What is STS?
The Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS) is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious high-school STEM competition, focused on original science, technology, engineering or mathematics research by high-school seniors.
In the world of science fairs and competitions, STS stands out because entrants submit full research reports (rather than just a science-fair poster) and the winners receive significant awards plus national recognition.
Why Students and Parents Should Care
- STS is nationwide and highly competitive, attracting best of the best.
- It cultivates serious research skills: designing experiments, writing a scientific paper, thinking like a scientist. This helps for other competitions and even college applications.
- Big rewards: There are major scholarships and awards. For example, the first-place winner receives up to $250,000.
- Recognition & networking: Being a “Top 300 Scholar” or “Top 40 Finalist” means your work is seen by top scientists, you attend finalist week (for the Top 40), and you join a network of high-achieving peers.
- For parents: Supporting the project, helping arrange mentorship, ensuring eligibility, guiding timelines, and helping your student manage this alongside school and extracurriculars.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Open to: High-school seniors living in the U.S. (and U.S. citizens abroad) who are in their final year of secondary school as of the application deadline.
- Individual research only: Projects must be independent (not part of a team project) and you must be the sole entrant for what you submit.
- Original research required: You must have data, results, conclusions. A mere literature review or idea is not eligible.
- Deadline & timeline (recent cycle):
- Application opens around first week of June , and closes by first week of November.
- Top 300 Scholars announced early January
- Top 40 Finalists announced typically in the last week of January next year.
- Finalists’ week in Washington, D.C.: March 5-11.
- Awards:
- Top 300 Scholars each receive roughly $2,000.
- Top 40 Finalists each receive at least ~$25,000, with top awards up to ~$250,000 for 1st place.
- Application components:
- Research Report (original, independent)
- Essay questions, project-questions, activities section.
- Recommendations: educator recommendation, project recommendation, high-school report (transcript).
- Test scores are optional.
- Rules & ethical expectations: Must follow the official rules including human/animal research protocols, hazardous materials, scientific integrity.
Step-by-Step: How to Plan for STS
1. Choose your research topic (early)
- Start thinking junior year or early senior year: many successful entrants have been working for 6 months to a year or more.
- The topic should be original, independent, and data-based (not just a review).
- It can be conducted at your school, a research institution, at home with proper oversight — but you must clearly show your contribution to the project.
- If you involve mentors or adult researchers, you must disclose and make sure your role is clearly your own.
2. Conduct the research and write the report
- Apply standard scientific method: hypothesis, experiment, data collection, analysis, conclusion.
- When writing your research report (the “paper”): think of it like a journal article: introduction, methods, results, discussion, references.
- Make sure to review STS “Official Rules” for any specific protocols (e.g., if using vertebrate animals, human subjects, etc.).
- Collect all your data, validate your results, and be ready to explain your process clearly.
- Build a timeline: data collection → analysis → writing → application submission.
3. Prepare your application materials
- Ask your educator (teacher) for a recommendation: they’ll submit the High School Report/transcript.
- Ask your project mentor for the Project Recommendation. (Important: ask early so they’re not rushing.)
- Prepare the essay questions and fill in activities, research history, your story. The judges look at your research and you (your motivation, persistence, leadership) in a holistic review.
- Make sure you upload everything: your photo, transcripts, paper, recommendations, etc. The system will require your recommender emails etc.
- Save your work early, download your submission preview to keep for your records.
4. Submit early — avoid deadline stress
- The deadline to submit applications end in the first week of November.
- Technical support cutoff is typically 24 hours before the deadline. Make sure you’re not submitting on the last minute.
- Important: All parts (recommendations, transcripts, paper) must be submitted by the deadline — no exceptions.
5. After submission – what happens
- Officials check eligibility first: independent work, deadline met, all materials submitted.
- Entries are then judged by PhD-level scientists; the research report carries greatest weight.
- The “Top 300 Scholars” are announced (~Jan). Then further review leads to the “Top 40 Finalists”.
- If you’re a Top 40 Finalist: you get invited to the Finalist Week in Washington, D.C., where you present your research publicly, meet peer finalists, attend workshops, and compete for top awards.
6. Leveraging the experience (even if you’re not finalist)
- Regardless of outcome, you’ve completed serious research and written a full paper — that’s excellent for college apps, other science fairs/competitions, summer research programs.
- You can enter other national competitions or science fairs (for example, your school can send you to a regional science fair, then maybe Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) if affiliated).
- You’ll have built confidence, communication skills, and deeper scientific understanding.
- Parents: Encourage reflection: what did your student learn? What would they do differently next time?
FAQ (for Students & Parents)
Q1. Can I apply if I worked on a team project?
A: No. STS requires independent research, i.e., a single student project. Even if you did most of the work but the project was submitted as a team elsewhere, it may be ineligible.
Q2. I’m homeschooled – can I apply?
A: Yes. Homeschooled students are eligible. They need to have their “school” added to the lookup function or provide transcript/course documentation.
Q3. Does citizenship matter?
A: Students must live in the U.S. or its territories and be in their final year of secondary school as of the application date. U.S. citizens living abroad may qualify. Non-citizen students attending U.S. schools abroad may not qualify.
Q4. Can I use test scores (SAT/ACT) or AP scores in my application?
A: Test scores are optional for STS. The focus is more on your research, your essay/application, your project, and your story rather than standardized test cut-offs.
Q5. Do I need to publish my research?
A: No. You don’t need to have a publication. You may enter published work (if you are sole or first author) but it is not required. What matters is your contribution and data.
Q6. Is the research limited to certain fields (biology, chemistry, engineering)?
A: No. Projects in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, mathematics-based research are all acceptable. The competition values innovation and potential in STEM broadly.
Q7. I used AI tools like ChatGPT to draft my application essay or report – is that okay?
A: No. The rules specify that students may not use ChatGPT or other AI tools to answer the STS application questions or draft the Research Report. Use of AI in the research project itself is permitted (if appropriate), but must be disclosed.
STEM Competition Context
If you’re already participating in science fairs or science competitions, here’s how STS fits:
- Many students begin with a regional school science fair, then progress to state science fairs, and sometimes national and international fairs. STS is one of the top-tier national competitions — so preparing for STS means you’re playing on a national stage.
- Your research project for STS can often double (or be adapted) for other competitions, but STS expects a higher level of depth: full research report, independent work, original data.
- Think of STS as the “grand challenge” if you’re serious about science competitions: winning or placing in STS significantly boosts your STEM résumé.
- Even if you don’t win STS, the preparation process (research + write + application) will make you stronger in other science fairs and competitions. It builds discipline, scientific communication and critical thinking.
Tips for Success
- Start early. Don’t wait until senior year fall. Progress through junior year, align a project that you can build on.
- Choose a mentor. Whether it’s a teacher, university lab, local research institution or your own guided at-home project, a mentor helps you stay on track, access resources, and refine your work.
- Keep excellent records. Document your experiments, data collection, revisions, obstacles, and how you overcame them. Judges appreciate clarity, honesty, perseverance.
- Tell your story. Your background, “why this research matters”, “what you learned”, “what you plan next” — these matter in the application and essays.
- Request recommendations early. Teachers and mentors are busy; give them plenty of time to write a thoughtful letter.
- Upload everything early & preview. Don’t wait for the last minute. Save a copy of your submission. Ensure everything is there (transcript, recommendations, paper).
- Review the official rules. Especially if your research involves human participants, animals, cell lines, hazardous materials. Make sure you comply.
- Manage your time. You are senior year, so balance research + school + extracurriculars + application. Set milestones (e.g., final draft of report, upload by date, ask recommender by date).
- Be authentic. STS explicitly says they’re not looking for perfection or a certain test score cutoff. They want potential, passion, commitment.
- Be prepared for interview/Finalist week if you make Top 40: polish your presentation, be ready to talk to scientists, visitors, media.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting team research or splitting a team project (not allowed under STS rules).
- Waiting too late for recommendations or for transcript upload — missing parts invalidates the submission.
- Ignoring official rules for human/animal/hazardous materials and then discovering your project is ineligible.
- Using AI to draft the report or application questions inappropriately (violates STS policy).
- Overlooking the “why” of your research: what question are you asking, why does it matter, what did you learn.
- Doing shallow work just to enter: depth, originality, clear data matter — don’t treat it like a basic school science competition project if you aim for STS.
- Not backing up your work or waiting until deadline day to deal with technical issues. (Remember: last-minute tech problems = risk.)
Fast Forward for Students & Parents
For a student who is serious about doing original research, interested in being part of a national science competition, and ready to invest effort, the Regeneron STS is an extraordinary opportunity. For parents: support your student by helping them with planning, scheduling, finding mentorship, ensuring they meet eligibility and deadlines, and helping them manage stress and balance.
Even if your student doesn’t win the top prize, the process itself — choosing a meaningful project, conducting rigorous research, writing a full report, applying to a national competition — will pay dividends for college applications, other science fairs/competitions, and for cultivating a future scientist mindset.
