Science Talent Search (STS) vs Elite Contest Coaching for Canada's Top Math Students

Comparing two elite STEM opportunities. Both are competitions for high school students.

Science Talent Search (STS) Elite Contest Coaching for Canada's Top Math Students
Prestige Tier Tier 1 — Elite Tier 2 — Highly Competitive
Type Competition Competition
Organization Society for Science Spirit of Math
Acceptance Rate Highly competitive; specific percentage not available Highly selective; approximately 12-16 students accepted per level/division (likely 5-10% acceptance rate given typical competition interest, though exact numbers not published)
Applicants Thousands of high school students compete through affiliated science fairs nationwide Not publicly disclosed; competitive nature suggests significant applicant pool
Deadline Rolling
Cost to Apply Free $0
US Only Yes No / International
Grades High school seniors only Grades 3-12 (Separate teams by division: Elementary, Middle School, High School)
College Impact The Regeneron Science Talent Search is among the most prestigious science competitions and significantly impacts college admissions. Finalists are nationally recognized and receive considerable presti... Strong but context-dependent: Math competition honors and honor roll placements are viewed positively by college admissions officers, particularly for STEM programs and competitive universities, as th...