If you are a high school student thinking about medicine, competitions are one of the clearest ways to show colleges that your interest goes beyond the classroom. A strong result in a medically focused competition signals genuine passion for the field, and the preparation itself builds the research, writing, and scientific reasoning skills you will lean on all the way through your premed years.
We have gathered seven premed competitions for high school students that are active in 2026, spanning everything from timed biology exams to original neuroscience research to DNA experiments bound for the International Space Station. Whatever your strengths, there is an entry point here for you.
HOSA Future Health Professionals
HOSA is one of the most recognized organizations for high school students interested in healthcare careers. It is a global, student-led organization with more than 260,000 members, and its competitive events program spans over 80 events across categories like Health Science, Health Professions, Emergency Preparedness, Leadership, and Teamwork. Depending on the event, you might sit a knowledge exam, perform hands-on clinical skills, or present to a panel of judges.
Students advance from regional to state competitions, with qualifiers earning a place at the International Leadership Conference (ILC) held each June. The 2026 ILC takes place June 17 to 20 in Indianapolis, and state conferences run through the winter and spring.
To compete, you need to join through a HOSA-affiliated chapter at your school, and deadlines vary by state. If your school does not have a chapter yet, starting one is itself a meaningful leadership credential.
Eligibility: Middle school, high school, and postsecondary students through an affiliated chapter
Format: In-person competitive events at regional, state, and international levels
Prizes: Awards and recognition vary by event and level
US Medicine and Disease Olympiad (USMDO)
The USMDO is a national exam competition testing knowledge across three areas of medicine-related biology: cell biology and genetics, human physiology, and human disease. The exam consists of 160 multiple-choice questions completed in two hours, with a 12-hour window to begin so students in any time zone can participate.
The USMDO also serves as the United States qualifying competition for the International Medicine and Disease Olympiad (IMDO), where past American qualifiers have earned gold medals. The fifth annual USMDO takes place on August 2, 2026.
If you want a rigorous, exam-based way to demonstrate mastery of human biology before you ever set foot on a college campus, this is one of the most direct options available.
Eligibility: All US high school students
Format: Online, 160 multiple-choice questions in 2 hours
Date: August 2, 2026
Medic Mentor National Essay Competition
If you are drawn to the thinking behind medicine as much as the science, the Medic Mentor National Essay Competition asks you to write an essay of up to 1,500 words from the perspective of a health professional. Essay titles are offered across Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, and Allied Health, so you can write toward the career path that genuinely interests you.
Beyond the competition itself, this is excellent practice for college-level writing and a structured way to think critically about your motivation for pursuing medicine. Winning essays are published in Mentor Magazine, which gives your work visible recognition from the medical community. The current cycle's submission deadline was May 1, 2026, and the competition runs annually, so keep an eye on the Medic Mentor website for the next round.
Eligibility: High school students
Format: Written essay, up to 1,500 words
Prizes: Publication in Mentor Magazine and certificates of recognition
American Academy of Neurology Neuroscience Research Prize
Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology and the Child Neurology Society, this prize rewards high school students conducting original research on the brain and nervous system. It is one of the few national competitions dedicated entirely to neuroscience, and projects do not need to come from a formal laboratory setting, which makes it accessible to independent researchers.
Each winner receives a $1,000 prize, a certificate of recognition, and the opportunity to present their work at a scientific poster session at the 2027 AAN Annual Meeting in Washington, DC. Applications for the current cycle close on October 20, 2026.
Your submission must represent your own original research and writing, completed individually rather than as a group, with an abstract of up to 300 words, a full research report, and a bibliography.
Eligibility: Students enrolled in grades 9 to 12 in the United States
Format: Written research report with abstract and bibliography
Deadline: October 20, 2026
Prizes: $1,000 per winner plus presentation at the AAN Annual Meeting
If you're interested in neuroscience, we have 10 other competitions for you.
Genes in Space
Genes in Space challenges students to design a DNA experiment that addresses a real problem in space exploration, from how spaceflight affects the human immune system to detecting life beyond Earth. The winning experiment is actually launched to the International Space Station and carried out by astronauts, which makes this one of the most exciting prizes in all of student science.
The contest is free to enter, and finalists receive mentorship from professional scientists as they refine their proposals before presenting at the Countdown to Discovery event in Houston. Finalists' schools are also awarded a complete DNA Discovery System of biotech lab equipment. The 2026 submission window has closed, with finals running July 28 to 30, 2026, and the next cycle is typically announced in the fall.
Eligibility: Students in grades 7 to 12 enrolled at a US public, private, or home school; individuals or pairs
Format: One-page written experiment proposal, submitted online
Prizes: Winning experiment launched to the ISS, lab equipment for finalist schools, and scientist mentorship
USA Biolympiad (USABO)
The USABO is widely considered the most prestigious biology competition for American high school students, and it is a serious credential for anyone headed toward medicine. Run by the Center for Excellence in Education, it is a four-tier exam series: an Open Exam in February, a Semifinal round for the top 600 scorers, National Finals for the top 20, and ultimately a four-student team representing the US at the International Biology Olympiad.
Roughly 12,000 students register each year, and reaching even the Semifinal round places you among the strongest biology students in the country. AP coursework is not required, though deep preparation is. Registration runs through your school, with school and student registration typically closing in early November for the following year's exams.
Eligibility: All US high school students in grades 9 to 12, registered through their school
Format: Tiered multiple-choice and practical exams, beginning with a 50-minute online Open Exam
Registration: Opens in August and closes in early November each year
Engineering World Health High School Design Competition
For students who see medicine through an engineering lens, Engineering World Health has run a High School Design Competition focused on low-resource medical device design for healthcare in international settings. Over a two-month, self-led project, students learn how to tailor engineering solutions to low-resource clinical environments, hear from experts in global health engineering, and submit a short video presentation of their solution.
Students can enter individually or in teams of up to six, and past cycles have run from March through May with cash prizes for the top three entries. Check the EWH website for the current competition cycle and registration details before planning your entry.
Eligibility: High school students worldwide, individually or in groups of up to 6
Format: Self-led design project culminating in a 3 to 5 minute video presentation
Prizes: Cash prizes for the top three placements in past cycles
Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)
No list of research competitions is complete without the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, known as ISEF. It is the world's largest pre-college STEM research competition, bringing together more than 1,600 finalists from over 60 countries to compete for nearly $9 million in awards, scholarships, internships, and prizes. For a premed-focused student, ISEF's 22 competition categories include Biomedical and Health Sciences, Microbiology, Translational Medical Science, and Cellular and Molecular Biology, so an original medical research project has a natural home here.
Unlike the other competitions on this list, you cannot enter ISEF directly. You qualify by winning a top prize at a Society for Science affiliated fair at the local, regional, state, or national level, which means your path to ISEF starts at your nearest affiliated science fair months before the international event. Regeneron ISEF 2027 will be held in Los Angeles, California from May 8 to 14, 2027, and affiliated fairs run through the fall, winter, and early spring leading up to it.
An ISEF finalist spot is one of the most recognized science achievements a high school student can earn, and admissions officers at selective universities know exactly what it takes to get there. It is also the competition our coaches know from the inside, as past ISEF winners themselves.
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 to 12 who qualify through a Society for Science affiliated fair
Format: Original research project presented and judged in person
Dates: May 8 to 14, 2027 in Los Angeles, with qualifying fairs beforehand
Prizes: Nearly $9 million in total awards, scholarships, internships, and prizes
How to Choose the Right Competition for You
The strongest premed profiles are built on depth, not volume. Rather than entering every competition on this list, pick one or two that match how you like to work. If you thrive under timed exam conditions, the USMDO and USABO reward focused study. If you want to build something original, the AAN Neuroscience Research Prize and Genes in Space reward independent research and creative experimental design. And if you want sustained involvement across your high school years, HOSA offers a full pipeline from local events to the international stage.
Whichever path you choose, starting early matters. Research-based competitions in particular reward students who begin developing their question and methodology months before any deadline.
Get Support From ScienceFair
If you want expert guidance on choosing the right competition and building a project that stands out, our coaches include ISEF Grand Awardees, Regeneron STS Scholars, and alumni of the MIT Research Science Institute who have been exactly where you are now. Book a free consultation to talk through your goals with an academic advisor and find out which program fits your project.
