Popular national competitions for high school students?

Hey guys, I'm looking to get more involved in national competitions during my high school years. Can anyone recommend some popular national competitions for students like me? I'm open to various subjects. Thanks for your help!

Hello! Participating in national competitions is a great way to showcase your talents and interests. Here are some popular national competitions across various subjects:

1. Math:

- American Mathematics Competitions (AMC): This competition has multiple levels such as the AMC 8, AMC 10, and AMC 12. Additionally, if you do well on the AMC 12, you could qualify for the American Invitational Math Exam (AIME), and then eventually the USA Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO).

2. Science:

- Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF): It's a competition for high school students who submit independent research projects. Students first compete at the regional level before moving on to the international level, where scholarships and prizes are awarded.

- Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS): This competition is for high school seniors who submit original research projects in a variety of science, math and engineering fields.

3. Writing:

- Scholastic Art & Writing Awards: Students submit entries in numerous categories, including poetry, short stories, journalism, and essays. Gold and Silver Key winners are often recognized at the national level.

- National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo): Though not a competition in the traditional sense, during November, many high school students participate in this annual event to write a 50,000-word novel.

4. Speech and Debate:

- National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA) Tournaments: This organization oversees numerous local, district, and national competitions in various speech and debate events throughout the year.

5. Business and Entrepreneurship:

- DECA: This organization holds competitions surrounding business, marketing, finance, and entrepreneurship skills, culminating in the International Career Development Conference.

6. Robotics:

- FIRST Robotics: This competition involves teams of students coming together to design, build, program, and drive robots in live competitions. It encompasses several age groups, from FIRST LEGO League for younger students to the FIRST Robotics Competition for high school students.

These are just a few examples, and there are many other niche competitions based on subjects like history, geography, environmentalism, and more. I'd recommend exploring your specific interests and finding competitions tailored to those areas, through some Google searches on your own, or by talking to your teachers in your favorite subjects at school—they may have counseled students about this in the past.

Good luck and have fun participating in these competitions, or any others you find!