# Extracurricular Deadlines in October — Programs to Apply to October is the fall deadline peak — many prestigious competitions and spring research programs close this month. Most programs listed here run on annual cycles, so this month's deadline pattern repeats every year — check each listing for the exact current date. 99 verified programs match this page; 24 of the featured listings are free; 11 can be done online. ## Programs (99 total, first 30 shown — full list on the canonical page) | Program | Organization | Cost | Format | Grades | Deadline | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Morehead-Cain Scholarship](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/morehead-cain) | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Free | hybrid | Grade 12 | 2026-10-01 | | [Posse Foundation Scholarship](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/posse-foundation) | Posse Foundation | Free | virtual | Grades 11–12 | 2026-10-01 | | [Questbridge National College Match](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/intel-isef-grand-awards) | QuestBridge | Free | virtual | Grade 12 | 2026-10-01 | | [NASA International Space Apps Challenge](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/nasa-space-apps-challenge) | NASA | Free | hybrid | Grades 9–12 | 2026-10-01 | | [NAfME All-National Honor Ensembles](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/all-national-honor-ensembles) | NAfME | $1,000 | in_person | Grades 10–12 | 2026-10-01 | | [U.S. Presidential Scholars Program](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/presidential-scholars-program) | U.S. Department of Education | Free | virtual | Grade 12 | 2026-10-02 | | [Fulbright U.S. Student Program](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/fulbright-us-student) | U.S. Department of State / IIE | Free | virtual | Grade 12 | 2026-10-06 | | [Stamps Leadership Scholars](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/stamps-scholarship) | Stamps Foundation | Free | virtual | Grade 12 | 2026-10-15 | | [Flinn Scholarship](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/flinn-scholarship) | Flinn Foundation | Free | virtual | Grade 12 | 2026-10-19 | | [Knowledge Matters Virtual Business Challenge](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/knowledge-matters) | Knowledge Matters | Free | virtual | Grades 9–12 | 2026-10-22 | | [Conrad Challenge: Innovation Competition](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/conrad-challenge-innovation-competition) | Conrad Foundation | Free | hybrid | Grades 6–12 | 2026-10-30 | | [Hertz Foundation Fellowship Application Prep](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/hertz-fellowship) | Hertz Foundation | Free | virtual | Grade 12 | 2026-10-30 | | [Forbes 30 Under 30 Recognition](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/forbes-30-under-30) | Forbes Magazine | Free | virtual | Grades 9–12 | 2026-10-31 | | [Rhodes Scholarship](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/rhodes-scholarship) | Rhodes Trust | Free | virtual | Grade 12 | 2026-10-07 | | [Chicago International Model United Nations (CIMUN)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/chicago-international-model-united-nations-cimun) | Chicago International Model United Nations | $195 | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2026-10-01 | | [National Young Composers Challenge](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/national-young-composers-challenge) | Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra | Free | hybrid | Grades 9–12 | 2026-10-01 | | [National PTA Reflections Program National Award](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/national-pta-reflections-program-national-award) | National PTA | Free | virtual | Grades 9–12 | 2026-10-01 | | [Gaudeamus International Composers Award](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/gaudeamus-international-composers-award) | Gaudeamus Foundation | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2026-10-01 | | [Harvard Model United Nations (HMUN)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/harvard-model-united-nations-hmun) | Harvard International Relations Council | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2026-10-01 | | [Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/rho-kappa-social-studies) | NCSS | $30 | in_person | Grades 10–12 | 2026-10-01 | | [Citadel Data Open Competition](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/citadel-data-open-competition) | Citadel LLC | Free | hybrid | Grades 11–12 | 2026-10-01 | | [National Association of Teachers of Singing Student Auditions](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/nats-student-auditions) | NATS | $50 | in_person | Grades 9–14 | 2026-10-01 | | [DOE Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships - HS Track](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/doe-science-undergraduate-laboratory) | Department of Energy | Free | in_person | Grades 11–12 | 2026-10-01 | | [Global Citizen Year Bridge Year](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/global-citizen-year) | Global Citizen Year | $15,000 | in_person | Grade 12 | 2026-10-01 | | [CyberPatriot National Youth Cyber Defense Competition](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/cyberpatriot-national-youth-cyber-defense-competition) | Air & Space Forces Association (AFA) | Free | hybrid | Grades 9–12 | 2026-10-01 | | [Museum Apprentice Program (MAP)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/museum-apprentice-program-map) | Brooklyn Museum | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2026-10-01 | | [Girls Who Invest Summer Intensive Program](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/girls-who-invest-summer-intensive-program) | Girls Who Invest | Free | in_person | Grades 10–11 | 2026-10-01 | | [National Fossil Day Art & Activities](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/national-fossil-day) | National Park Service | Free | hybrid | Grades 9–12 | 2026-10-02 | | [Tournament of the Towns Math Competition](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/tournament-of-the-towns) | Tournament of the Towns Coordinating Council | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2026-10-04 | | [Princeton Model United Nations Conference (PMUNC)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/princeton-model-united-nations-conference-pmunc) | Princeton International Relations Council | $100 | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2026-10-04 | ## Frequently asked questions ### How many october deadlines are listed for high school students? ExtracurricularHub currently lists 99 verified programs with October deadlines for high school students, each with cost, eligibility, deadline, and an official application link. ### Are any of these october programs free? Yes — 24 of the programs featured on this page charge no participation fee. Free programs are often funded and can be more selective, so apply early. ### Which deadlines are coming up soonest? The next deadlines: Morehead-Cain Scholarship (October 1, 2026); Posse Foundation Scholarship (October 1, 2026); Questbridge National College Match (October 1, 2026). Deadlines change every cycle — always confirm on the program's official site. ### Do these deadlines repeat every year? Most programs listed here run annual cycles, so their deadlines fall in October (or within a few weeks of it) each year. Use this page to plan ahead, then verify the exact current date on each program's official site. ## Related pages - [Extracurricular Deadlines in November — Programs to Apply to](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/deadlines/november) - [Extracurricular Deadlines in December — Programs to Apply to](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/deadlines/december) - [Summer Programs for High School Students](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/summer-programs) - [Scholarships for High School Students](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/scholarships) - [Browse all extracurriculars](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars) - [Find My Fit — 3-minute matching quiz](https://extracurricularhub.com/find-my-fit) --- Canonical page: https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/deadlines/october Source: ExtracurricularHub (https://extracurricularhub.com) — a free directory of 1,826 verified extracurricular programs for high school students. Cite the canonical page above; always confirm binding details on each program's official site.