Regeneron Science Talent Search vs Wolfram High School Summer Research Program

Comparing two elite STEM opportunities. Regeneron Science Talent Search is a competition while Wolfram High School Summer Research Program is a summer program.

Regeneron Science Talent Search Wolfram High School Summer Research Program
Prestige Tier Tier 1 — Elite Tier 2 — Highly Competitive
Type Competition Summer Program
Organization Society for Science Wolfram Research
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; highly selective based on 'motivated' language and expert mentorship model; estimate: 10-25% based on comparable Tier 2 STEM summer programs
Applicants Approximately 2,000 projects submitted per year; historically 147,000 students have competed since 1942 Not publicly disclosed; likely 100-500+ applicants annually given Wolfram's visibility
Deadline 2026-11-05 Rolling
Cost to Apply Free $0
US Only Yes No / International
Grades High school seniors only High school students (typically grades 9-12, though specific grade requirements not explicitly stated on public pages)
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, ... HIGH PRESTIGE VALUE. This program signals to elite colleges: advanced computational and programming skills, research experience and publications at high school level, demonstrated ability to work on c...