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Read on to find out how to get pumped for next year's rounds with these  

academic competitions

 .

The International Brain Bee Competition (IBB)
Contenders: Any high school student with a head for neuroscience
Rules of the Bout: Participants compete in a variety of events ranging from simple Q&A rounds that test their knowledge of the brain and its functions, to diagnosing live "patients" who pretend to be afflicted by neurological disorders like epilepsy and autism.
How to Enter the Ring: Only winners of regional Brain Bees are invited to compete in the IBB, which is held in March at the University of Maryland (Baltimore, MD). To find the local academic competition near you, visit http://web.sfn.org.
Prizes: The champion receives $3,000, along with an all-expenses-paid trip to attend the Society of Neuroscience Convention in Georgia.

Intel Science Talent Search
Contenders: Future Nobel Prize winners (There have been six in the competition's history.)
Rules of the Bout: Students conduct independent research on a topic of their choice and submit a 20-page report on their findings. This year's winner discovered ways to reduce pollution in a river drainage system.
How to Enter the Ring: High school seniors can submit a research paper for the November deadline, provided that they have already completed all courses required for graduation. Visit www.sciserv.org for the nitty-gritty on research rules.
Prizes: First prize nets you a $100,000 scholarship, while 38 runners-up win scholarships ranging from $5,000-$75,000.

The Panasonic Academic Challenge (PAC)
Contenders: Students with a knack for "Jeopardy!"
Rules of the Bout: As many as six high school teams compete head-to-head in a tournament that quizzes them on everything from the fine arts and Spanish to technology and French.
How to Enter the Ring: Every team that competes in this academic competition represents a state. While some states have a selection process to determine which team will have the honor, others, like New York, allow your high school to create a team that can then apply directly through PAC. Check out www.polk-ft.net/as/PAC.html for details.
Prizes: Each member of the winning team receives a $2,500 scholarship and a Championship ring designed by Herff Jones, Inc.

The Black Data Processing Associates (BDPA) National High School Computer Competition
Contenders: High schoolers preparing for a job in information technology
Rules of the Bout: Aside from the usual gambit of written exams and live Q&A events, each team (consisting of three to five students) has less than eight hours to develop a Web application to solve a problem scenario.
How to Enter the Ring: Local chapters of BDPA conduct training programs designed to expose high school students to the IT field. Participation puts you in the running for the national competition.
Prizes: Each member of the 2005 winning team received a $2,500 scholarship, and everyone who participates gains valuable experience, honing their tech skills by attending workshops and seminars.


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Genevieve M. Blaber is a staff writer for The CollegeBound Network. Learn more about finding a school that's right for you.

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