As soon as you enter high school, you feel immediate pressure to do as much as you can to strengthen your college application. Special programs and competitions are prevalent, attractive options, but it can be hard to distinguish the valuable ones from those that will waste your time. Here are some things to keep in mind.
Resist the urge to specialize early
Your first two years of high school are for trying things you’re not quite sure about. Maybe you do the science fair and soccer team one year and the debate team and service club the next. These experiences can help you figure out what holds your interest — and what doesn’t.
After this exploration, you’ll have a better idea of which activities you’d like to commit to on a deeper level. Tackling a year-long research project, competing on the regional debate circuit or serving as editor of the school newspaper are commitments better left for junior and senior year.
Be selective when choosing among competitions and academies
There are a small number of programs that are free or of reasonable cost. They’re typically highly selective, admitting students after a close review of their academic work. These include the Regeneron Science Talent Search and Regeneron ISEF — two notable examples in STEM. Others are the Davidson Fellows Scholarship, which recognizes original work across not only STEM fields but also literature, music and philosophy. On the humanities side, the Concord Review publishes outstanding high school history research that undergoes a competitive review process.
By contrast, several competitions and academies are less selective or even open-enrollment based. These are often hosted on a name-brand university campus and require application and/or enrollment fees that can be substantial. While these kinds of programs can be legitimate, many make promises that don’t match reality.
Don’t overlook the less-famous options
Some competitions and programs get less attention than they deserve because they don’t have high name recognition. These include:
National History Day: Students can submit a research paper, exhibit, performance, or documentary that adheres to an annual theme. The competition tests the same skills as a STEM project (e.g., question, defensible argument and original sourcing) but for students interested in historical research rather than lab work.
John Locke Essay Competition: Students can enter this free, international competition in categories that include philosophy, politics, economics, history, psychology, theology and law. Because the competition provides a prompt, this is a great option for students who don’t have a clear vision for an enrichment project.
National Speech and Debate Association Regional and National Circuit: Debate sharpens research and argumentation skills that can be applied in application essays. The skill being built and tested — defending a position under scrutiny — enriches many different aspects of a student’s academic life.
Stay in it for the long haul
If you’re drawn to these kinds of activities, know that they’re not short-term projects. Some competitions, like the Science Talent Search, can take a year or more. Good planning and organizational skills, in addition to close mentorship with a teacher or advisor, are essential to getting the most from these programs.
