MLH Fellowship - Software Engineering Track vs Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams
Comparing two highly competitive STEM opportunities. MLH Fellowship - Software Engineering Track is a internship while Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams is a competition.
| MLH Fellowship - Software Engineering Track | Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams | |
|---|---|---|
| Prestige Tier | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive |
| Type | Internship | Competition |
| Organization | Major League Hacking (MLH) | Lemelson-MIT Program at MIT |
| Acceptance Rate | Highly competitive (exact rate not disclosed); MLH notes 'overwhelming demand from students' and significantly more applicants than available projects | Approximately 8-10% (based on 8 teams selected annually; suggests 80-100+ applications per year, though exact applicant count not publicly available) |
| Applicants | Not officially published; described as receiving 'overwhelming demand' suggesting hundreds to thousands annually | Estimated 80-100+ schools apply annually (extrapolated from 8 selections) |
| Deadline | Rolling | Rolling |
| Award | — | $7,000 |
| Cost to Apply | Free | Free |
| US Only | No / International | Yes |
| Grades | Open to high school students and early-career developers; no specific grade level restriction mentioned, but intermediate to advanced coding proficiency required | High school students (9-12) |
| College Impact | Strong positive impact on college applications and career prospects: 1) Demonstrates real-world professional experience (not just school projects or tutoring), which top colleges value significantly; ... | Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams is viewed very favorably in college admissions, particularly for STEM programs. Selection as an InvenTeam demonstrates: (1) exceptional innovation and problem-solving ability; ... |