America's oldest and most prestigious pre-college science research competition.
Identify a faculty mentor and define a tractable research question
Execute primary research; collect and analyze data
Draft 20-page research report; refine abstract and references
Submit application: report, recommendations, transcript, essays
Top 300 Scholars announced ($2,000 each + $2,000 to school)
Top 40 Finalists announced (full DC trip + $25K minimum)
Finalists compete in Washington, D.C. for top awards up to $250,000
Begin lab outreach in 10th–11th grade. STS-caliber projects almost always come from sustained mentorship — RSI, Simons, Garcia, or direct PI cold-email placements are common pipelines.
Judges reward originality and methodological rigor over flashy topics. The best projects answer one specific question deeply rather than surveying a field.
The written report is the primary judging artifact. Treat it like a graduate paper: clear hypothesis, complete methods, honest limitations, and properly formatted citations.
Most STS scholars also place at ISEF or JSHS in the same project cycle. Plan submissions in parallel rather than rebuilding for each.
Get a personalized prep plan for Regeneron Science Talent Search from a senior counselor.