Intro

This list is posted on roundpier.com. We have compiled a list of relevant extracurricular programs in light of COVID.

If you have any scholarships or activities you want to add to this list, please contact sean@roundpier.com.  We will not bother adding unverified student NPOs, as we have gotten too many requests for these to be added.

Some competitions aren't solely based on one major/field of study.

General Key for Finding things based on control/command F:

Control F: Flexible

Control F: International

Control F: Senior

Control F: COVID

(multidisciplinary competitions that extend across multiple intended majors)

(competitions based in US that receive and encourage international submissions)

(not too many of these: if you are a rising HS senior and you want a last-minute competition before decisions roll in)

(COVID-19 available opportunities)

Last update :6/1/20

Edit: It has been proven that the new SSI is a scam, though it has been heavily promoted in academic opportunity lists like these, I would advise against paying for the program

*Program is on RoundPier

Business

Main Competitions:

GATSVI Clubs and Venture Challenge ("GVC")

  • Content: Consists of purely a business pitch starting with a feasibility pitch; awarded fellowship and summer camp admission; international-friendly
  • Requires next to nothing, only progression throughout the competition as an individual or team, finalists mandated to attend the summer camp and may compete at Plug and Play for seed funding
  • Competition at an international level with high barrier of entry; main pool --> semifinalist --> finalist stages; finalists go to summer camp to pitch for seed funding and develop actual legal LLC
  • Difficulty: Difficult to get finalist stage, definitely worth it if you do. Hard to get past main pool stage, but easier if your feasibility summary is good and you can carry through with effort.
  • https://www.gatsvi.org/
  • PS: Their summer program isn't well-known yet, but is extremely good. You meet so many startup CEOs and billionaires, and get so many connections. Can do research at Stanford too.
  • GATSVI Clubs programs is a continuing initiative that seems to have taken over after LaunchX clubs folded.  Unlike traditional school clubs, it takes place at the regional level and are usually held online.  I mention this because it seems as a perfect replacement in light of COVID, where schools are discontinuing physical clubs.  (COVID)(International)(senior)

Conrad Spirit of Innovation

  • Content: Team based (2-5) developing a business entrepreneurial solution to Aerospace & Aviation, Cyber-Technology & Security, Energy & Environment, Health & Nutrition and Transforming Education Through Technology.
  • Requires an adult coach, online registration in late August; 400$ fee
  • Competitions in 3 phases; culminating at the international level; has online deadlines and pitches; innovation 4-day summit
  • Difficulty: Requires a team of REALLY devoted students with some having STEM knowledge and others having business knowledge. Difficult, but the entry barrier is quite low.
  • https://www.conradchallenge.org

Future Business Leaders of America:

  • Content: Event variety, ranges from entrepreneurship to presentations to mock events
  • Requires a school chapter, offers leadership positions on student chapter model; usually requires a teacher advisor with a technical education credential
  • Competitions at the regional, state, national level; event based with over 20 events in most states; NSLC (national competition)
  • Difficulty: Event-based, some events are more competitive than others.  NSLC is reasonable to make in your first year if you focus hard enough on a not-to-competitive event.
  • https://fbla-pbl.org

DECA

  • Content: Event variety, ranges from cyber security to finance to entrepreneurship (flexible); international-friendly
  • Requires a school chapter; offers leadership positions on a school club model; usually requires a teacher advisor and requires students to take technical/business classes;
  • Competitions at the regional, state, international level; event based with over 30 events in many states; ICDC (international career development conference)
  • Difficulty: Event-based, some events are more competitive than others.  ICDC can be made easily in first year if in a noncompetitive state/province, or in a niche event.
  • https://www.deca.org/

BPA (Business Professionals of America)

  • Content: Event variety, everything that has to do with business solely ranging from information tech to HR
  • Requires a school chapter, offers leadership positions on student chapter model; usually requires a teacher advisor with a technical education credential
  • Competitions at the regional, state, national level; event based; NLC (national competition)
  • Difficulty: Don't know too much about this one, I'd assume its on the same level as FBLA
  • https://bpa.org

Names of a few lesser-known competitions:

  • Diamond Challenge (Entrepreneurship) https://www.roundpier.com/_ldl/the+diamond+challenge
  • Blue Ocean Entrepreneurship Competition
  • Innovation NFTE Competitions (UN Affiliated) (Major-Flexible) (Sustainability innovation theme)
  • National Economics Challenge (actual online competition in fall, but you can start to prep now!)
  • High School Fed Challenge (Flexible) (Senior)

    https://www.newyorkfed.org/outreach-and-education/high-school/high-school-fed-challenge

STEM

Math:

  • American Mathematics Competition (AMC 8,..12): (multiple locations) (flexible) (senior friendly)

https://www.maa.org/math-competitions

Science Fairs

  • Content: Students prepare a science fair project in any science (except consumer science) and present it to scientific professionals; year-long workload and a one-day pitch event; international-friendly; flexible
  • Requires a research mentor, state/international competition may require affiliation with school; school may have a club or class for this; club offers traditional school club leadership positions; science fairs are often mandated by student organizations
  • Competition at regional, state, international level; different science fair competitions exist like Google science fair, Broadcom Masters, Regeneron, BioGENEius
  • Difficulty: Fierce competition beginning at state level for ISEF spots, may see fierce competition for ISEF spots at regional level; performance in the general science fair may unlock participation in top tier competitions, like Regeneron
  • Website Link differs by state and city, International Competition link -->https://www.societyforscience.org/international-science-and-engineering-fair

Science Olympiads & National Science Bowl

  • Self explanatory; 23 events extending into the national level; school-mandated

National Science Olympiads

  • Content: TOP level Students prepare for a rigorous examination in a certain science; international-friendly; not for the faint of heart
  • Requires you to be among the best in your country at a certain scientific topic; schools may have us Olympiad clubs
  • Competition at the national and international level; if you get there, Harvard will look for you
  • Difficulty: Extremely difficult. I don't expect anyone to try to do this on a whim.
  • Website link differs by subject

Toshiba Exploravision

  • Content: Similar to Science Fairs, except more theoretical than hands-on. Design a project to improve/create technology over the course of two decades.

Envirothon

  • Content: Students compete for recognition and scholarships by demonstrating their knowledge of environmental science and natural resource management. Over the course of five days in the summer, students work in teams of five at different training and testing stations. Includes Oral presentations (international-friendly only for China and Canada)
  • Requires registration at the state/provincial level, then doing well at that level. Requirements differ by state.
  • Competition at the state/provincial level then at the international level (NCF-Envirothon)
  • Difficulty: Very difficult. US students will be competing with the best from every state, Canadian province, and China. There is a ranking list of competitors at the international level. Training for the NCF-Envirothon begins well in advance of the actual event.
  • https://www.envirothon.org

ANN Neuroscience Research Prize

  • Content: Students perform original research individually with only the advice of a teacher/mentor. Includes completion of an abstract, research report, and other research paper prerequisites; HS Senior-friendly
  • Requires original research without any outside help (not like science fair where your professor can do the majority of it); otherwise has no school affiliation and any high schooler can apply
  • Competition at the national level
  • Difficulty: Very Difficult. This basically results in you writing a research paper in neuroscience in a medium/high popularity journal. Only 8 possible prizes; 4 winners will present their research at a prestigious research conference (ANN 72nd conference)
  • http://tools.aan.com/science/awards/?fuseaction=home.info&id=11

Other STEM Programs

Comp Sci:

  • American Computer Science League: (senior) (multiple locations) (flexible) (covid)

http://www.acsl.org/

Interdisciplinary and Gaming:

Social Sciences (Econ, Psychology)

TOPS Psychology

  • Content: Students submit a 3,000-word essay citing peer-reviewed psychological research on a given topic (APA format). Topic changes per year, work is done on your timetable (flexible for STEM majors)
  • Requires just your signing up and entry.
  • Competition at the national level
  • Difficulty: Only 4 winners, relatively competitive. Much easier if you have previous research experience; can be used as a way to garner research experience
  • https://www.apa.org/ed/precollege/topss/student-competition

Other Social Science Opportunities

History

Rubincam Youth Writing Competition ( Flexible ) (HS Senior Friendly) (Multiple Locations) (COVID) https://www.ngsgenealogy.org/competitions/rubincam-youth-award/

National History Day (COVID) (Flexible) (Multiple Locations) http://www.nhd.org/Contest.htm

Annual Holocaust Art and Writing Contest (Flexible) (COVID) (Multiple Locations) (HS seniors) https://www.chapman.edu/research/institutes-and-centers/holocaust-education/rodgers-center/holocaust-art-and-writing-contest/index.aspx

The Emerson Prize: The Concord Review (Flexible) (COVID) (Multiple Locations) (International Friendly) (HS Senior Friendly) https://tcr.org/page-1826185

Joseph S. Rumbaugh Historical Oration Contest: (Flexible) (Senior Friendly) (Multiple Locations) (COVID) https://www.sar.org/education/youth-contests-awards/joseph-s-rumbaugh-historical-oration-contest

Language

https://www.aclclassics.org/Exams/National-Greek-Exam

  • AATI National Italian Examination (Multiple Locations) (Flexible) (COVID) (Senior Friendly) (Canada - International Friendly)

https://bancheri.utm.utoronto.ca/aati-online/contest/national_exam.html

  • Japan Bowl: (Multiple Locations) (International) (Flexible) (COVID) (Senior)

http://www.japanbowl.org/what-is-the-japan-bowl/

  • National Language Arts League: (Multiple Locations) (Flexible) (COVID) (Senior Friendly)

https://www.cmleague.com/product-category/nlal/

  • The National Latin Exam (International ) (Senior Friendly) (COVID)(Multiple Locations) (Flexible)
  • https://www.nle.org/
  • National Spanish Examinations (Multiple Locations) (COVID) (Senior) (Flexible)

https://www.nationalspanishexam.org/index.php/exam-administration/exam-categories

  • Olympiada of Spoken Russian (Multiple Locations) (COVID) (Flexible) (Senior)

https://www.actr.org/join-actr.html

Journalism

Creative Writing

Essay Contests

Student Publication Awards

Where to Submit Your Writing

Summer Programs Online over COVID summer

Scholarships

  • http://www.davidsongifted.org/fellows-scholarship 
  • American Indian College Fund - (Native Americans to 33 Accredited Tribal Colleges and Universities)
  • Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund - (Asian and Pacific Islanders)
  • Barry Goldwater Scholarships - (STEM focused)
  • Boston University Trustee Scholarship - (Boston University)
  • Buick Achievers Scholarship Program - (Engineering and technology focused)
  • Caroline D. Bradley - (funds for high school scholarships)
  • Carson Scholars Program - (awarded to grades 4-11 for college)
  • Churchill Scholarships - (STEM at University of Cambridge)
  • Coolidge Scholarship - (4-year, full ride, merit-based scholarship)
  • Dave Goldberg Scholarship Program - (KIPP graduates)
  • Dell Scholars Program - (Low Income)
  • Harry S. Truman Scholarships - (Government, Education, Non Profit, and Advocacy focused)
  • Healthline and NORD Stronger Scholarship Program - (Health/Research focused - specific theme changes from year-to-year)
  • Jefferson Scholarship - (University of Virginia)
  • Levine Scholars Program - (University of North Carolina at Charlotte)
  • Luce Scholars Program - (Language training focused)
  • Lyceum Scholars Program - (Clemson University)
  • Marshall Scholarships - (Graduate degrees in the United Kingdom)
  • Morehead-Cain Scholarship - (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
  • National Merit Scholarship Program - (Score Based)
  • Reagan Foundation Scholarships - (Student Leaders)
  • Rhodes Scholarships - (Oxford University)
  • Robertson Scholarship - (Duke University or University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
  • Stamps Scholars Program - (approximately 40 partner schools)
  • The Gates Scholarship - (Minority and low-income)
  • Thurgood Marshall College Fund - (HBCUs)
  • Udall Scholarships - (Environment, tribal public policy, and Native American health care)

Search Engines and Databases

  • Cappex
  • Fastweb
  • Goodcall
  • HS Finder (Latino students)
  • Niche
  • Peerlift
  • Petersons
  • Scholar Snapp
  • Scholarships.com
  • Scholarships360.com
  • Scholly (app)
  • Scholarship America
  • TeenLife

Additional Resources

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FKkIuRtn_PXPC1f6ywq_hg3rwYU4ILXp1_1Ukgukvf8/edit (Additional list of academic opportunities) (ignore SSI, which has been proven to be a scam)

https://cty.jhu.edu/resources/academic-opportunities/ (Extensive, but outdated, JHU list of opportunities)

https://www.sau39.org/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=156&ModuleInstanceID=2866&ViewID=6446EE88-D30C-497E-9316-3F8874B3E108&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=4002&PageID=1744 (Concord Review’s list of additional writing opportunities)

Unsorted (Likely not COVID-friendly)

Salk Institute (Heithoff-Brody High School Scholars Program), Scintillon Institute, Biocom Institute, Scripps Research Institute, San Diego Workforce Partners (Life Science Summer Institute), COSMOS, UCSD (REHS), J. Craig Venter Institute, Marine Technology Society

Reddit Resources

For more scholarships, check out u/ScholarGrade's guides and here are more scholarships! (Courtesy u/fairydoe)

For fly-ins and more scholarships, here. (Courtesy u/richardknickson69).

For more summer programs, here. (Courtesy u/AP_bustdown)

Oh, and in case you're looking for professor research internships by cold emailing and such (for over the summer), here is a guide (Courtesy u/novembrr).

And, well, here's a resume template made by an A2C mod. (Courtesy u/powereddeath). Because you need them for the professors you're cold emailing.

Here’s a master app of CommonApp resources (but those are mostly for when you're a stressed senior in September) (Courtesy u/a2cthrowaway321123). If you're getting started writing essays early, then take a look at the resources in that master list.

Additional Mention

RoundPier’s new RoundPier Student Coalition is verifying student NPOs (nonprofits/projects/organizations) and encouraging their growth with media opportunities and such hosted on roundpier.com.  This isn’t an EC opportunity per se, but it is a way to find resources and legitimize NPOs.  They also take uniqueness and demonstrable impact into account, so you usually won’t see cookie cutter STEM education NPOs here.  

If you want to find a student NPO to work with, VERIFIED RP NPOs are always looking for more recruits.