Stanford Math Tournament (SMT) 2026 vs Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program in Biomedical Sciences
Comparing two highly competitive STEM opportunities. Stanford Math Tournament (SMT) 2026 is a competition while Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program in Biomedical Sciences is a summer program.
| Stanford Math Tournament (SMT) 2026 | Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program in Biomedical Sciences | |
|---|---|---|
| Prestige Tier | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive | Tier 1 — Elite |
| Type | Competition | Summer Program |
| Organization | Stanford University | MD Anderson Cancer Center, School of Health Professions |
| Acceptance Rate | 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. | Approximately 5-10% based on estimated 60-120 applications for 6 spots (highly competitive but not as selective as top national programs like RSI or TASP) |
| Applicants | Estimated 6,000-8,000 students apply nationally (exact figures not published) | Estimated 60-120 annually (exact numbers not disclosed by MD Anderson) |
| Deadline | Rolling | Rolling |
| Award | — | $7,200 |
| Cost to Apply | $0 | $0 |
| US Only | Yes | No / International |
| Grades | High school students only (grades 9-12) | High school seniors only (current seniors during spring semester before program start) |
| College Impact | 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... | This program has SIGNIFICANT positive impact on college admissions, especially for students pursuing health professions. Admissions officers view it as: (1) Evidence of serious commitment to healthcar... |