Extracurricular Deadlines in May — Programs to Apply to

May deadlines cover rolling summer admissions, fall program early applications, and competitions with school-year finals.

Most programs listed here run on annual cycles, so the May deadline pattern repeats every year — check each listing for the exact current date.

95 verified programs match this page; 18 of the featured listings are completely free; 5 can be done online.

Featured programs

Browse 30+ curated programs for high school students:

• UPenn Summer Academies — UPenn: Transform your summer with a 3-week in-person program exploring business, STEM, or medicine. Gain hands-on experience to boost skills and strengthen c
• Yale Summer Conservatory for Actors — Yale School of Drama: Develop advanced acting skills in Yale’s intensive summer program for high school students. Build confidence, gain hands-on experience, and stand out
• Mathematical Olympiad Program — MAA: Intensive math competition program for elite high school students. Enhance problem-solving skills, boost college applications, and train with top USAM
• Penn Chemistry Research Academy — University of Pennsylvania College of Arts & Sciences: Dive into modern chemistry with Penn faculty and research labs.
• Tufts University Pre-College Programs — Tufts University: Pre-college summer at Tufts University. Multiple tracks including STEM, international relations, and humanities. College credit available.
• YouthBuild USA Leadership Development — YouthBuild USA: Leadership through construction and community service. Learn trades while building affordable housing.
• International Geography Olympiad (iGeo) — International Geography Olympiad (iGeo): Qualify via national selection; annual international finals.
• Yale Book Award — Yale Alumni: For exceptional juniors with character and leadership. Nominated by school.
• Penn Experimental Physics Research Academy — University of Pennsylvania College of Arts & Sciences: Hands-on physics experiments and data analysis at Penn.
• Stockholm International Youth Science Seminar (SIYSS) — Swedish Federation of Young Scientists: Selected students attend Nobel Prize ceremonies and meet Nobel laureates. Fully funded. US representatives chosen through ISEF and other national scie
• Tufts Leadership for Social Change — Tufts University: Develop leadership, advocacy, and social entrepreneurship skills in this free summer program for high schoolers. Gain hands-on experience to boost col
• Smith College Summer Science and Engineering Program — Smith College: Immerse yourself in a free, hands-on summer program for high school women to explore engineering and STEM research. Build skills and strengthen your c
• Generation Citizen Action Civics Challenge — Generation Citizen: Empower your voice in the Generation Citizen Action Civics Challenge. Tackle local issues, build leadership skills, and enhance your college applicati
• Synbiobeta Design Challenge — SynBioBeta: Compete in the SynBioBeta Design Challenge to explore synthetic biology, develop biotech skills, and boost college applications. Open to high school s
• State Seal of Biliteracy — Various State Departments of Education: Earn the State Seal of Biliteracy to showcase bilingual skills on your diploma and transcript. Boost college applications and gain recognition for lan
• National Guild of Piano Teachers Auditions — American College of Musicians: Showcase your piano skills in the National Guild Auditions! Earn national ratings, boost college applications, and gain valuable feedback from expert
• Penn Biomedical Research Academy — University of Pennsylvania College of Arts & Sciences: Explore hands-on biomedical research in this summer program for grades 10-12. Gain lab skills, enhance college applications, and dive deep into molecu
• National Beta Club National Convention Top Award — National Beta Club: National awards at Beta Club Convention recognize students for academic achievement, leadership, and service. Over 500,000 members compete.
• Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship (SAGE) World Cup — SAGE Global: Global social entrepreneurship competition. Teams run social enterprises.
• Balkan Mathematical Olympiad (BMO) — Mathematical Society of South Eastern Europe (MASSEE): An annual regional math Olympiad for high school students from Balkan and invited countries, featuring challenging proof-based problems.
• EarthEcho Youth Leadership Council — EarthEcho International: Join a selective virtual youth council for high school students to develop leadership skills, advance ocean conservation, and boost college applicatio
• National Invention Convention and Entrepreneurship Expo — USPTO: Showcase your invention at a national competition for grades 4-12! Gain hands-on STEM experience, boost creativity, and stand out on college applicati
• Regeneron ISEF Special Awards — Various Organizations at ISEF: Organizations award 600+ special awards at ISEF. Includes NASA, Army, Navy, Air Force, and specialty organizations.
• IEEE Presidents' Scholarship — Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers: Earn the IEEE Presidents' Scholarship for high school seniors excelling in STEM. Perfect for college applications and advancing skills in computer and
• AP Art and Design Portfolio — College Board: Develop advanced art skills and build a college-ready portfolio in this AP course. Perfect for creative high schoolers seeking hands-on experience and
• USC Summer Programs — University of Southern California: Explore diverse USC summer programs for high schoolers in grades 10-12. Gain hands-on experience, earn college credit, and boost your college applicat
• Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Nationals — FBLA-PBL: Premier business education organization with competitive events and leadership conferences.
• Society for Neuroscience Young Investigator Award — Society for Neuroscience: Recognizes exceptional high school students conducting neuroscience research. Winners present at annual neuroscience conferences.
• ArtCenter College of Design Pre-College Program — ArtCenter College of Design: Intensive pre-college art and design program at ArtCenter in Pasadena for high school students to explore industrial design, graphic design, film, ill
• National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA) National Tournament — National Speech & Debate Association: The world's largest academic competition for high school students in competitive debate and speech events, culminating in the NSDA National Tournament

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