If you want to test your problem-solving skills outside the classroom, engineering challenges can give you a more concrete way to apply them to a real build, research question, or community problem. That kind of experience can help you figure out what parts of engineering you actually enjoy, whether that is prototyping, coding, data analysis, technical writing, or presenting ideas. Engineering competitions can also strengthen your high school profile.

Winning at the International Science and Engineering Fair (aka ISEF) is arguably the most prestigious and competitive scientific accomplishment that you can aim for at the high school level. However, Regeneron ISEF can be difficult to understand, given its complex structure. From multiple qualifying fairs to neverending forms to deciding what category to compete in, there are thousands of ways to approach ISEF. In this guide, we will help you understand this mammoth compet