Best awards for high school students to aim for?

Hey everyone, I'm a junior in high school and trying to build up my resume before applying to college. What are some prestigious and valuable awards or competitions I should be aiming for during my high school career?

Hi there! It's great that you're looking to enhance your application with prestigious awards and competitions. Here's a list of some notable awards and competitions across various subject areas that you might consider targeting:

1. Science and Math:

- Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)

- Regeneron Science Talent Search (formerly Intel Talent Search)

- USA Math Olympiad (USAMO) and the International Math Olympiad (IMO)

- USA Biology Olympiad (USABO) and the International Biology Olympiad (IBO)

- USA Chemistry Olympiad (USNCO) and the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO)

- USA Physics Olympiad (USAPhO) and the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO)

2. Writing and Speech:

- Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

- National Speech & Debate Tournament (NSDA)

- National High School Mock Trial Championship

3. Technology and Engineering:

- FIRST Robotics Competition and FIRST Tech Challenge

- VEX Robotics World Championship

4. Social Sciences and Humanities:

- National History Day

- National Model United Nations (NMUN)

5. Business and Entrepreneurship:

- Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) National Leadership Conference

- DECA International Career Development Conference

6. Miscellaneous:

- Congressional Award Gold Medal

- Presidential Scholar Program

These are just a few examples, and there are many other specialized awards and competitions based on your specific interests and strengths. It's important to focus on those that align with your passions and academic or extracurricular pursuits. Committing to a few areas and excelling in them is generally more valuable than trying to claim many minor achievements across a broad range of fields. Good luck!