6 Fall & Summer Extracurricular Picks for High School Students (2025)

Looking to level up your résumé with real-world experiences this year? Here are six current and upcoming opportunities—from STEM competitions to media programs—that empower your passions and boost college confidence.

7/13/20252 min read

🔍 About This Blog

This post is part of Eddo’s Competitive Academic Series, showcasing vetted extracurricular programs backed by credible institutions like UCSF, the U.S. Senate, and SUNY. Our goal is to connect high school students with impactful opportunities that merge passion with practical experience.

Introduction

Extracurriculars aren’t just résumé boosters—they’re platforms to explore passions, gain hands-on experience, and showcase initiative. This month, we’ve rounded up six standout opportunities spanning STEM, service, innovation, and civic engagement. Whether you’re into research, technology, leadership, or global competition, these programs are designed to elevate your high school experience and impress colleges.

Opportunity 1: National STEM Festival

What It Is: A nationwide science and engineering competition hosted in Washington, D.C., celebrating innovative student research projects.
- Who Should Apply: Students grades 9–12 with original STEM research or prototypes.
- Perks: National exposure, mentoring from STEM professionals, and potential pathways to scholarships and internships.
  🔗 https://www.nationalstemfestival.com/

Opportunity 2: Congressional App Challenge

What It Is: A coding competition sponsored by the U.S. House of Representatives to inspire students in computer science.
- Who Should Apply: Middle and high school students with any level of programming experience.
- Perks: Winning apps are displayed in the U.S. Capitol, and winners are invited to Washington, D.C., for the annual #HouseOfCode event.
  🔗 https://www.congressionalappchallenge.us/

Opportunity 3: Conrad Challenge

What It Is: An international entrepreneurship and innovation competition where students solve global issues through STEM-based solutions.
- Who Should Apply: Teams of high school students passionate about technology, science, and business innovation.
- Perks: Compete for recognition at the Innovation Summit and receive feedback from industry experts.
  🔗 https://www.conradchallenge.org/

Opportunity 4: UCSF High School Volunteer Program

What It Is: A service-based program that allows students to volunteer in clinical and research settings at UCSF Medical Center.
- Who Should Apply: Students ages 16+ interested in healthcare or biomedical sciences.
- Perks: Gain exposure to healthcare environments, earn service hours, and learn from medical professionals.
  🔗 https://campuslifeserviceshome.ucsf.edu/arts-and-events/ucsf-volunteers

Opportunity 5: U.S. Senate Page Program

What It Is: A prestigious civic program allowing high school juniors to work as pages on the Senate floor in Washington, D.C.
- Who Should Apply: High-achieving juniors with strong leadership skills and interest in government.
- Perks: Live and study in D.C., witness legislative sessions firsthand, and build political leadership experience.
  🔗 https://pageprogram.senate.gov/page-program/

Opportunity 6: Genius Olympiad

What It Is: An international high school project competition focused on environmental issues, hosted by the State University of New York.
- Who Should Apply: Students with projects in science, art, writing, business, robotics, or design linked to environmental sustainability.
- Perks: Compete globally, present research, and win awards that highlight academic excellence and creativity.
  🔗 https://geniusolympiad.org/

Why These Opportunities Matter

National & International Recognition: Programs like the U.S. Senate Page and Genius Olympiad are highly prestigious and selective.
Skill-Building: These opportunities develop leadership, coding, research, and professional communication skills.
College-Ready Impact: According to NACAC (2024), students who participate in selective extracurriculars often stand out significantly in college admissions.

Wrapping Up

At Eddo, we’re committed to helping students like you stay organized, discover new opportunities, and plan for the future with confidence.

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