10 Robotics Competitions for High Schoolers

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There are many ways to make yourself stand out in a competitive college applicant pool, and good grades and strong test scores are just the beginning. If you want to truly shine, you’ll need to excel outside of the classroom, too. For students interested in the STEM fields and engineering, a robotics competition might be just the ticket to setting yourself apart from the rest of the field.

Why Should You Enter a Robotics Competition?

Robotics competitions are typically exciting, fast-paced competitions that feel more like a sporting event than a science contest. Not only are they a lot of fun for competitors; they are also prestigious and highly regarded by many colleges and universities. In addition, prizes and scholarships can be substantial enough to help with the costs of a college education.

In this post, we’ll outline some top robotics competitions open to high schoolers. Simply participating in these events will highlight your dedication and interest in the field, but a win in one of these prestigious contests could be just what you need to truly stand out above the rest in this competitive field. Keep reading to learn more.

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10 Robotics Competitions for High Schoolers

1. B.E.S.T Robotics Design Contest

Level: Local, regional, and national competitions available
Grades: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th

In this exciting contest, students are given a box of materials and six weeks to design a machine that can complete specific tasks within a given timeframe. The contest aims to excite students about engineering, science, and technology, and inspire them to pursue careers in these fields. During competitions, team robots compete against one another to complete the tasks.

Registration website available here.
  
2. Botball Educational Robotics Program

Level: Regional and national competitions available
Grades: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th

Over a period of about seven weeks, students learn to code and develop complex strategies to use artificial intelligence. This allows them to create an autonomous robot that competes in an annual game challenge against other teams in competitions at various levels across the country.

Registration available here.

3. FIRST: Robotics Competition

Level: Local, regional, and national competitions available
Grades: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th

Teams work together with professional mentors to design, assemble, and test an industrial-sized robot. The robot then competes in a head to head field game against other teams. Teams also market their brands and do community outreach, including fundraising.

Registration available here.

4. FIRST: Tech Challenge

Level: Local, regional, and national competitions available
Grades: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th

Teams of up to 15 students are challenged to “design, build, program, and operate robots to compete in a head-to-head challenge in an alliance format.” Teams use a robot kit that is reusable from year to year and work under the guidance of adult coaches and mentors. Teams advance from local qualifying tournaments to state championships and the World Championship Tournament.

Registration available here.

5. National Robotics Challenge
  
Level: National competition only.

Grades: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th

Students build robots and compete in challenges such as “Robot maze”, “Sumo Robot”, and “Robot Rescue”. Costs are minimized because there is no required materials or kit to purchase, and the contest continues through college and graduate school levels, so competitors can stay involved past high school.

Registration available here.

6. Vex Robotics Competition

Level: Tournaments at a regional, state, and national level, with an international championship every April.

Grades: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th. Open to grades 4 and up.

The Vex Competition includes over 11,500 teams from 40 countries playing in 750+ tournaments. Two alliances of two teams compete in tournaments during standard matches, and during a robot skills challenge, each robot plays alone against a clock. Details of the game linked here.

Registration available here.

7. Zero Robotics High School Tournament

Level: International, including the US and member countries of the European Space Agency.
Grades:  9th, 10th, 11th, 12th.  There is a middle school competition as well.

This fascinating competition begins with robots called SPHERES inside the International Space Station. The first phase of the competition is entirely online, in which competitors code the SPHERES to meet a yearly challenge. Finalists compete in person, on board the International Space Station, conducted live in microgravity by a real astronaut!

8. World Robot Olympiad (WRO)

Level: International

Grades: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th. Members from ages 8-19 may participate, but only within their specific age group. High school students will likely fall within the 14-19 age group.

The WRO was created with the goal of learning in mind, so all revenue from the competition is used to promote educational STEM efforts. Each team participates in one category per season in accordance with an annual challenge. For example, 2022’s “My Robot My Friend” challenge is to design and build a robot that can solve tasks on a field. The general rules describe the competition in more detail.

Registration available here.

9. RoboGames

Level: International
Grades: All ages and backgrounds.

This self-proclaimed “Olympics of robots” and current largest open robot competition challenges participants in a wide variety of events to showcase various skills. Amateurs, professionals, young and old alike are invited to participate with the goal of winning prizes, expanding educational outreach, and recognizing robot-builders in the public eye.

10. Conrad Challenge

Level: International
Grades: 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th

In this annual competition, high school students are called to create technological solutions with global impact. The competition is largely focused on entrepreneurship, mentorship, and teamwork.

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How Do Robotics Competitions Affect My Admissions Chances?

Many of the competitions listed above are national or international, which makes them harder to win than a local one. In general, extracurricular activities like competitions can be separated into 4 tiers, with 1 representing the highest and 4 the lowest level of impact and prestige.

Tier 1 activities are particularly rare and typically showcase high achievement on at least a national level. Tier 2 activities are similarly impressive, just a bit more common, like being a major club’s president or placing in a state competition. Tier 3 activities are typically lower-level leadership positions or regional recognition. Finally, Tier 4 activities are typically unselective opportunities, like general club membership or volunteering.

Depending on the prestige of the film competition, regional ones would likely fall in tiers 3-4 and national ones would likely fall in tiers 1-2.