Prestigious & Highly Selective Programs & Competitions for High School Students

These are the programs admissions officers recognize on sight — nationally selective research placements, fully-funded institutes, and flagship competitions with single-digit acceptance rates.

Selectivity is the point: getting in is the achievement, so apply broadly within this list and treat every deadline as hard.

56 verified programs match this page; 26 of the featured listings are completely free; 13 can be done online.

Featured programs

Browse 30+ curated programs for high school students:

• Presidential AI Challenge — White House Office of Science and Technology Policy: National K-12 AI competition where students build real-world AI solutions for community challenges, with finals at the White House.
• National Youth Orchestra of the USA (NYO-USA) — Carnegie Hall: Join a prestigious summer orchestra program for high school musicians in grades 10-12. Develop advanced music skills, perform at Carnegie Hall, and bo
• Davidson Fellows Scholarship - Music Category — Davidson Institute: Prestigious music scholarship recognizing high school students with exceptional compositions. Boost your college applications and showcase your creati
• Yau Science Awards (Asia) — Tsinghua University / Harvard University: Showcase your scientific research skills in this prestigious high school competition. Gain hands-on experience, boost college applications, and connec
• Cameron Impact Scholarship — Bryan Cameron Education Foundation: Earn a full-ride scholarship for college by showcasing leadership and community impact. Perfect for high school seniors building standout college appl
• White House Internship Program — The White House: Gain hands-on leadership experience with this prestigious White House internship. Perfect for building government skills and boosting college applicat
• Technology Student Association National Officer — TSA: Lead as a TSA National Officer in this hybrid STEM opportunity. Build leadership skills, enhance college applications, and gain hands-on experience in
• Tournament of Champions Qualifier — Tournament of Champions: Compete in an elite high school debate competition to sharpen public speaking and critical thinking skills. Stand out on college applications with thi
• Questbridge National College Match — QuestBridge: National college-prep program connecting talented high school seniors with full scholarships to top universities. Boost college applications and secur
• Fulbright U.S. Student Program — U.S. Department of State / IIE: Prestigious international fellowship offering virtual research and teaching opportunities for high school seniors. Boosts college applications and bui
• Cum Laude Society — The Cum Laude Society: Join a prestigious academic honor society for high school juniors and seniors. Boost college applications, earn scholarships, and showcase your academ
• United States Senate Youth Program — Hearst Foundations: Explore leadership and civic skills in this prestigious high school program. Includes a week in Washington, D.C. and a $10,000 scholarship to boost co
• NAfME All-National Honor Ensembles — NAfME: Join elite high school musicians in this prestigious in-person honor ensemble program. Enhance your skills, perform nationally, and boost your college
• Glenbrooks Debate Tournament — Glenbrook Schools: Compete in the Glenbrooks Debate Tournament, a top national-circuit competition for high schoolers. Build critical thinking skills and boost your coll
• U.S. Presidential Scholars Program — U.S. Department of Education: Earn national recognition as a U.S. Presidential Scholar, the highest honor for top high school seniors. Boost college applications and showcase leade
• National Student Poets Program — Institute of Museum and Library Services: Prestigious poetry competition for 10th-11th graders. Become a literary ambassador, gain recognition, and build creative writing skills for college an
• Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship — Jack Kent Cooke Foundation: Secure up to $55k/year with this elite, need-based scholarship for high-achieving seniors. Boost college applications and unlock opportunities for aca
• Stamps Leadership Scholars — Stamps Foundation: Earn a full-ride scholarship plus enrichment funds at top colleges while building leadership skills. Perfect for high school seniors aiming to stand o
• Mathematical Olympiad for Girls — Mathematical Olympiad Foundation: Elite math competition for high school girls to tackle USAMO-level problems. Boosts problem-solving skills, stands out on college applications, and in
• Beaver Works Summer Institute — MIT: Elite summer program for high schoolers in Grades 10-11 focused on STEM fields like drones and cybersecurity. Gain hands-on experience and boost colle
• Ron Brown Scholar Program — Ron Brown Scholar Fund: Elite scholarship for Black high school seniors excelling in academics and leadership. Earn $40k to fund college while building leadership skills for
• Tournament of Champions Debate — Various: Compete in the elite Tournament of Champions Debate, the most prestigious high school competition. Build critical thinking skills and strengthen colle
• Flinn Scholarship — Flinn Foundation: Elite full-ride scholarship for Arizona seniors to ASU, UArizona, or NAU. Boost leadership skills, gain recognition, and secure your college future at
• Hertz Foundation Fellowship Application Prep — Hertz Foundation: Prepare for the elite Hertz Foundation Fellowship and boost STEM skills. Perfect for high school seniors aiming for competitive grad school applicatio
• Mathematical Olympiad Program — MAA: Intensive math competition program for elite high school students. Enhance problem-solving skills, boost college applications, and train with top USAM
• Clark Scholars Program — Texas Tech: Elite summer research program for high school juniors and seniors. Gain hands-on STEM experience, earn a $750 stipend, and boost your college applicat
• Wharton Investment Competition — Wharton/UPenn: Compete in a global investing competition for high school students. Manage a $100k portfolio, gain real-world finance skills, and boost your college a
• Davidson Fellows — Davidson Institute: Win $50k, $25k, or $10k scholarships in this elite STEM competition for high-achieving high school students. Boost college applications with hands-on
• Putnam Competition — MAA: Compete in the elite Putnam Competition, the toughest undergrad math challenge. High school juniors and seniors sharpen problem-solving skills and boo
• USA Physics Olympiad — AAPT: Compete in the elite USA Physics Olympiad to sharpen problem-solving skills, enhance college applications, and aim for the International Physics Olymp

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