6 answers
Norbert
Student
Newark, New Jersey
6
Questions
Updated
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Is there a way to find more competitions?
I am trying to find a website that allows me to search for competitions (STEM, technology, computer science, engineering, etc.), especially those that would be good for colleges like MIT. One like the Institute of Competition Sciences(ICS), but for a bigger range & more advanced search.
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6 answers
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
1185
Answers
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hi Norbert,
This is a really insightful question, and you're approaching it in the perfect manner. Although there isn't a single ideal database, competitive STEM students, including those accepted to MIT, tend to use a high-leverage approach.
Here's how to take a calculated approach to this
1. Make use of the "hub + niche" search method
Instead than focusing on just one website, think in layers. Prioritize broad competition hubs before getting deeply into subject-specific areas.
Key hubs to bookmark:
- Institute of Competition Sciences (ICS) – great baseline, as you already know
- Challenge.gov – government-backed STEM challenges (often very legit, very MIT-friendly)
- Devpost – hackathons, engineering challenges, innovation comps
- Kaggle – data science + ML competitions (excellent signal for top CS schools)
Although they won't capture everything, they reveal competitive, skill-based competitions.
2. For a "MIT-level" signal, go discipline-specific. MIT (and similar schools) value depth and creativity more than mere involvement. Subject-specific competitions are therefore very important.
Examples:
- Math: AMC 10/12, AIME, Math Modeling Challenge (HiMCM/MCM)
- Engineering: FIRST Robotics, TSA Nationals, Engineering Design Challenges
- CS: USACO, Google Code-in–style challenges, hackathons with judging
- Science research: Regeneron STS, ISEF, Olympiads
These often don't exist on a single website; instead, you find them through organizations rather than aggregators.
3. Follow the ecosystems, not just listings
This is the underrated move. Join:
- Competition Discords / Slack groups
- GitHub repos that curate STEM opportunities
- Subreddits or student communities tied to your field
Opportunities discover you more quickly once you're in the ecosystem than search engines ever will.
4. Use signals from nearby colleges as filters
When determining whether a competition is "worth it," consider whether it is judged or selective (not merely participation).
- Does it call for creative thought, construction, or research?
- Are academic institutions, research facilities, or business patrons endorsing it?
MIT prioritizes initiative and complexity above resume padding.
5. Create your own advantage (this is more important than volume)
Ten superficial entries are considerably less valuable than one high-impact competition where you lead a team, create something new, or place meaningfully.
In summary, there isn't a single super-search engine, but students who want to attend universities like MIT succeed by combining community awareness, specialty competitions, and well-chosen hubs. Asking this now puts you ahead of the game.
Best wishes!
This is a really insightful question, and you're approaching it in the perfect manner. Although there isn't a single ideal database, competitive STEM students, including those accepted to MIT, tend to use a high-leverage approach.
Here's how to take a calculated approach to this
1. Make use of the "hub + niche" search method
Instead than focusing on just one website, think in layers. Prioritize broad competition hubs before getting deeply into subject-specific areas.
Key hubs to bookmark:
- Institute of Competition Sciences (ICS) – great baseline, as you already know
- Challenge.gov – government-backed STEM challenges (often very legit, very MIT-friendly)
- Devpost – hackathons, engineering challenges, innovation comps
- Kaggle – data science + ML competitions (excellent signal for top CS schools)
Although they won't capture everything, they reveal competitive, skill-based competitions.
2. For a "MIT-level" signal, go discipline-specific. MIT (and similar schools) value depth and creativity more than mere involvement. Subject-specific competitions are therefore very important.
Examples:
- Math: AMC 10/12, AIME, Math Modeling Challenge (HiMCM/MCM)
- Engineering: FIRST Robotics, TSA Nationals, Engineering Design Challenges
- CS: USACO, Google Code-in–style challenges, hackathons with judging
- Science research: Regeneron STS, ISEF, Olympiads
These often don't exist on a single website; instead, you find them through organizations rather than aggregators.
3. Follow the ecosystems, not just listings
This is the underrated move. Join:
- Competition Discords / Slack groups
- GitHub repos that curate STEM opportunities
- Subreddits or student communities tied to your field
Opportunities discover you more quickly once you're in the ecosystem than search engines ever will.
4. Use signals from nearby colleges as filters
When determining whether a competition is "worth it," consider whether it is judged or selective (not merely participation).
- Does it call for creative thought, construction, or research?
- Are academic institutions, research facilities, or business patrons endorsing it?
MIT prioritizes initiative and complexity above resume padding.
5. Create your own advantage (this is more important than volume)
Ten superficial entries are considerably less valuable than one high-impact competition where you lead a team, create something new, or place meaningfully.
In summary, there isn't a single super-search engine, but students who want to attend universities like MIT succeed by combining community awareness, specialty competitions, and well-chosen hubs. Asking this now puts you ahead of the game.
Best wishes!
Josh Overton
Telecom
5
Answers
San Ramon, California
Updated
Josh’s Answer
Try this link.
https://www.inspiritai.com/blogs/ai-blog/engineering-competition-education
FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC): Build and program robots for dynamic challenges, fostering teamwork and innovation.
Science Olympiad: Compete in engineering competitions like bridge building and robotics, testing creativity and technical skills.
VEX Robotics Competition: Design and program robots for themed challenges, emphasizing strategy and teamwork.
Microsoft Imagine Cup: Compete for the world stage, solving real problems through technology, with mentorship and a global community.
International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF): A global competition for high school students showcasing innovative scientific research, with international recognition and networking opportunities.
https://www.inspiritai.com/blogs/ai-blog/engineering-competition-education
FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC): Build and program robots for dynamic challenges, fostering teamwork and innovation.
Science Olympiad: Compete in engineering competitions like bridge building and robotics, testing creativity and technical skills.
VEX Robotics Competition: Design and program robots for themed challenges, emphasizing strategy and teamwork.
Microsoft Imagine Cup: Compete for the world stage, solving real problems through technology, with mentorship and a global community.
International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF): A global competition for high school students showcasing innovative scientific research, with international recognition and networking opportunities.
Patrick Meyer
Executive - Data Analytics and AI
1058
Answers
Naperville, Illinois
Updated
Patrick’s Answer
Norbert, I know you said that you wanted something that would be a bigger range and/or more advanced search, but I still think ICS is your best bet. Platforms related to competition would be:
* Institute of Competition Sciences (ICS): competitionsciences.org I know you already mentioned this one, but you can create a free account and get access to their searchable database. You can filter by subject, grade level, and competition type. They track hundreds of STEM competitions with deadlines and requirements.
* Succeed by Immerse Education: joinsucceed.ai Is another one that is newer but growing fast. Although, it is a free platform for students aged 13 to 18. It features a searchable competition database across multiple subjects. Includes STEM, writing, and academic competitions. it allows you to filter by subject area and difficulty level.
* ARVO: arvo.org/researcher-resources/setting-your-sights/stem-contests-and-challenges This particular one lists major STEM competitions. It allows you to filter by grade level and subject. Although it is not as robust as ICS but it is well organized.
* STEM Supplies: stem-supplies.com/stem-resources/competitions This particular one is organized by discipline (math, engineering, computer science). I beleive it is updated regularly with new competitions.
* ORISE: orise.orau.gov/k12/students/competitions.html This particular one is a government ran resource for K-12 STEM competitions. It contains a smaller list but it has one that list high-quality programs.
Again, I still believe that the ICS database is your best bet. It is the most comprehensive and allows the most detailed filtering. Go ahead and create an account and use their search features to find competitions that match your specific interests and skill level.
* Institute of Competition Sciences (ICS): competitionsciences.org I know you already mentioned this one, but you can create a free account and get access to their searchable database. You can filter by subject, grade level, and competition type. They track hundreds of STEM competitions with deadlines and requirements.
* Succeed by Immerse Education: joinsucceed.ai Is another one that is newer but growing fast. Although, it is a free platform for students aged 13 to 18. It features a searchable competition database across multiple subjects. Includes STEM, writing, and academic competitions. it allows you to filter by subject area and difficulty level.
* ARVO: arvo.org/researcher-resources/setting-your-sights/stem-contests-and-challenges This particular one lists major STEM competitions. It allows you to filter by grade level and subject. Although it is not as robust as ICS but it is well organized.
* STEM Supplies: stem-supplies.com/stem-resources/competitions This particular one is organized by discipline (math, engineering, computer science). I beleive it is updated regularly with new competitions.
* ORISE: orise.orau.gov/k12/students/competitions.html This particular one is a government ran resource for K-12 STEM competitions. It contains a smaller list but it has one that list high-quality programs.
Again, I still believe that the ICS database is your best bet. It is the most comprehensive and allows the most detailed filtering. Go ahead and create an account and use their search features to find competitions that match your specific interests and skill level.
Venkata Sai Sandeep Velaga
Senior software engineering
24
Answers
Princeton, Texas
Updated
Venkata Sai Sandeep’s Answer
There are many platforms besides the Institute of Competition Sciences (ICS) where you can find a wide range of STEM, technology, computer science, and engineering competitions, perfect for top colleges like MIT. For general searches, CompetitionSciences.org and STEM-Supplies’ competition finder let you filter by subject and level. You can also check out curated lists from ScienceFair.io and Immerse Education, which gather major science and engineering contests in one spot. For more advanced opportunities, Devpost is great for hackathons and tech challenges, Kaggle offers real-world data science and machine learning competitions, and Codeforces, USACO, and ICPC focus on competitive programming and algorithms. Using these resources along with specific searches like “AI competitions 2025” or “engineering design challenges high school” is the best way to discover a wide variety of high-quality competitions.
Josh Overton
Telecom
5
Answers
San Ramon, California
Updated
Josh’s Answer
Try this link.
https://www.inspiritai.com/blogs/ai-blog/engineering-competition-education
FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC): Build and program robots for dynamic challenges, fostering teamwork and innovation.
Science Olympiad: Compete in engineering competitions like bridge building and robotics, testing creativity and technical skills.
VEX Robotics Competition: Design and program robots for themed challenges, emphasizing strategy and teamwork.
Microsoft Imagine Cup: Compete for the world stage, solving real problems through technology, with mentorship and a global community.
International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF): A global competition for high school students showcasing innovative scientific research, with international recognition and networking opportunities.
https://www.inspiritai.com/blogs/ai-blog/engineering-competition-education
FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC): Build and program robots for dynamic challenges, fostering teamwork and innovation.
Science Olympiad: Compete in engineering competitions like bridge building and robotics, testing creativity and technical skills.
VEX Robotics Competition: Design and program robots for themed challenges, emphasizing strategy and teamwork.
Microsoft Imagine Cup: Compete for the world stage, solving real problems through technology, with mentorship and a global community.
International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF): A global competition for high school students showcasing innovative scientific research, with international recognition and networking opportunities.
Karin P.
Lecturer, Academic Advisor, Career Coach
1085
Answers
Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
Updated
Karin’s Answer
Hi Norbert,
I don't have a search website for you, but here are a few options for competitions:
https://www.immerse.education/academic-competitions/stem/stem-competitions-for-high-school-students/
https://www.lumiere-education.com/post/free-online-competitions-for-high-school-students
https://www.polygence.org/blog/competitions-high-school-students
https://www.researchcomp.org/
https://competition.igem.org/
https://globalyouth.wharton.upenn.edu/competitions/
https://studentcompetitions.com/
https://www.societyforscience.org/isef/
https://www.soinc.org/
https://www.ivyscholars.com/best-hackathons-for-high-school-students/
https://hackathons.hackclub.com/
https://www.lumiere-education.com/post/10-awesome-hackathons-for-high-school-students
https://www.veritasai.com/veritasaiblog/best-hackathons-for-high-school-students
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
I don't have a search website for you, but here are a few options for competitions:
https://www.immerse.education/academic-competitions/stem/stem-competitions-for-high-school-students/
https://www.lumiere-education.com/post/free-online-competitions-for-high-school-students
https://www.polygence.org/blog/competitions-high-school-students
https://www.researchcomp.org/
https://competition.igem.org/
https://globalyouth.wharton.upenn.edu/competitions/
https://studentcompetitions.com/
https://www.societyforscience.org/isef/
https://www.soinc.org/
https://www.ivyscholars.com/best-hackathons-for-high-school-students/
https://hackathons.hackclub.com/
https://www.lumiere-education.com/post/10-awesome-hackathons-for-high-school-students
https://www.veritasai.com/veritasaiblog/best-hackathons-for-high-school-students
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
I appreciate your support, Karin