Science research is a great way to stand out in high school, and the science fair is where you show it. Programs and colleges want to see real research experience, and the fair is a clear way to prove it.
It also builds presentation skills, especially at the more prestigious fairs, and it brings connections, awards, and sometimes publications that add real weight to your application. This guide covers how to get started and how to do well.
Getting started in research
You can compete on your own or on a team of up to three, and many students work with a mentor. For ISEF, projects are submitted in these categories. Use them as a starting point: find an area you’re drawn to and read the existing research. For ideas, here’s a video where Rishab Jain (an ISEF Regeneron Young Scientist winner) shares how he picks topics.
For the basics of research and finding a mentor, these two guides help: How to Get a Science Research Mentor as a High Schooler and How to Cold Email as a High School Student.
Qualifying fairs (regionals, state, nationals)
To reach the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), you first have to place well at qualifying fairs. The ISEF Finalist title usually goes to the Best of Fair winners at those qualifiers, and the number of spots depends on how competitive each fair is.
If you’re aiming for ISEF, you have to sell your project. That means three things: knowledge, passion, and a wow factor.
On knowledge: when there’s a mentor involved, students sometimes lose track of the mechanics. Know your project cold, from why the work matters to how it could actually be used.
Don’t just end with what you did. Say what still needs to be done for the work to reach its goal.
On passion: judges look for it. A science fair is a bit like Shark Tank, except you’re pitching your project for placement instead of funding. The more genuine enthusiasm you show, the more the judges lean in. There’s always a part of the project you find most interesting.
Go deep on that part and share that excitement with the judges.
And the wow factor: what sets your project apart from others in the category? Did you do something novel? Did you solve a significant problem? Go back to what got you into the research in the first place.
For more science fair advice from two ISEF winners, watch this video.
ISEF
ISEF is the most prestigious science fair there is. Just making it carries weight in admissions, and you build connections with some of the strongest student researchers in the world. Here’s a video showing what ISEF is like firsthand.
Winning an award at ISEF reflects strong research and a lot of work. The skills are the same as at the regional level, but the competition is far tougher. To see how Rishab won $50,000 at ISEF, watch this video.
Other opportunities
Getting into the science fair also opens up a lot of other STEM competitions.
You can present the same research at competitions like the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS), a good way to win scholarships and sharpen your presentation. For more, see our guide to 50+ STEM competitions.
Ready to get started? You can access the full A-Z Science Fair Masterclass here.
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