 40 finalists receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, DC where they will present their research and compete for the top 10 awards. The top award is $250,000.
3. The Blue Ocean Competition
The Blue Ocean Competition is the world’s largest virtual entrepreneurship competition for high school students. Students identify a real-world problem and propose a business plan as a solution. Using the templates provided, students submit a 5-minute video pitching their business idea.
Eligibility Requirements: High school students between the ages of 14 and 18. Open internationally.
Application Deadline: February 16, 2025
Cost: Free to apply
Prizes: Top three winners are awarded cash prizes of $1000, $750, and $500. The People’s Choice Award Winner is awarded $750.
4. International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO)
The IMO is an international competition for high school students with over 100 competing countries that has been running annually since 1959. Students compete in national teams of 6, but are scored individually. The national selection process varies per country. The 2025 competition will take place in Sunshine Coast, Australia, and the 2026 competition will take place in Shanghai, China.
Eligibility Requirements: Students younger than 20 who are citizens or permanently reside in the countries they are representing must apply individually. Competing countries have teams of 6 students.
Application Deadline: Application process varies per country.
Cost: Some countries fully fund their participants, whereas some students may need to contribute to international travel expenses.
Prizes: Gold Medal, Silver Medal, Bronze Medal, Honorable Mention
5. Scholastic Art and Writing Awards
Creative teens are invited to submit works of visual art and creative writing pieces for the chance to be selected for exhibition, publication, and scholarship opportunities. Scholastic Art and Writing Awards take place at regional and national levels and are judged according to the following criteria: originality, skill, and emergence of a personal vision or voice.
Eligibility Requirements: Students in grades 7-12 (age 13+), who reside in the United States, US territories and military bases, or Canada.
Application Deadline: Deadlines range from December to January and vary by region.
Cost: Entry fees are $10.00 per individual entry and $30.00 per portfolio entry. Fee waivers are also available.
Prizes: Gold Keys, Silver Keys, and Honorable Mentions. American Visions and Voices Medals at the regional level. National award winners are eligible for monetary rewards and scholarship opportunities.
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6. Conrad Challenge
The Conrad Challenge is a prestigious competition that is recognized worldwide. In fact, during the 2023-24 Conrad Challenge, over 4,000 students participated! Over the course of a year, teams of 2-5 students work together to design an innovation that addresses an important scientific or societal issue. Teams may compete in one of the following categories: Aerospace & Aviation, Health & Nutrition, Cyber-Technology & Security, and Energy & Environment. Projects may address issues that exist at a local or global level — whatever the team feels most passionately about!
Eligibility Requirements: Students between 13 and 18 are eligible to participate and can live anywhere in the world. Students must participate in teams of 2-5 and have a coach in order to register. Teams can be composed of students living anywhere in the world; they do not need to attend the same school or even live in the same country.
Application Deadline: Activation Stage – November 3rd | Lean Canvas Stage – November 3rd | Innovation Stage – January 12th | Power Pitch Stage – multi-day event in April
Cost: Team entrance fee of $499. Discounts may be available for teams with demonstrated financial need.
Prizes: Members of the highest-scoring team in each category are named Pete Conrad Scholars and receive prizes such as scholarships, pro-bono legal and consulting services, and Dell Latitude Laptops.
7. National History Day Contest
Each year, the National History Day Contest assigns a theme to help guide student research projects. Students may participate individually or in teams of 2-5 students within one of the following categories: Documentary, Exhibit, Paper, Performance, or Website. Whether you decide to film a documentary, write a research paper, perform a play, create an exhibition, or publish a website, National History Day projects allow you to present your historical argument, research, and interpretation of your topic’s significance within history. The National History Day Contest begins at a local level, with approximately 3,000 students participating in the Finals, held annually at the University of Maryland.
Eligibility Requirements: Students in grades 6–8 are eligible for the Junior division and students in grades 9–12 are eligible for the Senior division. Students may participate individually or in groups of 2-5 students.
Application Deadline: The National History Day competition begins at the local level, which means that registration details can be found on each affiliate’s local contest website.
Cost: Entrance fees may vary per region.
Prizes: Outstanding achievement may be recognized through certificates, medals, trophies, scholarships, and/or monetary awards at each level of the competition.
8. American Computer Science League (ACSL)
The American Computer Science League organizes virtual computer programming and science contests for K-12 institutions. During the 2023-24 school year, over 6,000 students participated worldwide! Four contests are held throughout the year, with several divisions designed for various age groups and abilities. At the end of the year, top-performing students are invited to compete in a Final competition held in May.
Eligibility Requirements: K-12 students are invited to participate worldwide.
Application Deadline: ACSL consists of four contests, which are available online for 2 months. Students must take all four tests before they are eligible for the final competition.
The dates for the four competitions are as listed:
Contest #1: available November 4th, 2024; closes Sunday January 12, 2025 @ 11:59pm EST
Contest #2: available Jan. 6, 2025; closes Sunday March 2, 2025 @ 11:59pm EST
Contest #3: available Feb. 3, 2025; closes Sunday April 13, 2025 @ 11:59pm EDT
Contest #4: available March 3, 2025; closes Sunday May 18, 2025 @ 11:59pm EDT
Students selected to participate in the finals will receive an email invitation from May 1st through May 21st, 2025. The Invitational Finals will take place on Saturday, May 24th, 2025.
Cost: The first team registered in a Division costs $150; additional teams cost $75 each. Students invited to participate in the finals will need to pay a $30 registration fee.
Prizes: Prizes are awarded to individuals, not teams.
9. High School Mathematical Contest in Modeling (HiMCM)
The High School Mathematical Contest in Modeling (HiMCM) is an international contest designed to foster teamwork and creativity as high school students improve their modeling, problem-solving, and writing skills. Teams are given two weeks to select one of the assigned problems and complete their modeling solution.
Past HiMCM problems have included:
Roller Coasters: Develop an Objective Ranking System
Drone Clusters as Sky Light Displays: Design an Aerial Drone Light Show
Shop and Ship: Optimal Placement of Warehouses for 1-Day Ground Shipping
Swim, Bike, and Run: Minimize Congestion and Road Closures for a Triathlon
Art Gallery Security: Determine Most Secure Configuration for an Art Exhibit
Eligibility Requirements: All high school students (ages 14½ and up) can participate in teams of up to four, along with an advisor; students and advisors must be from the same school. Competition is open internationally. (Younger students can compete in the HiMCM competition).
Application Deadline: November 6, 2024 at 2:00 pm EST
Cost: $100 registration fee per team
Prizes: Levels of awards are Unsuccessful, Successful Participant, Honorable Mention, Meritorious, Finalist, or Outstanding. US teams awarded Meritorious or above will be invited to compete in The International Mathematical Modeling Challenge, IM2C. Select teams may have portions of their papers published.
10. Davidson Fellows Scholarship
A prestigious scholarship for high-achieving students, applicants may participate individually or in teams of two by submitting a project within one of the 8 categories: Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Literature, Music, Philosophy, and Outside the Box. Projects recognized as “meaningful [with] the potential to make a positive contribution to society” may lead to a $10,000, $25,000, or $50,000 scholarship.
Eligibility Requirements: US citizens residing in the US (or stationed overseas due to active US military duty) and Permanent Residents of the US under the age of 18 are eligible to apply. Students may apply individually or in teams of two.
Application Deadline: TBA
Cost: free to apply
Prizes: $50,000, $25,000 and $10,000 scholarships
How to Prepare for Online Competitions
Whether you’re interested in participating in one of the online competitions for high school students listed above or are busy researching other Free Competitions for High School Students, it’s important to know exactly what’s expected of you in each competition. This means researching each competition thoroughly and taking special note of the submission deadline, application requirements, and any other crucial details.
Once you’ve decided to enter a competition, make a detailed list of exactly what’s expected of you. Do you need to submit letters of recommendation? If so, by when? Do you need to pay an application fee? If so, how much? Keep in mind that other competitions, such as math competitions, computer science competitions, and research competitions, may have different requirements and time commitments. Throughout the contest preparation process, be sure to set realistic goals, create a structured study or practice schedule, and seek out feedback from teachers and mentors. You’ll need to learn how to manage your time effectively in order to complete your best work, so you might want to check out organizational resources, such as those outlined in our article Self-Learning Guidelines for Highly-Motivated Students.
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Next Steps with Polygence
Here at Polygence, we support high schoolers and middle school students through mentorship and project-based learning so that they can complete unique research projects reflective of their own interests. In addition to enhancing college admissions and college portfolios, these passion projects often translate well to online competitions for high school students, which can lead to cash prizes, scholarship opportunities, and other valuable distinctions. Overall, Polygence projects are a great way for students to gain organizational, time management, and research skills while pursuing their passions and receiving support and guidance through our Research Mentorship Program.
In the meantime, keep in mind that there are many Free Competitions for High School Students, beyond the ones outlined in this article. So whether you’re interested in medical competitions, music competitions, robotics competitions, or anything in between, there’s sure to be a competition reflective of your passions and interests.