Regeneron Science Talent Search vs Canadian Computing Competition (CCC)
Comparing two elite STEM opportunities. Both are competitions for high school students.
| Regeneron Science Talent Search | Canadian Computing Competition (CCC) | |
|---|---|---|
| Prestige Tier | Tier 1 — Elite | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive |
| Type | Competition | Competition |
| Organization | Society for Science | Centre for Education in Mathematics and Computing (CEMC), University of Waterloo |
| Acceptance Rate | 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. | Not publicly disclosed; appears to be high participation (designed as accessible competition) but very selective for CCO (~20 top Canadian participants) and CIW (select top female-identifying/non-binary participants) |
| Applicants | Approximately 2,000 projects submitted per year; historically 147,000 students have competed since 1942 | Not disclosed publicly; CEMC reports it as 'the largest outreach organization in Canada' with 60+ years of experience, suggesting substantial participation |
| Deadline | 2026-11-05 | Rolling |
| Cost to Apply | Free | $0 |
| US Only | Yes | No / International |
| Grades | High school seniors only | Grades 7-12 (secondary school students) |
| College Impact | 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, ... | The CCC and especially CCO/IOI participation are highly valued in university admissions, particularly for computer science and engineering programs. University of Waterloo, a top CS program globally, ... |