Regeneron Science Talent Search vs International Biology Olympiad (IBO)
Comparing two elite STEM opportunities. Regeneron Science Talent Search is a competition while International Biology Olympiad (IBO) is a olympiad.
| Regeneron Science Talent Search | International Biology Olympiad (IBO) | |
|---|---|---|
| Prestige Tier | Tier 1 — Elite | Tier 1 — Elite |
| Type | Competition | Olympiad |
| Organization | Society for Science | International Biology Olympiad |
| 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. | Highly competitive; typically only 4 students per country compete at international level. Exact global acceptance rate unknown but extremely selective |
| Applicants | Approximately 2,000 projects submitted per year; historically 147,000 students have competed since 1942 | Varies significantly by country; some countries have dozens to hundreds of participants in national preliminaries |
| Deadline | 2026-11-05 | — |
| Cost to Apply | Free | Free |
| US Only | Yes | No / International |
| Grades | High school seniors only | High school students (typically ages 14-20, exact age limits vary by country) |
| 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, ... | Extremely positive. Participation in the International Biology Olympiad—especially reaching the international finals—is one of the most prestigious achievements in high school STEM. College admissions... |