Recently, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, one of North America’s most prestigious and largest competitions for middle and high school students globally, announced its Regional winners. It has been noted that many high school students admitted to top universities have participated in this event, leading to a continuous increase in participants and fiercer competition. This award has become a coveted goal for many students, and it stands out as one of the few international competitions suitable for younger students.
In today’s environment, where top-tier educational resources are scarce and competition is intense, strategic planning for a child’s education is crucial, especially for families aspiring for their children to gain admission to Ivy League schools in the United States or other world-renowned universities. Early planning and preparation become imperative.
In this context, apart from focusing on language proficiency and academic grades, participating in some internationally renowned competitions and winning accolades can significantly enhance a child’s academic profile and add considerable value to their applications to top-tier universities.
Such competition experiences not only enrich the students’ academic backgrounds but also develop their innovation skills, team spirit, and problem-solving abilities, laying a solid foundation for their future development.
Historically, most internationally recognized competitions were aimed at high school students applying for undergraduate programs, leaving fewer quality competition options available for younger students and those in lower grades.
Recent years have seen the emergence of new prestigious competitions like the Futurism STEM Award, Dynamic Art Award (DAA), and Cosmopolitan Writing Award (CWA). These have filled a gap by offering younger students more opportunities to enhance their backgrounds and skills, thanks to authoritative organizers, experienced juries, and an alignment with current international trends and professional dimensions.
Climbing the “Ivy League” ladder is not an overnight achievement but requires long-term preparation. To aid in better planning, it is recommend several must-participate competitions in academic, artistic, writing, and social sciences/business disciplines.
Top Academic Competitions Recommendations: These cover various fields such as mathematics, science, and technology, providing students a stage to showcase their academic abilities, which also serve as a bonus in university applications.
1. American Mathematical Competition (AMC): Among the hottest math competitions for middle school students, offering AMC8, AMC10, AMC12 for different grade levels (AMC and AIME are part of the selection process for the U.S. team for the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO)).
2. Futurism STEM Award: Focused on math, science, and technology, it aims to serve young innovators and scientists, offering opportunities for individual innovation and team research. It has garnered attention from most countries worldwide, suitable for students aged 8-18.
3. Physics Bowl: The most influential physics competition in the U.S. for high school students, with over 10,000 participants annually.
4. FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC): The largest industrial-grade robotics competition for high school students, recognized globally by many universities.
5. Dongrun-Yau Science Awards: Established in 2008 by renowned Chinese mathematician Professor Shing-Tung Yau for Chinese middle school students worldwide, covering mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and computer science.
Top Arts Competitions Recommendations: Encouraging students to showcase their creativity and expressiveness, nurturing talents in the arts.
1. Scholastic Art & Writing Awards: One of the largest and most prestigious competitions in North America for grades 7-12, allowing high school students to submit works in 29 categories.
2. Dynamic Art Award (DAA): One of the most innovative competitions globally, aimed at discovering young artists with achievements in visual and digital arts, providing them with opportunities for creative and professional development, suitable for students aged 8-16.
Top Writing Competitions Recommendations: Focusing on students’ logical thinking and expressive skills, offering an excellent opportunity to demonstrate academic depth and clear expression.
1. John Locke Essay Competition
Tests students’ fundamental knowledge structures within various disciplines, independent thinking, and clear logical and dialectical analysis skills, with past winners admitted to top global universities.
2. New York Times Summer Reading Contest
Inspires middle and high school students worldwide to observe the world around them, contemplate their place in it, and enhance their ability to communicate ideas through writing.
3. Cosmopolitan Writing Award (CWA)
Aims to discover the most talented and accomplished young writers in the literary arts, offering creation and professional support. It’s a rapidly rising award overseas with an unpredictable value, suitable for students aged 8-16.
Top Social Sciences/Business Competitions Recommendations: Developing students’ speaking, debating, and critical thinking abilities, contributing to their critical thinking and communication skills.
1. National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA)
The oldest and largest honor society for middle and high school speech and debate in the U.S., fostering critical thinking, careful listening, and thorough research.
2. International Philosophy Olympiad (IPO)
The IPO stands as one of the rarest global competitions in philosophy, characterized by its limited participant numbers, high difficulty, and significant prestige. Students from China who have participated in this competition have consistently been admitted to top-tier universities around the world.
3. Wharton KWHS Investment Competition (Wharton KWHS)
The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania first opened its KWHS Investment Competition to participants from China in 2017. Designed by esteemed professors from both the Wharton School and the broader financial community, this competition targets middle and high school students from grades 7 to 12 worldwide. It assesses the students’ ability to collaborate and communicate, as well as their diverse investment strategies when facing risks.
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