Stanford Math Tournament (SMT) 2026 vs MLH Fellowship
Comparing two highly competitive STEM opportunities. Stanford Math Tournament (SMT) 2026 is a competition while MLH Fellowship is a internship.
| Stanford Math Tournament (SMT) 2026 | MLH Fellowship | |
|---|---|---|
| Prestige Tier | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive |
| Type | Competition | Internship |
| Organization | Stanford University | Major League Hacking (MLH) |
| 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. | Not publicly disclosed; competitive program but exact rate unknown |
| Applicants | Estimated 6,000-8,000 students apply nationally (exact figures not published) | Not publicly disclosed; appears to have multiple cohorts annually |
| Deadline | Rolling | Rolling |
| Cost to Apply | $0 | Free |
| US Only | Yes | No / International |
| Grades | High school students only (grades 9-12) | College students and above (program appears designed primarily for undergraduates; high school eligibility unclear) |
| 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... | 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... |