部分对升学有帮助的科学类比赛项目和选择对策(updated)

Science & Invention Fairs/Competitions：
Intel International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF)
Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology
Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS)
Google Global Science Fair
Davidson Fellows
Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams
International Sustainable World (Energy, Engineering, and Environment) Project (I-SWEEEP)

Robotics:
FIRST Robotics
Zero Robotics
BattleBots IQ
VEX Robotics
Botball

International Science Olympiads:
International Math Olympiad (IMO)
International Physics Olympiad (IPhO)
International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO)
International Biology Olympiad (IBO)
International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI)
International Linguistics Olympiad (IOL)

Strategies:

If parents are professors/research scientists who have attractive research ideas and lab access, focus on the science fairs. This is the most time-consuming event since no one can predict the outcome of the experiments/research without conducting the actual experiments. However, access to lab and equipment would definitely give the kid a leg up. Another trait that may help winning the national award is presentation skills (how to elegantly present the research results to the audience). Many states has age restriction for kids to work in the lab. But if parents have the badge to the lab, so do the kids. And if there are postdocs as mentors . . .

If a kid is into engineering and has deft hands/quick mind, pick one of the robotics competition. Programing skills will help. A pragmatic person with experience may beat a theoretical guy in this event. No personal/presentation skills are required. Let the robot do all the "talking"!

If the kid is a book worm with high IQ's and perseverance to solve problems, pick one of the International Science Olympiads. If the kid qualifies to attend the study/training camp, he would be among the top two dozen students natioanally in the particular field. If he makes the U.S. team, he is almost guaranteed a spot in MIT. But this is a single track race: pick one, stick to it, and compete  against all other equally brilliant kids. His test taking skills must be superb. A nerd may excel in this category and no personal/presentation skills are required! Just drill, drill and drill. Test after test after test . . . 

Finally, learn from the previous winners. Although it is hard to duplicate another's success, the path leading to the winner's podium may provide some guidelines at least in the preparation part. For example, in College Confidential, there are annual threads talking about National/International Science Olympiads, ranging from topics covered in the test to "official" textbooks for the preparation. There are even online lectures geared toward skills required acing the exams for such Olympiad competitions. Rumor has it that in certain years, about 5 out of the 20 "campers" attended the same online lecture series taught by former Olympiad competition medalists. Granted, you must separate the wheat from the chaff, but finding the hidden gems from the public forum is more gratifying than posting here!  

Use your brain wisely.