Each card includes the competition profile, difficulty level, and which schools value it most.
A national middle school math competition that builds problem-solving skills through school, chapter, state, and national levels. Highly regarded by top boarding schools for demonstrating quantitative reasoning under pressure.
Phillips Exeter Academy, Phillips Academy Andover, The Hotchkiss School, The Lawrenceville School, Choate Rosemary Hall, Deerfield Academy +4 more
The American Mathematics Competitions for middle schoolers. A 25-question, 40-minute multiple-choice exam that serves as the entry point to the AIME and USAMO pipeline.
Phillips Exeter Academy, Phillips Academy Andover, The Hotchkiss School, The Lawrenceville School, Choate Rosemary Hall, Deerfield Academy +4 more
The American Mathematics Competitions for students in grade 10 and below. AIME qualification through AMC 10 is a significant signal of mathematical maturity for boarding school admissions.
Phillips Exeter Academy, Phillips Academy Andover, The Hotchkiss School, The Lawrenceville School, Choate Rosemary Hall, Deerfield Academy +9 more
The premier high school mathematics competition. AIME qualification and strong AMC 12 scores are viewed as evidence of advanced analytical ability by elite prep schools.
Phillips Exeter Academy, Phillips Academy Andover, The Hotchkiss School, The Lawrenceville School, Choate Rosemary Hall, Deerfield Academy +9 more
The American Invitational Mathematics Examination. Invitation-only competition for AMC 10/12 high scorers. Qualifying for AIME is a major distinction in boarding school applications.
Phillips Exeter Academy, Phillips Academy Andover, The Hotchkiss School, The Lawrenceville School, Choate Rosemary Hall, Deerfield Academy +4 more
The USA Computing Olympiad. Online programming contests with bronze, silver, gold, and platinum divisions. Gold and Platinum divisions are highly respected by tech-oriented boarding schools.
Phillips Exeter Academy, Phillips Academy Andover, The Hotchkiss School, The Lawrenceville School, Choate Rosemary Hall, Deerfield Academy +8 more
Team-based science competition covering 23 events across biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, and engineering. A strong Science Olympiad record signals well-rounded scientific curiosity.
Phillips Exeter Academy, Phillips Academy Andover, The Hotchkiss School, The Lawrenceville School, Choate Rosemary Hall, Deerfield Academy +8 more
The International Science and Engineering Fair. The world's largest pre-college STEM competition. Finalist status is a major credential for any STEM-focused boarding school applicant.
Phillips Exeter Academy, Phillips Academy Andover, The Hotchkiss School, The Lawrenceville School, Choate Rosemary Hall, Deerfield Academy +8 more
An international association of high school and college students studying marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. DECA competitive events demonstrate business acumen and leadership potential.
The Lawrenceville School, Choate Rosemary Hall, Loomis Chaffee, Milton Academy, St. Mark's School, Northfield Mount Hermon +4 more
Future Business Leaders of America. Competitive events in business, technology, and leadership. FBLA state and national awards signal strong organizational and communication skills.
The Lawrenceville School, Choate Rosemary Hall, Loomis Chaffee, Milton Academy, St. Mark's School, Northfield Mount Hermon +4 more
A team-based investment simulation run by the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Global semifinalist or finalist status is a standout credential for finance-oriented applicants.
The Lawrenceville School, Choate Rosemary Hall, Loomis Chaffee, Milton Academy, St. Mark's School, Northfield Mount Hermon +4 more
The National Speech & Debate Association. The largest interscholastic speech and debate organization. NSDA national tournament qualification is a top-tier credential for communication-heavy schools.
Phillips Exeter Academy, Phillips Academy Andover, The Hotchkiss School, The Lawrenceville School, Choate Rosemary Hall, Deerfield Academy +9 more
Harvard's annual Model United Nations conference. One of the largest and most prestigious MUN conferences globally. HMUN delegation awards and individual gavel recognition carry significant weight.
Phillips Exeter Academy, Phillips Academy Andover, The Hotchkiss School, The Lawrenceville School, Choate Rosemary Hall, Deerfield Academy +10 more
Yale's annual Model United Nations conference. Known for rigorous committee simulations and high-quality delegate preparation. Strong YMUN performance signals global awareness and diplomatic skill.
Phillips Exeter Academy, Phillips Academy Andover, The Hotchkiss School, The Lawrenceville School, Choate Rosemary Hall, Deerfield Academy +10 more
The National Model United Nations, held in New York and Washington D.C. NMUN delegation awards are recognized by boarding schools as evidence of teamwork, research, and public speaking ability.
Phillips Exeter Academy, Phillips Academy Andover, The Hotchkiss School, The Lawrenceville School, Choate Rosemary Hall, Deerfield Academy +10 more
The nation's longest-running and most prestigious recognition program for creative teens. National Medalists are honored at Carnegie Hall, and Gold Key portfolios are highly valued by arts-forward boarding schools.
Phillips Exeter Academy, Phillips Academy Andover, The Hotchkiss School, The Lawrenceville School, Choate Rosemary Hall, Deerfield Academy +9 more
The most competitive arts competition for high school students in the US. Winners receive mentorship, cash awards, and nomination for U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts. A YoungArts distinction signals top-tier artistic achievement.
Phillips Exeter Academy, Phillips Academy Andover, The Hotchkiss School, The Lawrenceville School, Choate Rosemary Hall, Deerfield Academy +9 more
The culminating event of the International Thespian Society. Main stage performances, individual events, and college auditions. Qualification through state-level festivals makes this a strong extracurricular for boarding school applicants interested in theater.
Phillips Exeter Academy, Phillips Academy Andover, The Hotchkiss School, The Lawrenceville School, Choate Rosemary Hall, Deerfield Academy +9 more
The only quarterly journal in the world to publish the academic research papers of secondary students. An acceptance by The Concord Review is considered one of the highest recognitions a high school writer can achieve, comparable to a varsity sport at the national level.
Phillips Exeter Academy, Phillips Academy Andover, The Hotchkiss School, The Lawrenceville School, Choate Rosemary Hall, Deerfield Academy +9 more
An international essay competition inviting students to explore challenging questions across philosophy, politics, economics, history, psychology, theology, and law. Winners are invited to an academic conference at Oxford and gain global recognition for intellectual depth.
Phillips Exeter Academy, Phillips Academy Andover, The Hotchkiss School, The Lawrenceville School, Choate Rosemary Hall, Deerfield Academy +9 more
A national competition hosted by Bennington College recognizing outstanding writing in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction by high school students. First-place winners in each category receive substantial scholarships and national recognition.
Phillips Exeter Academy, Phillips Academy Andover, The Hotchkiss School, The Lawrenceville School, Choate Rosemary Hall, Deerfield Academy +9 more
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