If you want to study medicine, a competition is one of the few ways to show real thinking before university. Not a grade. Not a certificate for turning up. An actual piece of work that someone judged.
The problem is that "pre-med competition" covers very different things. Some are team business challenges. Some are essays. Some are science fairs that take a year of lab work. This guide lays them out side by side so you can pick the one that fits how you actually work.
Jump to a section - What to look for in a pre-med competition - The competitions worth knowing about - How they compare - Which one fits which kind of student - FAQ
What to look for in a pre-med competition
Before comparing names, decide what matters to you. Four questions do most of the work.
- Can you enter alone? Some competitions require a team. That is great if you have friends who are serious about it, and a real barrier if you don't.
- What do you actually produce? An essay, a pitch, a prototype or a research paper. Choose the format you would enjoy spending weeks on.
- What happens if you don't win? Most entrants don't place. Check whether you still get feedback, teaching or anything else for your effort.
- What does it cost? Fees range from free to several hundred dollars per team.
Admissions tutors care less about the logo and more about what you did and what you learned. Our guide to building a pre-med profile in high school explains how a competition fits alongside everything else on your application.
The competitions worth knowing about
Conrad Challenge
Run from Space Center Houston, Conrad asks teams of 2 to 5 students aged 13 to 18 to design an innovation and a business plan. Health and Nutrition is one of its categories. The online innovation stage costs $499 per team, with financial aid available. Finalists travel to an Innovation Summit and compete for scholarships and the title of Pete Conrad Scholar. It is one of the biggest and best-known competitions in this space, and its awards are much larger than ours.
Harvard Global Health and Leadership Conference: Community Pitch Competition
Harvard College's VISION: Global Health Society runs a global health and leadership conference for high school students. Its Community Pitch Competition asks you to research a health issue in your own community and propose a solution through a short pitch video and a written proposal. You can work alone or in a small group, and you enter by applying to the conference itself.
Young Medical Innovators Challenge
An online competition for high school and gap year students, run in rounds: a medical quiz, then case studies, then a short research essay for finalists. It is a good test of broad medical knowledge. Check its website for the current year's dates, as they change each year.
Public Health Hackathon
Hackathons are short, intense team events. The University of Memphis School of Public Health runs one where students use design thinking to build public health campaigns and prototypes. Other universities and student groups run similar events. They suit you if you like working fast in a group.
HOSA (Future Health Professionals)
HOSA is a student organisation rather than a single competition. You join through a school chapter and compete in dozens of health science events, from medical terminology to clinical skills, moving from regional to international level. It is strongest if your school already has a chapter.
Minds Underground Medicine Essay Competition
A UK-based essay competition aimed at Year 12 students, though younger students can enter. You pick one question on medical science or ethics and write a research essay. It is individual, free to enter and a good fit if you are applying to UK medical schools.
Regeneron ISEF
The International Science and Engineering Fair is the largest pre-college science fair in the world, with categories covering biomedical and health sciences. You usually qualify through an affiliated local or regional fair. It rewards serious, long-running research, and its prize pool is far bigger than anything else on this list.
Global Pre-Med Challenge
Our own competition, run by Future Doctors for Grades 8 to 12. You enter as an individual and work on one public health and medical innovation track across two rounds, ending in a live online final on 23 January 2027. Early bird entry is $60 (standard $90). Every entrant gets live masterclasses taught by Harvard student mentors, written feedback on their first-round work and a 15% scholarship on an online programme. The top 3 share $500 in cash awards. Our prize money is smaller than Conrad's or ISEF's. What we offer instead is value for everyone who takes part. Full details are on the Global Pre-Med Challenge page.
How they compare
| Competition | Format | Prize / value | Entry fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conrad Challenge | Team (2-5) | Scholarships and Pete Conrad Scholar title for finalists | $499 per team (aid available) | Teams who want a large, well-known stage |
| Harvard Community Pitch | Individual or small group | Recognition at the conference | Conference registration | Students with a community health idea |
| Young Medical Innovators Challenge | Individual | Certificates and prizes | Small round fees | Testing broad medical knowledge |
| Public Health Hackathon | Team | Varies by event | Varies, often free | Fast-paced group problem solving |
| HOSA | Individual and team events | Medals and advancement to internationals | Chapter membership dues | Students whose school has a chapter |
| Minds Underground Medicine Essay | Individual | Prizes and recognition for top essays | Free | Strong writers applying in the UK |
| Regeneron ISEF | Individual or team | Very large prize pool | Via affiliated fair | Long-term research projects |
| Global Pre-Med Challenge | Individual | $500 cash for top 3; masterclasses, feedback and a scholarship for every entrant | $60 early bird, $90 standard | Solo entrants who want value even without placing |
Which one fits which kind of student
If you already have a committed team and want a business angle, go for Conrad. If you have a team but only a weekend, a hackathon is a better match.
If you love reading and arguing a point, an essay competition like Minds Underground gives you something concrete to talk about in a UK interview.
If you have been doing real research for a year or more, ISEF is where that work belongs.
If you want to work on your own, are fairly new to medicine and want to learn while you compete, the Global Pre-Med Challenge is designed for you. You don't need a team, and you get teaching and feedback whether you win or not.
Still deciding between a competition and a structured programme? Our comparison of a pre-med program vs a summer science camp covers that choice.
FAQ
Do competitions actually help my medical school application?
They help when you can explain what you did and what you learned. A thoughtful entry that didn't win can be worth more than a prize you can't talk about.
Can I enter more than one competition?
Yes, but be realistic about time. One or two entries done well are better than several rushed ones alongside schoolwork.
I don't have a team. Which competitions can I enter?
Minds Underground, the Young Medical Innovators Challenge and the Global Pre-Med Challenge are all individual. Vision's pitch competition and ISEF also allow solo entries.
I'm in Grade 8. Am I too young?
Not for all of them. The Global Pre-Med Challenge is open from Grade 8, and Conrad accepts students from age 13. ISEF and HOSA usually suit you better once you have more experience.