After Ivy Day, the 2024 application season has essentially concluded. This year, the majority of Ivy League schools saw a record number of applicants, with acceptance rates continuing to drop. Harvard University received 54,008 applications, with an acceptance rate of 3.59% (last year was 3.41%), marking the fourth lowest in history. Yale University saw an increase in applications to 57,465, with an acceptance rate of 3.7%, a new historical low.

During the application phase for American universities, American high school students are considered local students and do not face the intense competition for international student slots. American high schools can provide more support and resources to aid in the application to American universities; American universities also have a clearer understanding of the value of local activities and competitions, and these experiences and awards are more likely to be favored by admissions officers.

The identity advantage of American high school students is evident. So, how can we leverage this advantage to fully utilize local activities and competition opportunities to add weight to application materials?

Previously, I introduced the Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS), an exclusive competition for G12 students in American high schools. As a competition endorsed by the MIT official website, its prestige is undeniable. However, STS has strict grade restrictions. What competitions can students from G9 to G11 participate in? The Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS), sponsored by the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force and open to high school students across the United States, is here!

JSHS Event Details

JSHS aims to encourage 9th to 12th-grade students to engage in STEM fields, open to all high school students in the United States, and encourages them to undertake original research and experiments. Nearly 20,000 high school students participate in the competition selection in regional areas each year, vying for a spot in the national finals.

Eligibility
Students can only participate in a regional competition based on the location of their school or organization. Participating students must be U.S. citizens or green card holders.
JSHS accepts team registrations, with the team leader serving as the default presenter. The presentation should reflect the division of labor and efforts of all team members and correctly state the contributions of team members (including students and teachers).

Declared Disciplines
Major Categories
Environmental Science, Biomedical Science, Cellular/Molecular Biology, Life Sciences, Medicine and Health/Behavioral Science, Engineering and Technology, Mathematics and Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Physics, Chemistry

Environmental Science
Environmental Science & Environmental Engineering, Bioremediation, Ecosystem Management, Environmental Engineering, Land Resource Management, Pollution, Toxicity; Impact on Ecosystems

Biomedical Science, Cellular/Molecular Biology
Biomedical, Microbiology, Molecular/Cellular Biology, Genetics, Immunology, Pharmacology, Virology

Life Sciences
Developmental Biology, Plant Physiology, Population Genetics, General Biochemistry, Microbiology

Medicine and Health/Behavioral Science
Behavioral Science, Biochemistry, Bioengineering, Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, Epidemiology, Immunology, Neuroscience, Physiology, Pathology

Engineering and Technology
Aerospace, Aerodynamics, Electrical Engineering, Energy - Solar, Vehicle Development, Equipment, Mechanical Engineering, Robotics

Mathematics and Computer Science, Computer Engineering
Probability and Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science - Algorithms, Databases, Networks, Computer Engineering

Physics
Astronomy, Physics - Theoretical, Physics - Solid State, Acoustics, Optics, Thermodynamics, Particle Physics, Quantum Physics, Nuclear; IoT - Embedded electronics, software, sensors, and networks connecting physical objects or "things"

Chemistry
Physical Chemistry, Materials, Alternative Fuels, Organic Chemistry (Life Sciences), Chemical Engineering, Geosciences - Geochemistry, Energy - Alternative Fuels, Materials Science

Event timeline

From September to December

Regional competition Submit application materials to compete for regional awards/national competition tickets

January to March

Organize regional symposia

April-May

National selection National awards honors and awards scholarships

Submit content

Research paper

Abstract.

Poster

Scheduled speech, personal statement 12 minutes, questions 6 minutes

Statement on Outside Assistance

Award setting

Regional Awards: First, second and third place winners from each region will be awarded a total of $4,500 in scholarships.

Nationals Awards: A total of $192,000 will be awarded to the top three finalists in each of the eight disciplines.

In the national competition, the posters of eight disciplines will also be included in the selection, and the top three in each discipline will also receive high scholarships.

Participating in JSHS allows young people who are interested in STEM to get an early start in research. Participating in scientific research competitions can also reflect your academic interest and scientific research potential. This experience can help you win the favor of admissions officers and become the "golden key" to open the door of your dream school!