How much does Regeneron STS help college admissions?

RReaders in Stanford's admissions office kept a short list of activities that changed how they saw a file on sight, and near the top for any student in the sciences was the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the oldest and most prestigious national research competition for high school seniors. Being named a finalist was described as one of the best activities a student can have on an application.

That reputation scares many families off. They assume the competition belongs to a few prodigies with professional labs, so a student with a real research interest never plans for it, or first hears of it in senior year, when the research should already have been under way. Understanding why it carries so much weight is the first step toward deciding whether it belongs in your child's plans.