Regeneron Science Talent Search vs MLH Fellowship
Comparing two elite STEM opportunities. Regeneron Science Talent Search is a competition while MLH Fellowship is a internship.
| Regeneron Science Talent Search | MLH Fellowship | |
|---|---|---|
| Prestige Tier | Tier 1 — Elite | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive |
| Type | Competition | Internship |
| Organization | Society for Science | Major League Hacking (MLH) |
| 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; competitive program but exact rate unknown |
| Applicants | Approximately 2,000 projects submitted per year; historically 147,000 students have competed since 1942 | Not publicly disclosed; appears to have multiple cohorts annually |
| Deadline | 2026-11-05 | Rolling |
| Cost to Apply | Free | Free |
| US Only | Yes | No / International |
| Grades | High school seniors only | College students and above (program appears designed primarily for undergraduates; high school eligibility unclear) |
| 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, ... | 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... |