Regeneron ISEF Awards vs Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program in Biomedical Sciences
Comparing two highly competitive STEM opportunities. Regeneron ISEF Awards is a competition while Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program in Biomedical Sciences is a summer program.
| Regeneron ISEF Awards | Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program in Biomedical Sciences | |
|---|---|---|
| Prestige Tier | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive | Tier 1 — Elite |
| Type | Competition | Summer Program |
| Organization | Society for Science | MD Anderson Cancer Center, School of Health Professions |
| Acceptance Rate | 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) | Approximately 5-10% based on estimated 60-120 applications for 6 spots (highly competitive but not as selective as top national programs like RSI or TASP) |
| Applicants | 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) | Estimated 60-120 annually (exact numbers not disclosed by MD Anderson) |
| Deadline | — | Rolling |
| Award | $7,000,000 | $7,200 |
| Cost to Apply | Free | $0 |
| US Only | No / International | No / International |
| Grades | 9th through 12th grade (high school students) | High school seniors only (current seniors during spring semester before program start) |
| College Impact | 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... | This program has SIGNIFICANT positive impact on college admissions, especially for students pursuing health professions. Admissions officers view it as: (1) Evidence of serious commitment to healthcar... |