Most students build 8–10 average activities. This student used one structured project to access competitions, selective summer research, and journals. The subject didn’t create the results—the structure did.
A practical, ranked breakdown of STEM activities that move the needle in Ivy League admissions—from competitions and research to internships and high-impact summer plans.
After all, with thousands of applicants boasting near-perfect grades and test scores, how do you truly stand out? Is there a formula, a strategy that actually works? And for the students we’re about to talk about, that strategy was crystal clear: international competitions.
