# Public Policy Programs & Competitions for High School Students

Policy programs — legislative simulations, think-tank fellowships, and civic-leadership institutes — are where future public-sector careers start showing up on applications.

The strongest entries pair a program with real civic output: a passed student-government initiative, a published policy memo, or testimony at a local hearing.

34 verified programs match this page; 19 of the featured listings are free; 5 can be done online.

## Programs (34 total, first 30 shown — full list on the canonical page)

| Program | Organization | Cost | Format | Grades | Deadline |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Federal Reserve Bank Economic Essay Contest](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/federal-reserve-bank-economic-essay-contest) | Federal Reserve | $100 | hybrid | Grades 9–12 | Rolling |
| [Environmental Science & Policy Scholars Program (Duke)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/environmental-science-policy-scholars-program-duke) | Duke University | Free | in_person | Grades 11–12 | Rolling |
| [Economics for Leaders](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/economics-for-leaders) | Foundation for Teaching Economics | $2,300 | in_person | Grades 10–11 | 2027-04-15 |
| [YMCA Youth & Government (State Model Legislature & Court)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/ymca-youth-and-government) | YMCA | $300 | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2026-10-11 |
| [iCivics Equity in Civics Youth Fellowship](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/icivics-equity-in-civics-youth-fellowship) | iCivics & CIRCLE (Tufts) | Free | virtual | Grades 9–12 | 2027-05-31 |
| [Udall Scholarship](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/udall-scholarship) | Udall Foundation | Free | virtual | Grade 12 | 2027-03-03 |
| [CDC Museum Disease Detective Camp](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/cdc-museum-disease-detective-camp) | CDC David J. Sencer Museum | Free | in_person | Grades 10–12 | 2027-03-07 |
| [Underline Space Roundtable](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/underline-space-roundtable) | Space Minds Center | Free | virtual | All grades | Rolling |
| [Presidential Classroom](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/presidential-classroom-washington-dc) | Presidential Classroom | $2,495 | in_person | Grades 10–12 | Rolling |
| [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 |
| [Princeton Model Congress](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/princeton-model-congress) | Princeton Model Congress | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2026-10-12 |
| [Institute for Speech and Debate Summer Programs](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/institute-for-speech-and-debate-summer-programs) | Institute for Speech and Debate | $2,800 | in_person | Grades 9–12 | Rolling |
| [U.S. Senate Youth Program (USSYP)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/us-senate-youth-program-ussyp) | The Hearst Foundations | Free | in_person | Grades 11–12 | 2026-12-01 |
| [U.S. Senate Page Program](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/us-senate-page-program) | United States Senate | Free | in_person | Grade 11 | 2026-08-31 |
| [Global Youth Economics Congress](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/global-youth-economics-congress) | Youth Economics Initiative | $200 | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2027-04-15 |
| [Yale Model Congress (YMC)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/yale-model-congress-ymc) | Yale Model Congress | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2026-11-01 |
| [Yale Model Government](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/yale-model-government) | Yale University | $250 | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2027-01-03 |
| [Harvard Model Congress](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/harvard-model-congress) | Harvard University | $350 | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2027-01-15 |
| [Mikva Challenge Summer Fellows](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/mikva-challenge-summer-fellows) | Mikva Challenge | Free | in_person | Grades 10–12 | Rolling |
| [International Public Policy Forum (IPPF) Debate](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/international-public-policy-forum-ippf-debate) | The Brewer Foundation & New York University | Free | hybrid | Grades 9–12 | 2026-10-15 |
| [Yale Model United Nations (YMUN)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/yale-model-united-nations-ymun) | Yale International Relations Association | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2027-07-03 |
| [Penn Model Congress (PennMC)](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/penn-model-congress-pennmc) | University of Pennsylvania International Affairs Association | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2026-12-05 |
| [HPAIR Harvard College Conferences](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/hpair-harvard-college-conferences) | Harvard College Project for Asian & International Relations | $300 | in_person | Grades 11–12 | 2026-11-20 |
| [We the Students Essay Contest](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/we-the-students-essay-contest) | Bill of Rights Institute | Free | virtual | Grades 9–12 | 2027-04-15 |
| [American University Washington Semester for High School](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/american-university-washington-semester-for-high-school) | American University | $4,500 | in_person | Grades 11–12 | 2027-01-25 |
| [C-SPAN StudentCam](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/c-span-studentcam) | C-SPAN | Free | virtual | Grades 9–12 | 2027-01-20 |
| [High School Fed Challenge](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/high-school-fed-challenge) | Federal Reserve Bank of New York | Free | hybrid | Grades 9–12 | 2027-02-17 |
| [EPA Environmental Justice Youth Initiative](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/epa-environmental-justice-youth-initiative) | Environmental Protection Agency | Free | hybrid | Grades 9–12 | Rolling |
| [Euro Challenge](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/euro-challenge) | W!se & Delegation of the European Union to the U.S. | Free | hybrid | Grades 9–12 | 2027-02-27 |
| [Academic WorldQuest National Competition](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/academic-worldquest-national-competition) | World Affairs Councils of America | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | 2027-04-12 |

## Frequently asked questions

### How many public policy programs are listed for high school students?

ExtracurricularHub currently lists 34 verified public policy opportunities for high school students, each with cost, eligibility, deadline, and an official application link.

### Are any of these public policy programs free?

Yes — 19 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: U.S. Senate Page Program (August 31, 2026); Princeton Model United Nations Conference (PMUNC) (October 4, 2026); YMCA Youth & Government (State Model Legislature & Court) (October 11, 2026). Deadlines change every cycle — always confirm on the program's official site.

### Do public policy extracurriculars help with college admissions?

Yes — sustained, escalating involvement in public policy (participation → awards or leadership → independent work) reads far stronger than scattered one-off activities. Pick one or two programs from this page and go deep.

## Related pages

- [History & Civics Programs & Competitions for High School Students](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/history)
- [Law & Mock Trial Programs & Competitions for High School Students](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/law)
- [Model UN Programs & Competitions for High School Students](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/model-united-nations)
- [Leadership for High School Students](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/leadership)
- [Browse all extracurriculars](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars)
- [Find My Fit — 3-minute matching quiz](https://extracurricularhub.com/find-my-fit)

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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.