Regeneron Science Talent Search vs Stanford Math Tournament (SMT) 2026
Comparing two elite STEM opportunities. Both are competitions for high school students.
| Regeneron Science Talent Search | Stanford Math Tournament (SMT) 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Prestige Tier | Tier 1 — Elite | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive |
| Type | Competition | Competition |
| Organization | Society for Science | Stanford University |
| 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. | Approximately 10-13% based on ~800 participants selected from ~6,000-8,000 estimated applicants (extrapolated from tournament size and typical math competition application rates). School teams have higher acceptance rates than individuals. |
| Applicants | Approximately 2,000 projects submitted per year; historically 147,000 students have competed since 1942 | Estimated 6,000-8,000 students apply nationally (exact figures not published) |
| Deadline | 2026-11-05 | Rolling |
| Cost to Apply | Free | $0 |
| US Only | Yes | Yes |
| Grades | High school seniors only | High school students only (grades 9-12) |
| 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, ... | Math competitions like SMT carry MODERATE TO STRONG college admissions weight, particularly for STEM-focused students. Impact includes: (1) DEMONSTRATES MATHEMATICAL PASSION: Shows genuine interest be... |