Top Academic Competitions for High School Students

Not sure which academic competitions to choose? Here are some important considerations:

As you consider your options, decide if input from a skilled admissions counselor might be an effective way to get the insights you’re looking for.

So, just how many kinds of academic competitions are out there? Well, more than we can list here, but let’s take a look at some great options to consider.

We’ll break them down by academic field as best we can to make it easier to find what you’re looking for. (Be sure to read to the end to see the interdisciplinary & multidisciplinary category too!) And, with a little research of your own, you should find local and regional competitions in your region or home state or country that may be a good fit.

Writing Competitions

Writing competitions tend to be less team oriented, putting individual authors in competition with other individual authors. And, while some essay competitions involve specific areas of academic knowledge, others spotlight different kinds of writing formats and skills:

Writing competitions can be a direct avenue to getting published, or help you jump start or elevate your portfolio — the kind that is frequently required for applicants interested in selective journalism or creative writing programs.

Essay Writing Competitions

Essay writing competitions are the first category we’ll explore — they provide a great way to test, develop, and exhibit your research prowess and written communication skills.

Beyond your writing acumen, some competitions may emphasize academic content and/or critical thinking skills in relation to fields such as history, political science, or other liberal arts or social science disciplines.

Additional Writing Competitions

In addition to The Harvard Crimson Global Essay Competition and the John Locke Global Essay Contest, you may want to consider some additional writing competitions like these:

Participating in a creative writing contest may seem less academic, but keep in mind that creative writing projects can be immensely challenging. Typically, admissions panels at top schools will also recognize that creative writing requires not just imagination, but passion, vision, and mental discipline — qualities that can lead to inspiration and excellence in any college field, not just creative writing.

Journalism Competitions

Journalism competitions can engage a more varied range of writing styles than you imagine. These can include:

For students passionate about current affairs and interested in exploring diverse perspectives in public discourse, journalism competitions can be a stimulating way to apply those interests in earnest.

STEM Competitions

Some competitions are designed for teams, others may allow you to go solo or compete as part of a group. Some competitions involve building something, while others award prizes for an innovation idea or research proposal.

Depending on the competition, participating in a STEM field contest can also be your chance to experience a real lab, in a research facility or university setting. Vanessa Quinn, Professor of Biology at Purdue Northwest says this is one of the great unexpected benefits for many high school students in the university’s Science Olympiad:

The competitors get to see that when you go to college you can continue doing these great events or lab projects because we have the facilities they compete in. They also see that college professors are not scary — they are really available and excited to have them here.

International Competitions

One excellent example of an academic competition that includes STEM interests and is international in scope is the High School Academic Research Competition. Participants benefit from immersive academic workshops, get valuable experience writing a formal research proposal, and can choose from a range of STEM and non-STEM topics.

What’s exciting about this competition is that teams get to experience a real research environment and work with college professors, which can be a valuable experience for their future academic and professional pursuits.

Conclusion

As you consider your options, keep in mind that some competitions are national, others international. Many, not all, also involve lots of educational learning support, such as workshops or mentoring.

With a little research, you should find many additional opportunities, such as:

Journalism competitions can engage a more varied range of writing styles than you imagine. These can include:

For students passionate about current affairs and interested in exploring diverse perspectives in public discourse, journalism competitions can be a stimulating way to apply those interests in earnest.

Some of these opportunities involve submitting your piece of writing to judges, but others may offer additional resources to advance your journalism skills and knowledge.

One intriguing example is the Harvard Crimson Journalism Competition sponsored by Harvard University’s newspaper, The Crimson. By participating in the competition you can receive access to the paper’s alumni network for support, and winners may be invited to take a summer intern role with The Crimson!

In addition to the Harvard Crimson Journalism Competition, other similar opportunities include:

Participating in academic competitions exposes students to new people, including classmates, teachers, coaches, and community leaders. This allows students to build and maintain relationships, which can lead to valuable connections and opportunities in the future.

Without previous work experience, one of the only ways hiring managers can assess your ability and work ethic is through your extracurricular activities. It’s kind of the same for your college admissions journey as well.

There are some really important abilities and personal qualities that college admissions officers can only appreciate by virtue of the ways you participate in various extracurriculars, and by what you accomplish in those roles.

For example, your grades and test scores aside, if you were on a debating team, the manager would know that you’re able to speak publicly (or at least be brave enough to work at it) and communicate professionally. These are all awesome skills to be able to demonstrate, and your extracurricular achievements spotlight important areas of future promise in academic settings and in many professional roles!