Prestigious competitions for high school students?

Hi, I'm looking for ways to improve my college applications and strengthen my skills. Can anyone recommend some prestigious competitions for high school students that I could participate in? They could be in academics, sports, or arts – I'm open to anything! Thanks for your help!

Hi there! It's great that you're looking to challenge yourself and bolster your college applications. There are numerous prestigious competitions open to high school students in various areas. Here are a few suggestions across different disciplines:

1. Academics:

- Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF): A highly-regarded science competition for students to showcase their research projects.

- American Mathematics Competitions (AMC): A series of math contests that progressively increase in difficulty, with the AMC 10/12 leading to the AIME and then to the USA Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO).

2. Writing and Speech:

- Scholastic Art & Writing Awards: A well-known competition where students submit their art or writing pieces across different categories and can win regional or national recognition.

- National Speech & Debate Association Tournaments: Offer events in various speech and debate categories, with the National Tournament being their most prestigious event.

3. Arts and Music:

- YoungArts Awards: A prestigious recognition program for high school students to submit their work in various fields such as visual arts, music, writing, and more.

- Presidential Scholar in the Arts: Precursor to the YoungArts Awards, this is a highly selective and prestigious distinction awarded by the U.S. Department of Education.

4. STEM:

- FIRST Robotics Competition: An international competition where teams of students design, build, and program robots to compete against other teams.

- Regeneron Science Talent Search: A prestigious research competition where high school seniors submit their original research projects for the chance to win scholarship prizes.

5. Social Sciences:

- National History Day: Students submit historical research projects in various formats, culminating in a national competition.

- National High School Model United Nations: Students participate in simulated United Nations conferences, honing their skills in diplomacy, debate, and problem-solving.

6. Sports:

- Junior Olympics: Organized by USA Track & Field and USA Swimming, these events showcase top high school athletes in their respective sports.

- National Scholastic Club Championships: Offers various events for high school sports clubs, including year-round competitions in sports like lacrosse, rowing, and soccer.

Some of these competitions have regional or local levels that you might need to participate in before advancing to the national or international stage. Keep in mind that success in these competitions can be quite impressive, but remember also to focus on your core extracurriculars and ensure a balanced application. Good luck!