How Academic Competitions Can Make a Difference
Imagine this: Jamie has always loved science and tinkering with experiments at home. But how can she show colleges that she’s more than just a good student with high grades?
Academic competitions open that door, providing high school students like Jamie with a powerful way to demonstrate their passions, talents, and commitment to their craft.
For high school students aiming to stand out, competitions aren’t just resume fillers.
They offer real deadlines, measurable feedback, and genuine recognition—all qualities that college admissions teams look for. By participating in these competitions, students have an opportunity to show how they can meet challenges and excel under pressure.
But what kind of academic competitions should high school students consider, and how do they prepare? Let’s dive in.
Why Academic Competitions Are Essential for College Applications
Accountability and Real Deadlines
Academic competitions provide what’s often missing in everyday homework assignments: real accountability. With strict deadlines, students learn to work towards a concrete goal. Colleges appreciate this quality—it demonstrates an applicant’s ability to stay focused and meet high standards.
Development of Real-World Skills
Competing offers more than just a chance to win. Students gain valuable skills such as time management, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Unlike school projects, where effort might be good enough, academic competitions push students to refine their work, often under the guidance of mentors or teachers.
Validation and External Recognition
Awards from respected competitions add credibility to applications. They reflect not only talent but also the commitment to improve and persevere. High school students who place in competitions can include these accolades in college applications to showcase their achievements in a quantifiable way.
Opportunity to Showcase Unique Passions
Not every student finds their niche in standard classroom settings. Academic competitions offer a platform for students with unique talents in areas like debate, environmental science, or art to show their dedication and passion.
Want to know a college counselor’s take?
While awards are impressive, the skills students gain through participation—such as resilience, teamwork, and adaptability—are equally important. Colleges appreciate students who view competitions as learning experiences and who can reflect on their growth and personal takeaways from each challenge, regardless of the outcome.
Top Competitions for High School Students, Organized by Category
Below is a list of competitions covering diverse subjects, from STEM to social sciences, the arts, and more. Whether your student is a budding scientist, a creative writer, or passionate about social issues, there’s a competition to match their strengths.
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)
Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)
Description: Known as one of the most prestigious science fairs globally, ISEF allows high school students to present original research. Participants compete for awards and scholarships valued at over $5 million.
Dates: Registration opens in December; regional events occur from February to April.
Deadlines: Vary by region but typically fall in early spring.
Why It Matters: ISEF provides students with an international platform to present their work and gain feedback from experts.
FIRST Robotics Competition
Description: FIRST Robotics combines engineering and innovation, challenging students to build and program robots to complete specific tasks. Teams compete against each other, scoring points through a series of matches.
Dates: Registration opens in September, with events running through April.
Deadlines: Varies based on regional tournaments.
Why It Matters: Robotics competitions demonstrate a student’s engineering, coding, and teamwork skills—essential for STEM-focused college applications.
Humanities and Social Sciences
National History Day Contest
Description: This annual event encourages students to delve into historical topics, develop research projects, and present their findings. Categories include individual or group projects, papers, websites, and documentaries.
Dates: The contest cycle begins each fall with regional, state, and national rounds occurring through May.
Deadlines: Registration opens in October, with deadlines based on competition rounds.
Why It Matters: National History Day showcases research skills and historical insight, and it’s recognized by college admissions as a prestigious academic contest.
American Foreign Service National High School Essay Contest
Description: Sponsored by the American Foreign Service Association, this essay competition invites students to write on international diplomacy and global issues, with winners receiving scholarships and cash awards.
Dates: Annually from fall to spring.
Deadlines: Essays are typically due in April.
Why It Matters: Essay competitions emphasize critical thinking, persuasive writing, and a global perspective—traits that colleges highly value.
Environmental and Sustainability
The Earth Prize
Description: Open to students worldwide, The Earth Prize inspires high school students to create innovative solutions to environmental challenges. Winners are awarded prizes and grants to bring their ideas to life.
Dates: Registration opens in September; final submissions are due in March.
Deadlines: March.
Why It Matters: The Earth Prize offers a unique chance to highlight sustainability, environmental activism, and real-world problem-solving.
Arts and Creative Fields
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
Description: This prestigious national competition invites high school students to submit work in categories like photography, painting, sculpture, poetry, and short stories. Winners are awarded gold keys, scholarships, and exhibition opportunities.
Dates: Submissions open in September, with judging rounds running through February.
Deadlines: Vary by region, typically in December or January.
Why It Matters: The Scholastic Awards are widely recognized by colleges and provide significant weight in applications, especially for students pursuing creative fields.
YoungArts National Arts Competition
Description: YoungArts supports young artists in the visual, literary, and performing arts, offering cash awards, mentorship, and potential nominations to the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.
Dates: Applications are accepted from June through October.
Deadlines: October.
Why It Matters: YoungArts is a prestigious program that recognizes and supports emerging artists. It’s highly regarded by colleges, making it a standout on any art student’s application.
National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) Competitions
Description: NSDA offers a variety of competitions in debate, original oratory, and speech for students across the nation. It includes levels from novice to varsity, culminating in the NSDA Nationals.
Dates: Competitions run throughout the academic year, with the national tournament held each June.
Deadlines: Registration opens in the fall.
Why It Matters: NSDA competitions build essential skills in public speaking and persuasion, which are key to fields in law, communications, and media.
Business, Economics, and Political Science
The DECA Competitive Events Program
Description: DECA prepares high school students for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. Through its competitions, students work on case studies, develop business strategies, and present them to industry judges.
Dates: Competitions occur throughout the academic year, with finals in April.
Deadlines: Vary by state but typically close by November.
Why It Matters: DECA showcases business acumen, strategic thinking, and presentation skills, all qualities highly valued in business and management programs.
Fed Challenge by the Federal Reserve
Description: In this team-based competition, high school students take on the role of economists and analyze current economic conditions to make monetary policy recommendations to Federal Reserve officials.
Dates: Registration is in the fall, with regional rounds beginning in January.
Deadlines: November.
Why It Matters: The Fed Challenge is an exceptional opportunity to explore macroeconomics, economic policy, and public speaking, making it a standout addition for students interested in economics or government.
The Model United Nations (MUN)
Description: Model United Nations is a simulation of the UN Assembly where students represent different countries and work to address global issues. Participants gain experience in diplomacy, negotiation, and research.
Dates: MUN events are held throughout the year, hosted by various organizations and schools.
Deadlines: Varies depending on the MUN event.
Why It Matters: MUN teaches students about diplomacy and negotiation, ideal for those interested in political science and international relations. Many top-tier colleges view MUN participation as highly relevant to global-minded applicants.
Choosing the Right Competition for Your Student
With so many options, selecting the right competition might feel overwhelming. Here are a few tips to help:
Identify Passions First
Students should choose competitions aligned with their interests. If they love biology, a science fair is a perfect fit; for students passionate about social justice, an essay on diplomacy could be ideal.
Assess Time Commitments
While some competitions require intense preparation, others are more manageable. Make sure students can balance school and extracurriculars.
For students interested in participating in more than one competition, it’s essential to develop a strategy that balances commitments effectively. Prioritize competitions that align most closely with college and career goals, and consider spreading them out over different school years to avoid burnout. Creating a calendar of deadlines, practice sessions, and project milestones can help students stay organized and focused.
Consider Mentorship:
Many students succeed in competitions with the guidance of mentors. At Empowerly, we offer resources and mentors to support students in preparing for these challenges, from setting a project timeline to final presentation skills.
Competitions offer a great opportunity to connect with like-minded peers and professionals in the field. Encouraging students to network, ask questions, and seek feedback can help them gain insights beyond the competition and open doors for future collaborations or mentorships. Networking also demonstrates initiative and the desire to grow, both qualities colleges value.
Taking the Next Step: Getting Started with Competitions
Finding the right competition is just the first step; preparation is key to success. From understanding the rules to setting a timeline for project completion, Empowerly offers mentorship to guide students through each step of the journey.
Ready to Stand Out?
Engaging in academic competitions can be transformative. They teach students to set goals, work under pressure, and embrace the challenge of competing with talented peers. Colleges see this as more than just an accolade—it’s a testament to character, passion, and resilience.
What’s more, these academic competitions are about more than just winning. They offer the chance for growth, resilience, and self-discovery. Even if students don’t place, participating teaches them invaluable lessons about commitment, creativity, and handling feedback. Colleges recognize this value—whether it’s a victory or a lesson learned, every attempt makes a difference.
Empowerly is Here to Help Your Student Succeed
Whether your student is ready to tackle a competition on their own or could use guidance to navigate the process, Empowerly’s experienced mentors are here to help. Our team can support students in finding the right competition, preparing effectively, and integrating these experiences into their college applications.
Let’s go for gold!
Gelyna Price
Julia de Raadt