<p>So I just qualified for the fourth time as an Intel ISEF finalist and I'm wondering what impact this will make for the wait list decisions, seeing as MIT apparently didn't think too much of being a three-time finalist. I will obviously still send in the update, but I'm just curious as to what it counts for.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>IMO ISEF finalist is not very prestigious. It is based off of regional/state science fairs rather than something national like Siemens.</p>
<p>^^ I would disagree, it is NOT easy to be ISEF finalist. For my region, it is really difficult to go once, let along multiple times. Every year, we have had a 1st place at international and last year, our state had 2 best in categories. Our region has won thousands of dollars each year going. So to say ISEF is not prestigious is a severe understatement. It suggests you have never been there. It’s not easy to win there, people there have also won Siemens, JSHS and STS. This year’s STS winner is last year’s ISEF best in category winner.</p>
<p>Yeah I just won my state science fair as well. Unfortunately my state sci fair isn’t qualified enough to send team projects to ISEF haha. So we’ll be going to ISWEEEP as a finalist for that instead. I’ll definitely send in an update (I was wait listed as well), but I don’t think it’ll have a big impact on anything.</p>
<p>First of all I have been there (getting first at a regional fair is based more on randomness with the way judging works). Second of all, winning at ISEF is much different than simply qualifying for the event.</p>