Academic Competitions: Our Top Picks for Elevating Your College Admissions Game Plan

In this blog post you'll learn why academic competitions can make all the difference in helping students craft winning applications to competitive colleges. But that's not all. When they understand how to make the most of academic competitions and pick the best ones for their goals and interests, then win or lose, students can be confident they have a game plan for coming out on top every time!

The Power of Academic Competitions

Academic competitions are an excellent way to empower academically motivated high school students with aspirations for attending a top university.

And, the very best academic competitions can have an even bigger impact when it comes to deepening a student’s academic learning and helping a student demonstrate the measure of intellectual interest, curiosity, and commitment that admissions officers are looking for.

This means academic competitions can play a pivotal role in helping motivated students elevate their applicant profile and gain admissions to Ivy League schools like Harvard or similarly competitive institutions, such as Stanford, MIT, Carnegie Mellon, University of Chicago, NYU, and other top-20 universities.

Students seeking to elevate their academic profile in this way will find many inspiring and engaging extracurriculars for this purpose. Of particular impact for admissions, however, are academic competitions in which students can compete individually or as part of a team, in real-time contests, or working asynchronously in structured formats, to prepare research findings, write a breathtaking poem or insightful essay, or pitch a compelling business plan.

Students can also find academic competitions in virtually any discipline — STEM, computer science, humanities, business, government and civics, and more. Here’s a list that shows just how many subject areas are in play:

• Olympiads in many subjects, like math, biology, engineering, and more
• Hackathons and coding competitions
• Essay competitions
• Academic decathlons
• Mock trials
• Model UN
• High-level research competitions
• Awe-inspiring photography competitions
• Renowned journalism and photojournalism competitions
• Competitive debating
• Business or social entrepreneurship competitions developing a wide range of professional skills and emphasizing open-ended innovation
• Stimulating and multi-disciplinary robotics competitions
• Spelling bees
• Competitions for teaching financial literacy or stock investing

Why do academic competitions matter so much?

1. Adding unique value to applications

One reason academic competitions should matter to academically motivated high school students is, as we’ve noted, the unique impact they can have in helping top applicants really stand out, especially for admission to highly competitive universities.

In fact, it’s important to understand that meaningful participation in academic competitions, and any academic honors earned from them, can boost not only students’ extracurricular profile, but other pillars of their applicant profile as well.

Our analyses of student admissions data clearly show that students with honors or awards on their college applications have high rates of acceptance to their top-choice schools.

2. Sparking inspiration and accelerating personal growth

Another reason for students and educators to get behind these kinds of extracurricular activities is that they expose young scholars to uniquely stimulating and inspiring academic and personal experiences.

In essence, when students make the decision to pursue academic competition and engage fully, it's a singular opportunity to exercise individual agency and hone critical thinking, problem solving, research, communication, and leadership skills while building self-confidence — just in time for navigating the emotional ups and downs of the admissions process and college life as well!

3. Invigorating students' social networks

Finally, academic competitions offer young people a constructive and stimulating way to step out of their more familiar social and academic circles, meeting, competing, and collaborating with students from diverse backgrounds and experiences. These interactions are unique opportunities to build social and professional networks, qualify for future scholarships, or open doors to new levels of achievement.

Common Misconceptions About Academic Competitions

Unfortunately, a number of common misconceptions can turn into missed opportunities. The fact is, even when students don't "win" a competition, they're likely to wind up as winners on many fronts, academic and personal. If too many students do “fail,” it's not as participants but by falling prey to self-defeating misconceptions or myths that discourage them from taking risks or exploring what’s possible in the first place.

As students navigate their doubts or self-doubts, it's important to help them see the biggest risk — that they'll have everything to lose and nothing to gain if they give up before they start!

How Academic Competitions Impact College Admissions

Although a holistic admissions process typically can’t be boiled down to any narrowly prescribed metrics, what we do know is that top applicants to competitive schools need to stand out across three evaluation pillars with almost equal weight:

• Academics (40%)
• Extracurriculars and leadership (30%)
• Writing & presentation (30%)

Unlike many other kinds of extracurriculars, such as athletics, community service, or informal club activities, rigorous, content-rich, and intellectually challenging academic competitions are uniquely suited to helping a student elevate each pillar of their application.

This is true even for essays and the larger application presentation: by choosing academic extracurriculars that complement their academic goals, college aspirations, and overall intellectual interests and passions, students can add depth to their essays and unify their larger application profile and narrative.

In addition, academic competitions are a terrific way for students to demonstrate intellectual drive and curiosity — traits that admissions officers look for and value because they equip students to make the most of the next stage of their education and career trajectories.

Finally, earning academic honors or awards in major competitions like IMO (International Mathematical Olympiad), ISEF (International Science & Engineering Fair), and the John Locke Institute Essay Competition, can put students in the major leagues for admissions — helping students turn a strong application into one that is truly memorable and remarkable while also making them strong contenders for merit-based scholarships, honors programs, and the like.

How To Choose the Best Academic Competition?

Choosing the best academic competition for your goals, passions, and interests — similar to choosing any extracurricular — requires some careful thought, but it’s pretty straightforward. Here are key factors to consider during your decision making process:

• Subject alignment: Pick a subject area that aligns with areas of academic achievement you want to spotlight in your college applications. This will help you present a more coherent application narrative when the time comes.
• Time commitment and scheduling: Consider how much time you’ll need to prepare for the competition and key logistics, like the location, timing, and format of the competition, to be confident you can prepare and participate fully.
• Competition level: Does the competition offer you entry at different levels of skill or ability? If so, what level is the right one to start at? Choosing the right level is crucial as it sets you up for enjoying optimal personal growth, the most rewarding challenges, and a level of peer competition that's more fun and stimulating.
• Individual vs. team competitions: Based on the kind of academic challenges at hand and your own personal aptitudes and preferences, decide if you want to pursue individual competition only, or team formats, or are open to both options.

This decision making shouldn't be a rote task, rather one that involves reflection, introspection, and soliciting outside input from trusted peers and adults.

Students should feel empowered to explore different options and make decisions about which competitions they most gravitate to, by holding them up to the light of their own interests, goals, and commitment levels.

The Ultimate List of Academic Competitions for High School Students

Here's our carefully curated list of academic competitions to jump start your search for the ones that best match your interests and your admissions goals.

In addition to relying on strategist research to compile our list, we've also garnered compelling insights into the best academic competitions for college admissions from reviewing large samples of successful applications to Ivy League schools, applications submitted by Crimson students.

Please note that eligibility guidelines and competition formats can and do change; interested students and educators should certainly visit the official websites to review the most current information for any competitions they may wish to pursue.

Competitions are organized by academic subject areas, starting with STEM-related competitions.

Math Competitions

International Mathematical Olympiad

• Annual ten-day in-person event and two-day exam-based competition
• Must be a pre-college high school/secondary student and qualify through national level competitions, such as the Mathematics Association of America for US students

American Mathematics Competitions (AMC 8, 10, 12)

• Exam-based mathematics competitions and curriculum building resources and activities
• Eligibility for full-time US students in grades 7/8 , 9/10, and 11/12.

Stanford Math Tournament (SMT)

• Annual in-person team-based math tournaments run by Stanford students for US high school students and an online competition for international pre-college students
• Competitions open to US and International pre-college students

Purple Comet Math Meet

• Annual team-based math competitions
• Open to middle school and high school students

Science Competitions

Regeneron International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF)

• Annual STEM research competition and science and engineering fair (13 past participants are now Nobel laureates)
• Open to high school seniors from around the world

International Biology Olympiad (IBO)

• International biology competition
• Open to secondary school students who qualify through national-level competitions

Physics Bowl

• Competitive, team-based, multiple-choice exam format
• Open to registered high school-based teams

International Astronomy & Astrophysics Competition

• Problem-solving challenges in astronomy and astrophysics; succeed in progressive rounds to qualify to compete for the highest prizes and awards
• Open to students around the world: 10th grade and below (junior category); 11th–13th grade and under 19 years of age (youth category); university students, age 19 and above (senior category)

Engineering & Robotics Competitions

FIRST Robotics Competition

• Team-based international robotics competitions
• Open to high school students, in teams supported by adult mentors or educators

NASA Space Settlement Design Challenge

• Regionally-based student teams compete at simulation games, set in the future; structured around qualifying rounds (regional levels) leading up to international finals and tournament events (in Florida)
• Open to high school students with teams operating in designated regions in the US and Canada primarily, along with additional teams from about seven different countries around the world

Conrad Challenge

• Science-based innovation and entrepreneurship problem-solving challenges and educational components designed to help students build 21st-century skills
• Open to students ages 13–18, with students from over 50 countries worldwide having taken part in past events

MATE ROV Competition (underwater robotics)

• Student teams design and build remotely operated vehicles to complete underwater missions, applying a wide array of STEM concepts, competing in regional rounds to qualify for international competition and prizes
• Different competition levels open to middle school, high school, and university students from around the world

Computer Science & Coding Competitions

International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI)

• Annual computer programming competition
• Open to secondary school students who qualify at national-level computing competitions

American Computer Science League (ACSL)

• Computer science contests with a focus on programming and computer science concepts
• Five divisions are offered, providing opportunities for students in elementary through junior and senior high; ACSL welcomes participation from all pre-college schools around the world

MIT App Inventor Challenge

• Students and educators learn about, design, and build new apps using MIT's App Inventor guides, tutorials, and coding platform
• Open to all, with resources and challenge levels for different age groups

Microsoft Imagine Cup

• A tournament-structured global technology startup competition for access to networking opportunities, global recognition, and expert coaching
• Only for students aged 18+

National History Day Competition

• Students participate individually or in groups in project-based contest culminating in research presentations using various presentation formats
• Open to students in grades 6–12

John Locke Essay Competition

• Students compete for top essay prizes, submitting essays on prescribed prompts in fields ranging from philosophy, to politics, law, economics, history, law, and theology
• Students 18 years and younger can participate; the junior-level contest is open to students 14 years old and under

Harvard Crimson Global Essay Competition

• Global online writing competitions for building and showcasing writing skills in various categories: creative, argumentative, and journalistic writing
• Open to high school students ages 13–18

The Adroit Prizes for Poetry and Prose

• Submit up to three works of fiction or five works of poetry (see guidelines for word limits)
• Open to all secondary and undergraduate students

New York Times Student Contests

• A variety of journalistic writing, photojournalism, and multimedia contests
• Open to pre-college teenagers, ages 13–19, around the world

World Schools Debating Championship

• Global team-based debate competitions on topics ranging from international relations to economics, sports, and more.
• Open to full-time students, ages 14–19 from around the world on qualifying high school teams

Harvard National High School Invitational Forensics Tournament

• Annual tournament-style event offering students opportunities to compete in a range of debate and speech formats
• Open to qualifying high school speech and debate teams and clubs (see eligibility guidelines)

Cosmos Championship

• Offers a virtual debating platform and ongoing debate formats and competitions
• Open to high school students of any skill level from around the world

National Economics Challenge (NEC)

• Team-based competitions focused on concepts in micro- and macroeconomics, international economics, and current events
• Open to US high school students

International Economics Olympiad (IEO)

• Global competition testing students on economics, business, and finance with individual and team challenges
• Open to high school students from around the world who qualify through national-level competitions

National Personal Finance Challenge (NPFC)

• Quiz-based competitions with school teams vying to reach state and national finals.
• Open to US high school students

Wharton Global High School Investment Competition

• Team-based competition focused on stock investing using a stock market simulator
• Open to high school teams from around the world

National High School Fed Challenge

• Teams leverage their analysis and presentation skills competing in scenario-based monetary policy challenges
• Open to US high school students

DECA Competitive Events

• Students compete in various business-related events, including role-plays, case studies, and prepared presentations
• Open to DECA members in high school

Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Competitions

• Team-based and individual competitions covering topics in business, finance, and technology with diverse formats, such as tests, role play events, and presentations
• Open to FBLA members in middle and high school, and college

Virtual Enterprises International (VEI) Competitions

• Multiple competitions on a range of finance and business topics and concentrations, held each year at the VEI Global Summit
• Programs for high school students and middle school students through education-focused school partnerships

Microsoft Imagine Cup Junior

• With the support of the Imagine Cup software platform, educators can create a variety of IT-related problem-solving competitions focused on AI, machine learning, cybersecurity, and more, with localized platforms supporting instruction and competition in Arabic, Chinese, French, and Spanish, in addition to English
• Designed for students ages 13–18

Diamond Challenge

• A global, team-based competition focused on social entrepreneurship and creative, open-ended innovation in which "teams develop their concepts and leverage resources throughout three rounds culminating at the Limitless World Summit each year in May"
• Open to teams of 2–4 high school students (ages 14–18)

Embracing Our Differences Art Contest

• Annual juried art exhibits and art competitions
• Offers levels for students of different ages, elementary grades, middle school, and high school

Global Canvas Children’s Art Competition

• An annual nature and conservation themed art contest with opportunities for individual and group competition
• Open to individuals and groups from around the world in three age ranges: ages 4–7, 8–11, and 12–16 (recent contests had close to 2,000 entries from over 70 countries)

International Ocean Film Festival Student Film Competition

• Students submit independent films with a competitive focus on ocean conservation and visual inspiration
• Open to middle school and high school students worldwide

Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year

• Annual wildlife and natural world photography competition with entries of exceptional quality; contestants can submit up to 10 photos
• Open to participants within three age groups: 10 years and under, 11–14 years, and 15–17 years

World Scholar's Cup

• International, team-based academic competition with diverse formats, such as team debates, collaborative writing, and a quiz bowl, covering multiple topics
• Open to students 11–18 eligible to participate in either Junior (11–14) or Senior (15-18) divisions

Genius Olympiad

• An annual, international project competition focused on environmental issues and offering a range of disciplines: science, speech, business, robotics, art, music, short film, and coding
• Open to students around the world in grades 9–12 (13 years and older)

Destination Imagination

• Team-based, open-ended problem-solving and innovation competition in multiple academic disciplines such as technical, engineering, fine arts, and service learning
• Open to students around the world with programming for K-12 students and university students

How To Prepare for Competition

Ideally, the process of preparing to win competitions will be one where engaged adults and educators provide support, guidance, and encouragement along the way.

Here are some helpful strategies to put into action when preparing for virtually any academic competition:

• Understand Competition Formats and Challenges: Research the requirements, demands, restrictions, and challenges of the competition format (including question formats, time limits, or rules) — features that will vary between different types of competitions, from olympiads, mock trials, and hackathons, to presenting a business plan, or submitting a research project…
• Understand the Performance Standards: Look to examples set by past winners as a guide to what to aim for and how to prepare.
• Make a Timeline: Develop a realistic timeline and schedule for preparation, allowing enough time and a consistent and disciplined approach to anticipatory learning and training.

Maintaining Balance and Perspective

We believe students will get the most out of academic competitions with a positive mindset and a full understanding of the value and benefits of academic competitions — apart from a focus on winning.

Therefore, we encourage students, parents, and educators to consider how they're measuring success, avoiding a myopic focus on winning and losing.

Instead, students should strive to appreciate and get the most from all the experiential rewards these competitions offer. There will be opportunities to take risks and build confidence, to excel academically and hone valuable soft skills, expand social networks, and take inspiration from the achievements of the peers they have the privilege of competing with.

In fact, if a student prepares well, does their best, and gets encouragement for the “wins” achieved in the process leading up to the competition, the student is far more likely to appreciate the positive aspects and rewards of their larger participation.

Additional preparation strategies to consider from the start — or if a student begins to struggle — include:

• Providing social support, in the form of a study team, or with mentoring support, for example
• Providing time management support, including helping students think through how to balance competing commitments
• Encouraging students to leverage additional knowledge resources, such as online courses or tutorials, prep books, or Crimson Education mentorships or academic enrichment programs

Final Thoughts

With acceptance rates to Ivy League schools and other top-rated universities at historic lows, maintaining strong grades, taking college prep courses, and listing activities like athletics or clubs often won't give students the edge they might need.

The good news is that academic competitions offer students a great way to grow, learn, find inspiration, and expand their networks, while also helping students present more compelling applications.

Stepping into an academic competition, however, can mean asking students to step out of their comfort zone. This is where extra support can make a big difference in students’ experience and what they get out of it.

When students need more support, don't forget that Crimson offers talented, results-driven advisors for every part of the college journey, college search, and college application process.

And, we offer specialized academic coaching for top competitions, connecting students with highly accomplished team members boasting excellent mentoring skills.

When students want to go all in, or want help making a strong finish, we strongly encourage them to get the most support possible. So be sure to explore Crimson’s academic mentorship programs and check out our upcoming webinars with expert advice on a range of college admissions topics.

Key Resources & Further Reading

• Join our free webinars on US university applications
• Free eBooks and guides to help with the college application process