MLH Fellowship vs Regeneron ISEF Awards
Comparing two highly competitive STEM opportunities. MLH Fellowship is a internship while Regeneron ISEF Awards is a competition.
| MLH Fellowship | Regeneron ISEF Awards | |
|---|---|---|
| Prestige Tier | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive |
| Type | Internship | Competition |
| Organization | Major League Hacking (MLH) | Society for Science |
| Acceptance Rate | Not publicly disclosed; competitive program but exact rate unknown | Approximately 1,600-1,700 finalists compete at ISEF annually out of significantly larger pool competing at 365+ affiliated fairs; roughly 600 finalists receive awards/prizes (37.5% of finalists awarded) |
| Applicants | Not publicly disclosed; appears to have multiple cohorts annually | Over 1,600 finalists selected annually from 365 Society-affiliated fairs across 60+ countries and territories; total number competing at all affiliated fairs globally is much larger (tens of thousands) |
| Deadline | Rolling | — |
| Award | — | $7,000,000 |
| Cost to Apply | Free | Free |
| US Only | No / International | No / International |
| Grades | College students and above (program appears designed primarily for undergraduates; high school eligibility unclear) | 9th through 12th grade (high school students) |
| College Impact | Highly valued in college admissions and recruiting. Shows: (1) Real-world experience with production-grade code, (2) Demonstrated commitment to open-source/collaborative development, (3) Recognition b... | Reaching Regeneron ISEF as a finalist is extremely prestigious in college admissions and carries significant weight. Top colleges (Ivy League, Stanford, MIT, etc.) view ISEF participation highly favor... |