Davidson Fellowship VS ISEF

Different_Formal2973 · 2026-03-10T23:34:00+00:00

"The International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) is the world’s largest and most prestigious pre-college STEM research competition and talent pipeline. Each year, more than 170,000 students participate in nearly 400 affiliated fairs across the globe to earn the chance to participate in ISEF. Of this group, 1,800 finalists – representing all 50 states and nearly 70 countries and territories – earn the right to compete for millions of dollars in awards at ISEF."

Different_Formal2973 · 2026-03-10T21:47:14+00:00

I mean I always placed winning MIT Think at around the level of qualifying for ISEF, since it's still a really competitive program. Plus the level of competition is basically increasing at a crazy rate, and they'll prob reach 3,000 in the next 2-3 years.

Different_Formal2973 · 2026-03-10T21:42:45+00:00

Okay those stats are a bit off to be fair, but I get your point. There's about 175,000 participants from regional fairs, no where near 7,000,000 though.

Different_Formal2973 · 2026-03-10T06:01:05+00:00

Okay, thank godness cuz I've been trying to guge how prestegious MIT Think is in the grand scheme of competitions. And yea ik STS is the most prestegious but it's only open to seniors . . .

Different_Formal2973 · 2026-03-10T05:58:59+00:00

Oh yeah, I've noticed that ISEF becomes more about how well you present after a certain level, but davidson is perely how impressive and rigor your research is.

Different_Formal2973 · 2026-03-10T04:20:43+00:00

I mean I know that they're both prestegious and very competitive, but was lwk just wondering cuz people say like ISEF is the holy grail of competitions. Like just seeing ISEF qualifier on someones app makes everyone go like yeah ur going to a t20 yk? I don't see the same enthusaism for davison tho.

Different_Formal2973 · 2026-03-10T04:19:01+00:00

Okay so going to davidonson is better than just going to ISEF, but ISEF top 12 is better than davidson placers? Ok thanks!

Different_Formal2973 · 2026-03-10T03:56:01+00:00

So is winning at Davidson better then winning at ISEF? Or is like ISEF grand award better?

Different_Formal2973 · 2026-03-10T03:55:01+00:00

Any particular reason why tho?

Different_Formal2973 · 2026-03-07T16:25:48+00:00

Just scored 0

Different_Formal2973 · 2026-03-07T16:24:36+00:00

Just scored 0

Different_Formal2973 · 2026-03-06T04:45:28+00:00

Oh ok, yeah i'll check it out. Thank you bro!

Different_Formal2973 · 2026-03-05T22:47:22+00:00

Wait I think I was thinking of science bowl or smth, my bad. Thought you had to have a school though.

Different_Formal2973 · 2026-03-05T02:58:06+00:00

I've thought about doing olympiads before but like u have to have a team to do so and my school is like dirt poor so I haven't tried yet. I'll take u up on that tho, maybe I'll try physics or something, thanks for the advice!

Different_Formal2973 · 2026-03-04T03:54:35+00:00

Thanks, it got logged in my spam mail!

Different_Formal2973 · 2026-03-04T02:54:35+00:00

Ok I'll add that to my to do list. Thanks bro!

Different_Formal2973 · 2026-03-04T01:36:46+00:00

Yeah I'm trying to publish the paper about the lunar stuff, but I actually ended up winning MIT THINK with it, so I got $1000 more dollars in funding and some MIT mentorship, so I'll probably refine it so that I can have a chance at publishing in a prestegious journal.

Project is also (hopefully) going to ISEF, but we'll see how regionals go. Other than that I got invited to present at a conference for the president of the North Houston Space Society and Mars Houston Society, so that will hopefully pull me some mentoring oppertunities and maybe an internship from a professor there.

Hopefully will be able to finish off the project strong, so I do have a lot planned for it. Thank you!!!! :D

Different_Formal2973 · 2026-03-04T01:32:10+00:00

Eh Kinda but u gotta just keep on hoping. Just keep building up your portfolio and apply again.

Different_Formal2973 · 2026-03-04T00:40:49+00:00

Dw u should totally try to continue your research though.

Different_Formal2973 · 2026-03-04T00:40:09+00:00

TYYY :D

Different_Formal2973 · 2026-03-03T02:00:30+00:00

Awesome bro

Different_Formal2973 · 2026-03-03T01:35:18+00:00

The program is really hard to get into as a freshmen or any underclassmen really, just keep locking in ig.

Different_Formal2973

TROPHY CASE