The Congressional App Challenge turns your app-development skills into recognition from the U.S. Congress. It’s competitive, so here are the strategies that actually help you win one of the country’s most prestigious high school computer science competitions.
1. Find the right advisor
Finding an advisor, teacher, or mentor to help with your app is crucial. An advisor can help film and edit your video, provide a testimonial for your submission, and help solve technical problems you get stuck on.
If you’ve participated in science fairs besides the Congressional App Challenge, this video is relevant too:
When looking for a mentor, a few things to look for:
- Do they have computer science or video production experience?
- Have they entered other competitions or built other apps?
- Do they have a story tied to a societal issue?
That last point matters, because it leads into the next step: finding the right idea.
2. Brainstorm a problem-solving idea
Societal impact, societal impact, societal impact.
A genuine, meaningful app that solves the issue from your advisor’s story is the way to win. Judges look at other things too, but remember they work for a member of Congress, and solving a real societal problem is what resonates with them.
Here’s a basic example (aim for something more meaningful): if your advisor’s kids dislike healthy foods, you could build an app that presents the benefits of those foods in a child-friendly way.
3. Show some technical complexity
Using more capable frameworks like Flutter or React Native looks stronger to judges than a simple tool like MIT App Inventor.
Incorporating advanced topics like image processing or AI can also impress judges and hit another part of the Congressional App Challenge judging rubric: technical knowledge. Check the official site for the current rubric.
That, paired with your societal impact, gets you ready to film your video.
4. Film your submission video
Film at a good angle in a well-lit space with your team. Talk through the issue your advisor raised, the advanced computer science topics you used, the skills you learned, and how your team was organized. Then show the app in action by walking through a typical user’s experience.
Follow this guide and you’ll have a solid chance at winning the Congressional App Challenge.
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