Regeneron ISEF Awards vs Simons Summer Research Program
Comparing two highly competitive STEM opportunities. Regeneron ISEF Awards is a competition while Simons Summer Research Program is a summer program.
| Regeneron ISEF Awards | Simons Summer Research Program | |
|---|---|---|
| Prestige Tier | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive |
| Type | Competition | Summer Program |
| Organization | Society for Science | Simons Foundation |
| 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 11-12% (40 fellows selected from ~350 applicants annually as of 2015) |
| 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) | Approximately 350 per year |
| Deadline | — | Rolling |
| Award | $7,000,000 | — |
| Cost to Apply | Free | Free |
| US Only | No / International | Yes |
| Grades | 9th through 12th grade (high school students) | High school students (primarily juniors and seniors) |
| 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... | Highly positive impact on college admissions. Summer research programs, especially prestigious ones like the Simons program, are viewed very favorably by college admissions officers because: (1) They ... |