International Mathematical Olympiad vs Regeneron Science Talent Search
Comparing two elite STEM opportunities. International Mathematical Olympiad is a olympiad while Regeneron Science Talent Search is a competition.
| International Mathematical Olympiad | Regeneron Science Talent Search | |
|---|---|---|
| Prestige Tier | Tier 1 — Elite | Tier 1 — Elite |
| Type | Olympiad | Competition |
| Organization | IMO Official | Society for Science |
| Acceptance Rate | Extremely competitive; approximately 0.01-0.1% of high school students worldwide reach IMO. For USA: ~6 students selected from 300,000+ AMC participants annually | Approximately 0.2-0.3% (2% of ~2,000 applicants become Top 40 finalists; 15% become Top 300 scholars). Highly selective with ~2,000 projects submitted annually. |
| Applicants | Approximately 5,000-6,000 contestants from 100+ countries compete at IMO annually. USA sends 6 representatives from ~300,000 AMC 10/12 participants | Approximately 2,000 projects submitted per year; historically 147,000 students have competed since 1942 |
| Deadline | — | 2026-11-05 |
| Cost to Apply | Free | Free |
| US Only | No / International | Yes |
| Grades | High school students only; typically grades 9-12 (ages 13-19) | High school seniors only |
| College Impact | Extremely positive and highly prestigious. IMO medalists (especially gold) are exceptionally rare and highly valued by top universities globally. Impact includes: (1) Gold/Silver medalists essentially... | Regeneron STS is considered one of the most prestigious high school science competitions and carries significant weight in college admissions, particularly for top-tier universities (Ivy League, MIT, ... |