Competitions in California 2026 | STEM, Math & Science Olympiads

Academic competitions give students a concrete, verifiable way to demonstrate excellence, and the preparation itself builds real depth in your subject. California offers an unmatched concentration of programs, from Stanford, Caltech, and the UC system to Silicon Valley tech and San Diego biotech.

Popular contests include the AMC/AIME/USAMO math sequence, USACO for computer science, Science Olympiad, the USA Biology Olympiad (USABO), DECA and FBLA for business, and research fairs like ISEF and the Regeneron Science Talent Search.

Colleges read awards as proof of initiative and mastery, and competition rosters are a common recruiting ground for selective programs and scholarships.

How to get started with competitions

  1. Choose one competition tied to your strongest subject and commit to its full ladder rather than sampling five.
  2. Find the qualification path early (AMC → AIME → USAMO, USACO Bronze → Platinum) and mark the registration windows.
  3. Join or start a club/team for accountability, past papers, and coaching from older students.
  4. Practice with real past problems on a weekly schedule — consistency beats cramming for these.
  5. Log every result and role; a single strong finish in your major's field is worth more than many participations.

Featured programs

Browse 10+ curated programs for high school students:

  • TechCrunch Disrupt Battlefield — TechCrunch: Startup competition at major tech conference. Present to investors.
  • Silicon Valley Math Tournament — Silicon Valley Math Initiative: Compete in the Silicon Valley Math Tournament to sharpen problem-solving skills, boost your college applications, and connect with like-minded high sc
  • Entrepreneurship World Cup Student Track — Global Silicon Valley: Compete in the Entrepreneurship World Cup Student Track to pitch your startup ideas, gain hands-on business experience, and boost your college applica
  • Caltech Harvey Mudd Math Competition — Caltech & Harvey Mudd: Compete in a top-tier high school math competition with individual and team events. Boost problem-solving skills, enhance college applications, and co
  • Berkeley Math Tournament — UC Berkeley: Test your math skills in this exciting competition featuring individual and team rounds. Perfect for high school students boosting college application
  • UCLA Olga Radko Endowed Math Circle (ORMC) — UCLA Department of Mathematics: Free Sunday math circle run by the UCLA math department for about 400 students in grades 1-12, with separate 5th-8th and 9th-12th tracks plus olympiad
  • San Diego Math Circle — San Diego Math Circle: Free weekend math circle for grades 5-12 held on the UC San Diego campus, organized into five ability groups and serving as an official AMC higher-edu
  • Bay Area Mathematical Olympiad (BAMO) — Mathematical Sciences Research Institute (MSRI): A four-hour, five-problem proof olympiad held each February for West Coast students, with a BAMO-8 division for grade 8 and below and BAMO-12 for grad
  • Stanford Math Tournament — Stanford: Compete in a dynamic math competition with team and individual rounds. Build problem-solving skills, boost college applications, and connect with peer
  • UCLA Math Open (UMO) — UCLA: Challenge your math skills in this student-run competition featuring proof and short-answer rounds. Boost your college applications and stand out in S

Frequently asked questions

Are these competitions only in California?

These programs are based in or strongly tied to California, but many also accept students from out of state and some offer virtual participation. Always check eligibility on each listing.

Which competitions matter most for college?

Depth beats breadth. One serious result in a field tied to your intended major — USACO Platinum for CS, AIME qualification for math — carries more weight than many shallow participations.

When should I start preparing?

Begin in 9th or 10th grade so you can climb qualification ladders (AMC to AIME to USAMO, USACO Bronze to Platinum) before application season.

Are there competitions for beginners?

Yes. Science Olympiad, regional science fairs, the AMC 10, and club-level DECA events welcome newcomers. Filter the list below by grade level.