high school essay competition 2023

GRC Social Impact Essay Competition

Solutions for good, a platform for ambitious high school students to share ideas for social good.

Essay submissions are open. Submit your essay today!

GRC is an international 501(c)(3) non-profit with branches at over 20 top universities around the globe, including Harvard, UPenn, and Columbia.

Every year over 1,000 GRC members work with non-profits, NGOs, startups, governments, and corporations on solving their social impact challenges.

Every year, GRC hosts an essay competition for high school students from around the world to brainstorm Solutions for Good . 

GRC Affiliate Schools

To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key.

Authors will be offered an internship with one of GRC's university branches and will support a consulting team with a client project from February to May 2025.

Authors will receive an Ivy League mentor to support them in their academic journey for at least three coaching sessions.

Essays will be published by the GRC think tank on our Insights platform and all authors will receive a digital laureate certificate.

Authors will receive a digital finalist certificate.

Write an argumentative piece identifying an important problem

that the world faces today and offer a compelling solution.

Choose one of the following topics:

Technology for Good  

With step changes in AI, automation, and telecommunications, technology has the potential to unlock prosperity. How can we harness its power for the social good?

Innovations in the Public Sector

The public sector often faces criticism for its slow and inefficient operations. How can policymakers enhance their decision-making processes and improve budget allocation?

Global Health  

From nutrition to vaccination, how can we improve human quality of life across the globe and increase affordability of healthcare services? What strategies can be employed to promote preventative healthcare?

Modern Solutions to Human Rights Issues

How to improve implementation of all three generations of human rights established by the United Nation at global, regional, and local levels?

Sustainable Development & Climate Change

How can countries, companies, and / or communities balance economic growth, resource consumption, and wealth distribution?

The Role of Education in Promoting Gender Equality & Social Mobility

What policy changes and investments in education can be made to promote equality and social mobility?

Minimum 500, maximum 1,000 words (excluding titles, references, and footnotes).

You can attach up to 2 charts or infographics to support your argument.

You can submit an essay as an individual or a group of up to 3 students.

All essays will be screened for plagiarism using software. Any plagiarism will result in immediate disqualification.

Reference all sources, preferably using Chicago citation style . References do not count towards the word limit.

portal opens

September 1st, 2024

December 31st, 2024

February 1st, 2025

Join us for our essay competition workshop from 7-7.40pm EST on November 28th, 2024

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

23 Writing Competitions for High School Students

What’s covered:, why should you enter a writing competition, writing competitions for high school students, how do writing competitions affect my admissions chances.

Do you dream of writing the next great American novel? Are you passionate about poetry? Do you aspire to become a screenwriter? No matter what genre of writing you’re interested in—whether it’s fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or something else entirely—there’s a writing competition focused on it.

Writing competitions provide great motivation to put pen to paper (or finger to key). Moreover, they’re an excellent step toward getting published, and can ultimately start you on the path to becoming a professional writer.

One of the best ways to improve your writing is simply to write—and competitions provide an excellent impetus to do so. Writing competitions also serve as an introduction to what life is like for many writers; participants entering writing competitions will receive a prompt or must think of an original idea, compose a piece of work, and submit it for review.

Another benefit of entering a writing competition for high schoolers is that many offer cash awards and scholarships, which can be used to help with the costs of college.

Additionally, many writing competitions are run by colleges and universities, so submitting them is a great way to introduce faculty to yourself and your work. If you win an award—especially a prestigious award—it can significantly improve your odds of college acceptance.

1. The Adroit Prizes for Poetry and Prose

Type: Poetry and Prose

Submission Fee: $15

Prize: $200

Deadline: May 1, 2023

Eligibility:

• All secondary and undergraduate students

Guidelines:

• Each student may send up to five total submissions across the genres of poetry and prose
• Each poetry submission may include up to six poems (maximum of ten pages single-spaced). Each prose submission may include up to three works of fiction or creative nonfiction (combined word limit of 3,500 words; excerpts are acceptable).

Adroit Prizes are awarded to emerging high school and college writers in two categories: poetry and prose. Winning pieces are considered for publication in the Adroit Journal and winners receive an award of $200. The 2023 judges are Natalie Diaz and Ocean Vuong.

2. Ten-Minute Play Contest

Type: Plays

Submission Fee: N/A

Deadline: Passed, but the contest will reopen in 2024

Eligibility: Students in the eleventh grade in the U.S. (or international equivalent of the eleventh grade)

Guidelines: Applicants may submit only one play (10 pages maximum)

The Ten-Minute Play Contest is put on by Princeton University’s Lewis Center of the Arts. Applicants are allowed to submit one play that is no longer than 10 pages. Their submissions are judged by members of Princeton University’s Theater Program faculty.

3. Ayn Rand Anthem and The Fountainhead Essay Contests

Type: Essays

• Anthem: $2,000
• The Fountainhead : $5,000
• Anthem: Grades 8-12
• The Fountainhead : Grades 11-12
• Anthem: Essays must be written in English only and between 600 and 1,200 words in length, double-spaced
• The Fountainhead: Essays must be written in English only and between 800 and 1,600 words in length, double-spaced

In this essay competition, students pick one of three prompts about a topic related to Ayn Rand’s books and write an essay that goes through three stages of grading. Students are graded on their clarity, organization, understanding, and ability to stay “on topic.”

4. Leonard L. Milberg ’53 High School Poetry Prize

Type: Poetry

Prize: $500-$1,500

Eligibility: Students must be in the 11th grade in the U.S. or abroad

Guidelines: Applicants may submit up to 3 poems

The Leonard L. Milberg ’53 High School Poetry Prize is another contest run by Princeton University’s Lewis Center of the Arts. Winners are chosen by judges who are both poets and members of Princeton University’s creative writing faculty. Three monetary awards are available.

5. World Historian Student Essay Competition

Prize: $500

Eligibility: Students enrolled in grades K–12 in public, private, and parochial schools, and those in home-study programs

Guidelines: Essays should be approximately 1,000 words

Winners of this competition receive a $500 prize along with a free yearlong membership to the World History Association . To apply, you must submit an approximately 1,000-word essay responding to the following prompt:

• Submit an essay that addresses the following topic and discusses how it relates to you personally and to World History: Your view of a family story related to a historical event or your personal family cultural background, or an issue of personal relevance or specific regional history/knowledge.

6. Jane Austen Society of North America Essay Contest

Prize: $250-$1,000

Deadline: June 1, 2023

Eligibility: Open to high school, undergraduate, and graduate students

• Must be submitted by the student through the official Essay Contest Submission website
• Entries may include a statement about the student’s mentor; however, a mentor statement is not required
• The essay must be 6-8 pages in length, not including the Works Cited page
• The essay must use MLA documentation, including a Works Cited page and parenthetical citations in the body of the text. Use endnotes only for substantive notes. Source material that is directly quoted, paraphrased, or summarized must be cited. Quotations from the Jane Austen work under discussion should be cited as well.

The Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA) Essay Contest is an annual writing competition aimed at fostering an appreciation for its namesake’s work. The contest is broken down into three divisions—high school, college/university, and graduate school.

First-place winners are awarded a $1,000 prize along with free registration and lodging for two nights at JASNA’s Annual General Meeting—smaller monetary awards are also given to second- and third-place essayists.

This year’s essay topic:

• In Pride and Prejudice and Jane Austen’s other novels, we see proposals and marriages that are motivated by love, as well as those that are better described as arranged marriages or marriages of convenience. Many cultures today also expect arranged marriages (not the same as forced). In your essay, compare and discuss the different types of marriages or courtships found in the novels, whether those relationships are new or longstanding.

7. Bennington College Young Writers Awards

Type: Poetry, Fiction, and Nonfiction

Deadline: November 1, 2023

Eligibility: Students in grades 9-12

• Poetry: A group of three poems
• Fiction: A short story (1,500 words or fewer) or one-act play (run no more than 30 minutes of playing time)
• Nonfiction: A personal or academic essay (1,500 words or fewer)

Bennington College has a strong history of developing writers—it’s produced twelve Pulitzer Prize winners, three U.S. poet laureates, and countless New York Times bestsellers—and the Bennington College Young Writers Awards celebrate this legacy.

In addition to offering cash awards to winners and finalists in all three categories, winners and finalists who apply and are accepted to Bennington College are also eligible for substantial scholarships.

8. Rachel Carson Intergenerational Sense of Wonder/Sense of the Wild Contest

Type: Poetry and Essays

Deadline: November 16, 2023

• You are required to have a team of 2 or more people
• The team must be intergenerational

Guidelines: Maximum length of 500 words (approximately 2 pages)

This unique writing competition requires that entries must be submitted by a team of two people from different generations—for example, a high school student and a teacher. Contestants can compete in a number of categories and themes, each with unique submission requirements.

9. NSHSS Creative Writing Scholarship

Type: Fiction and Poetry

Prize: $2,000

Deadline: October 2, 2023

Eligibility: Rising high school students graduating in 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, and recently graduated 2023 seniors

• Poetry: Students may submit their original poetry in any style, from formal verse to free verse to experimental. The poem should be formatted as you wish it to appear in the publication.
• Fiction: Students may submit a piece of short fiction, which must be no more than 5,000 words and should not be single-spaced. The entry may be any genre of the student’s choice, including graphic novel or story.
• Must submit educator recommendation, academic resume, and current transcript with application

Winning works for this competition are chosen based on their creativity, technique, expression, and originality. Three winners are chosen in each category and each winner receives a $2,000 prize.

10. John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Contest

Prize: $100-$10,000

Eligibility: The contest is open to United States high school students in grades 9-12, U.S. students under the age of twenty enrolled in a high school correspondence/GED program,  and U.S. citizens attending schools overseas.

• Essays can be no more than 1,000 words but must be a minimum of 700 words. Citations and bibliography are not included in the word count.
• Essays must have a minimum of five sources.

The prestigious John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Contest is one of the most recognizable and prestigious writing competitions for high schoolers in the nation. Essays for the contest are required to describe an act of political courage by a U.S. elected official who served during or after 1917. The first-place winner of the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Contest takes home a $10,000 award and second place receives a $3,000 prize.

11. YoungArts National Writing Competition

Deadline: Opens June 2023

Eligibility: 15- to 18-year-old visual, literary, or performing artist based in the United States

Guidelines: To be released

YoungArts supports talented young artists between the ages of 15 and 18 (or grades 10-12) in 10 disciplines, including writing. Applicants can submit entries in six genres—creative nonfiction, novel, play or script, poetry, short story, and spoken word.

12. SPJ/JEA High School Essay Contest

Submission Fee: $5

Prize: $300-$1,000

Eligibility: All students enrolled in grades 9-12 in U.S. public, private and home schools within the United States

• The essay should be 300-500 words
• Entries may be typed or handwritten but must be double-spaced

This high school writing contest is presented by the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) and the Journalism Education Association (JEA) to increase awareness of the importance of independent media.

Last year’s prompt was:

• While consumers are drawn toward tweets and sound bites, how can journalists tell more of the story without losing readers’ interest?

13. VSA Playwright Discovery Program Competitions

Eligibility: High school students with disabilities

• 10-minute script
• Entries may be the work of an individual student or a collaboration between two students that includes at least one student with a disability

This writing competition, presented by the Kennedy Center, is open to students ages 15-18 (or enrolled in high school) with disabilities. Writers may submit a “ten-minute” script in any genre, including plays, musicals, multimedia, video, film, TV, and podcasts.

Entries can be the work of an individual or the product of collaboration—provided that at least one of the collaborators has a disability. Multiple winners are chosen and given the chance to work with industry professionals, attend Kennedy Center professional development activities, and participate in networking opportunities.

14. Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest

Prize: $350

Eligibility: Women who are sophomores or juniors in high school or preparatory school

Guidelines: No more than two poems by any one student may be submitted

For almost six decades, the Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest has provided recognition, scholarships, and awards to the best female high school sophomore and junior poets. Submissions are reviewed by faculty members of Hollins University’s creative writing program and students enrolled in its M.F.A. in creative writing.

The first-place winner receives a $350 cash prize, a renewable $5,000 scholarship to Hollins University if they choose to enroll there, as well as free tuition and housing at the university’s Hollinsummer creative writing program. Their winning work is also published in Cargoes , the university’s student literary magazine.

15. Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

Type: Various

Submission Fee: $10 for individual entry, $30 for portfolio (can use Fee Waiver Form)

Prize: Varies

Deadline: Opens in September

Eligibility: Teens in grades 7–12 (ages 13 and up)

Guidelines: Varies by category

The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards is the nation’s longest-running, most prestigious recognition program for creative teens. They offer 28 submission categories, including writing, critical essay, dramatic scripts, flash fiction, journalism, humor, novel writing, personal essay and memoir, poetry, science fiction and fantasy, and short story.

Works are judged by famous jurors who look for works that show originality, skill, and the emergence of a personal voice or vision. Students can earn a variety of scholarships through success in these competitions.

Works that celebrate individual differences or personal grief, loss, and bereavement are eligible for $1,000 scholarships. High school seniors submitting winning portfolios of six works are eligible for up to $12,500 in scholarships.

16. Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest

Type: Creative Writing and Poetry

Prize: $100-$1,500

Deadline: June 13, 2023

• Students ages 11-18 from around the world
• Students can participate as an individual or as a club, class, or group of any size
• All students must provide the contact information for an Adult Sponsor (teacher, parent, mentor, etc.)
• Creative Writing: no more than 5 pages (approximately 1,250 words)
• Poetry: no more than 2 pages
• A written reflection is required to accompany your submission, regardless of category. It is like the introduction to a book or an artist’s statement in a museum.

The 12th annual Ocean Awareness Contest is a platform for young people to learn about environmental issues through art-making and creative communication, explore their relationship to a changing world, and become advocates for positive change. Students can participate in six different categories, including poetry and spoken word, and creative writing.

This year’s prompt centers around climate issues:

• Research and choose an inspirational scientist, activist, artist, educator, or other hero who is working to solve climate change issues. Create a piece of art, writing, or media that highlights their efforts, organizations, and/or positive impacts. We are familiar with the amazing work of environmental giants like Greta Thunberg and David Attenborough. We challenge you to introduce the Bow Seat community to a Climate Hero whose work we may not know about yet – but should.

17. John Locke Global Essay Competition

Submission Fee: N/A (unless late entry)

Prize: $2,000-$10,000 toward attending any John Locke Institute program

Deadline: June 30, 2023 (must register by May 31, 2023)

Eligibility: Candidates must be no older than 18 years old on June 30, 2023 (Candidates for the Junior Prize must be no older than 14 on the same date)

Guidelines: Each essay must address only one of the questions in your chosen subject category, and must not exceed 2,000 words (not counting diagrams, tables of data, footnotes, bibliography, or authorship declaration)

Students competing in this competition have the opportunity to write an essay in one of seven categories—philosophy, politics, economics, history, psychology, theology, and law. Each category has three prompts, from which students choose and respond to one.

Essays are judged on knowledge and understanding of the relevant material, the competent use of evidence, quality of argumentation, originality, structure, writing style, and persuasive force.

If you miss the deadline, you can submit a late entry up until July 10. Late entries will be charged a $20 late fee.

18. AFSA National High School Essay Contest

Prize: $2,500

• Students whose parents are not in the Foreign Service are eligible to participate.
• Students must be in grades 9-12 in any of the 50 states, Washington, D.C, the U.S. territories, or—if they are U.S. citizens/lawful permanent residents —attending high school overseas.

Guidelines: Your essay should be at least 1,000 words but should not exceed 1,500 words (word count does not apply to the list of sources)

The AFSA Essay Contest focuses on knowledge of foreign policy and the American Foreign Service. Last year’s prompt was:

• In your essay, you will select a country or region in which the United States Foreign Service has been involved at any point since 1924 and describe, in 1,500 words or less, how the Foreign Service was successful or unsuccessful in advancing American foreign policy goals – including promoting peace – in this country/region and propose ways in which it might continue to improve those goals in the coming years.

The first-place winner receives $2,500, a paid trip to the nation’s capital with their parents from anywhere in the U.S., and an all-expenses-paid educational voyage courtesy of Semester at Sea. The runner-up wins $1,250 and full tuition to attend a summer session of the National Student Leadership Conference’s International Diplomacy program.

19. EngineerGirl Writing Contest

Prize: $100-$500

• The contest is open to individual students in the following three competition categories—Elementary School Students (grades 3-5), Middle School Students (grades 6-8), or High School Students (grades 9-12).
• You can also qualify with corresponding homeschool or international grade levels.
• High school student essays must be no more than 750 words
• You must also include a reference list of 3-10 resources

In this competition, students choose one of four prompts related to the 20 Greatest Engineering Achievements of the 20th Century and explore the technologies that have been developed in the last century and technologies that are being developed today. Students are judged based on their presentation and examples of engineering (~35%), their celebration of diversity (~50%), and their quality of writing (~15%).

20. The Blank Theatre Young Playwright’s Festival

Prize: Play is produced

Eligibility: Playwrights must be 19 years old or younger as of March 15, 2023; co-authored plays are welcome, provided all authors are 19 or younger

• Original plays or musicals of any length or genre and on any subject
• Up to three plays per playwright or team

While winners of this theater competition do not receive a cash prize, they have the unique opportunity to be mentored by leaders in the field, then will have their play directed and performed by professional artists during the following summer. The 12 best submissions are produced and professionally performed.

21. Saint Mary’s College of California River of Words Contest

Type: Poetry and Arts

• The contest is open to K-12 students, ages 5-19
• Students must be enrolled in school to be eligible
• Participants may submit up to 5 entries for poetry and 5 entries for art (total of up to 10 entries)
• Poems should not exceed 32 lines in length (written) or 3 minutes (signed)
• Collaborative poems and artwork are accepted, but only one student (chosen as the group representative) will be eligible for any prizes awarded

The River of Words contest aims to promote environmental literacy through the exchange of arts and culture. River of Words has been inspiring educators and students through this competition for over 25 years.

The goal of River of Words is to connect youth with their watersheds—the environments they live in—through engagement with art and poetry related to the idea of “place.” They look for art and poetry that shows the connection between students and the worlds around them.

22. Ayn Rand Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest

Prize: $10,000

Deadline: November 6, 2023

Eligibility: Open to all 12th grade, college, and graduate students worldwide

Guidelines: Essays must be between 800 and 1,600 words in length

In this essay competition, high school seniors pick one of three prompts about a topic related to Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged and write an essay that goes through three stages of grading. Students are graded on their clarity, organization, understanding, and ability to stay “on topic.”

23. Writopia Lab’s Worldwide Plays Festival

Prize: Play produced

Eligibility: Playwrights ages 6 to 18

• 8 minutes maximum
• Any genre or style
• Plays should have no more than three characters
• There can be no narrator of the play who is not emotionally invested in the story
• Students must incorporate at least one of the following props or costumes —blue plates, a yellow blouse, a Valentine’s heart with the word “Love,” a flower crown, a plush hotdog, a Mardi Gras bead with jester heads, a pack of clothespins, Russian nesting dolls, a set of miniature cymbals, a lavender blouse, a lei, or a roll of aluminum foil

Since 2010, Writopia Lab has been producing, designing, and directing one-act plays submitted by young playwrights. These winning plays are then performed by New York City theater professionals. The contest looks for playwrights who embody fearlessness and imagination. Writopia Lab says, “Write deeply! Write fiercely! Write politically and personally! And don’t be afraid to write with a sense of play – they are called plays, after all.”

While we can’t know exactly how activities outside of the classroom will affect your college admissions odds, the 4 Tiers of Extracurricular Activities provide a helpful framework for understanding how colleges view your extracurriculars.

Extracurricular activities in Tiers 1 and 2 are reserved for the most exclusive and acclaimed awards, and can significantly improve your odds of college admission. By contrast, Tiers 3 and 4 are reserved for more common extracurriculars, and have less of an impact on your chances of college admission.

For example, if you place in a nationally renowned writing competition—a Tier 2 activity—this will positively affect your admissions chances. On the other hand, if you receive an honorable mention in your high school’s poetry contest—a Tier 4 activity—your admissions chances will not be significantly affected.

That said, if you are applying to an English Literature or Creative Writing program with a well-developed essay and recommendations that emphasize your commitment to language, participation in Tier 3 and 4 writing competitions could help admissions officers conceptualize your passion for your future career.

Curious how the writing competition you participated in will affect your college admission chances? CollegeVine can help! Our free chancing calculator uses a variety of factors—including grades, test scores, and extracurriculars—to estimate your odds of getting into hundreds of colleges and universities, while also providing insight into how to improve your profile.

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

High School International Economics Essay Competition (HIEEC)

HIEEC provides students the opportunity to demonstrate an accomplished level of writing and understanding of economic theory. Through the contest, students hone their academic and professional skills and exhibit their knowledge. 

The 2023-2024 Harvard International Economics Essay Contest is sponsored by the Harvard Undergraduate Economics Association (HUEA). This essay competition is open to high school students of any year and is a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate an accomplished level of writing and understanding of economic theory.

2024-2025 Prompts

1) Environment: Carbon taxes have been implemented in many countries, including in Europe and the United States, and are considered to play a significant role in regulating greenhouse gas emissions. However, there are criticisms regarding this approach, such as the argument that it is not effective because enterprises may keep polluting as long as they pay the cost. Additionally, the competitive advantage of imported products from countries without carbon taxes raises questions about its effectiveness. What unique effects can be anticipated from carbon taxes compared to subsidies for renewable energy? To address the concerns currently raised about carbon taxation, what potential alternatives could be considered?

2) Inequality: Consider a country where income taxes are used to address socioeconomic inequality by taxing a portion of citizens' earnings, typically in a way that is proportional to income. Now, imagine that this government is debating a policy shift that would eliminate income taxes for all employed persons, replacing them with a new consumption tax on goods and services, proportional to the value of each item purchased. Analyze the potential short-term and long-term economic and social effects of this policy shift within this country, as well as possible impacts on its relationships with other nations. Would you recommend this approach as a viable alternative to income taxes? Additionally, consider how at least two different groups (e.g., high-income earners, retirees, unemployed persons) might view this policy change. Would they likely support or oppose it, and why?

3) Workforce & Education: As automation and technological advancements continue to reshape industries, the skill sets required in the workforce are rapidly changing. How should education systems adapt to prepare students for a future dominated by automation and artificial intelligence? Evaluate the potential economic impact of reorienting education around STEM fields versus soft skills and critical thinking. What changes can be made at both the policy and institutional levels to ensure a workforce that is resilient and capable of thriving in an automated world?

4) Crypto/Finance: With the rise of cryptocurrencies and the potential introduction of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), the role of traditional central banks may undergo significant shifts. How might the widespread adoption of digital currencies affect monetary policy, financial stability, and global capital flows? Should central banks regulate or embrace these innovations? Discuss the potential benefits and risks of digital currencies for consumers, businesses, and governments, and analyze how monetary systems could evolve in response.

Entrants must choose one of the four prompts and write a response to it with a strict limit of 1500 words. Submission must be via the HUEA website and entrants are limited to submitting one essay with only the first submission being considered.

Each essay submission will have a reading fee which should be paid upon submission of the essay:

For US Applicants: $20

For International (non-US) Applicants: $30

If this fee will impose a significant financial burden on your family, please email us at [email protected] with a brief explanation for any circumstances that impede your ability to pay the reading submission fee. Please title the subject of the email "Firstname Lastname: HIEEC Financial Aid Request". The first and last name in the email should match the ones you provide in the below form. 

The essays will be judged by the board of the HUEA, with the top 10 submissions being adjudicated by a Economics Professor at Harvard.

Please submit essay submissions via this form .

If the above link does not work, use: https://forms.gle/qzMFn7ZuJK2KREeL7. 

*Be sure to read all the details in the submission form carefully before submitting, as failure to complete any of the steps correctly may result in your submission not being considered.

Cutoff Information

1. The essay submission form will close strictly at 11:59 PM EST on January 5, 2025. 

2. We will be capping essay submissions at 200 submissions this year .

Any essay submissions beyond either of these cutoffs will not be accepted. 

The top three winning essays will be published (with the author’s permission) on our website. A finalists list of the top submissions will be published online and adjudicated by a real-world economist. A list of names that will receive the "Highly Commended" distinction will also be published online​. The judges' decisions are final.

Terms & Conditions

The word limit of 1500 must be strictly adhered to. Any words past the limit will be truncated. This limit excludes references, footnotes, titles, headers and footers.

Essays must be written only by the entrant. Any outside assistance must be declared in the beginning or end of the essay.

Only your first submission will be accepted. Any further submissions will not be read.

References must be included, and any plagiarism will lead to disqualification.

References must be in Chicago or APA format. The only accepted document formatting is PDF. Any other format will not be accepted, nor will refunds be given to those who do not follow this rule.

No refunds are granted.

Grades 9-12 are permitted.

The essay must not be entered in any other competition nor be published elsewhere.

No individual feedback of essays will be granted.

The decisions made by HUEA by the final round of adjudication are final.

All winners agree to their names being published on the HUEA website.

November 2nd – Essay Prompts released

January 5th, 11:59 PM EST, 2025 – Essay submission deadline

Late February 2024* – Highly Commended and Finalists notified

Early March 2024* – Winners notified, results published on the website​

*We received a high volume of submissions, therefore we anticipate that it will take us a couple more weeks to release the results. 

Join Our High School (HS) Competitions Newsletter

Engaging High School Students

If you are a high school student or administrator who is interested in participating in our upcoming competitions, be the first to know by joining our HS Competitions Newsletter.

• Phone: (617) 993-4823

• February 24, 2023

10 Writing Competitions for High School Students in 2023-2024

Adrianne is a Master Admissions Counselor and TV/film director, producer, writer, and actress currently based in LA. She uses her experience in multiple disciplines to help students achieve their personal and academic goals.

Are you a high school student who likes to write? Here are ten writing competitions for high school students in 2023-2024.

Are you an aspiring novelist, a hobby writer, or a burgeoning poet? Have you tried your hand at nonfiction essays or playwriting? If so, you might be a great candidate for a national, regional, or state writing competition for high school students. Although specifics of each competition vary widely, these are usually great opportunities to showcase your talents, win some scholarship money, and buff up your writer’s resume. You might even get the chance to publish your work in a major journal or literary magazine or gain a mentor.

Here are ten writing competitions with deadlines during the 2023-2024 school year that you can start preparing yourself for right now. While most of these competitions are only for U.S. citizens, some are open to international students as well. Check each competition’s webpage for more information.

Table of Contents

YoungArts Competitions for High School Students

Genres: Classical Music, Dance, Design Arts, Film, Jazz, Photography, Theater, Visual

Arts, Voice, Writing

Award: Up to $10,000 and national recognition

Eligibility: US citizens and permanent resident/green card recipients in grades 10-12 or

15-18 years of age on December 1, 2023

Fee: $35 (waivers available)

Deadline: October 15, 2023 at 11:59 pm EST

YoungArts is one of the most prestigious artistic competitions in the country, encompassing a wide variety of disciplines and forms. Through this competition, the National YoungArts Foundation identifies the most accomplished young artists in the visual, literary, and performing arts, and provides them with creative and professional development opportunities throughout their careers.

Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

Genres: Nonfiction, Novel, Play or Script, Poetry, Short Story, Spoken Word

Award: Up to $12,500 and national, state, and/or regional recognition

Eligibility: Grade 7-12 or 13+ years old

Fee: $7 per individual, $25 per portfolio (waivers available)

Deadline: December 2023/January 2024 (depends on region)

The Awards give students opportunities for recognition, exhibition, publication, and scholarships. All entries are considered for Gold Key, Silver Key, Honorable Mention, American Voices Nominee, and American Visions Nominee awards. These are presented to students along with celebration ceremonies and exhibitions in each region.

The American Foreign Services Association Essay Contest

Genres: Nonfiction

Award: Up to $2,500 and an all-expense paid educational voyage courtesy of

Semester at Sea; runner-up received $1,250 and a full scholarship to attend

the International Diplomacy Program of the National Student Leadership

Eligibility: U.S. citizens in grades 9-12 whose parents are not in the Foreign Service

Deadline: April 3, 2023

The American Foreign Service Association (AFSA)’s National High School Essay Contest encourages students to think about how and why the United States engages globally to build peace, and about the role that diplomacy plays in advancing U.S. national security and economic prosperity.

This year, students are asked to explore a topic that touches upon this important history and sheds light on how vital it is for America to have a robust professional corps focused on diplomacy, development, and peace in the national interest.

VFW Voice of Democracy

Award: Up to $35,000 in scholarships

Eligibility: U.S. Citizens in grades 9-12

Deadline: October 31, 2023 (TBD)

Established in 1947, the Voice of Democracy audio-essay program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves in regard to a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay. Each year, nearly 64,500 9-12 grade students from across the country enter to win their share of more than $2 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program. All student entries must be submitted to a sponsoring local VFW Post.

Bennington Young Writers Awards

Genres: Nonfiction, Fiction, Poetry

Award: Up to $1,000 and potential scholarships at Bennington College up to $60,00

Eligibility: U.S. and international students in grades 9-12

Deadline: November 1, 2023 (TBD)

Bennington launched the Young Writers Awards to promote excellence in writing at the high school level. All entries must be original work reviewed, approved, and sponsored by a high school teacher. Winners’ works will be published on Bennington’s website.

Atlas Shrugged – Essay Contest

Award: First prize: $10,000; 3 second prizes: $2,000; 5 third prizes: $1,000; 25

finalists: $100; 50 semifinalists: $50

Eligibility: High school, college, and graduate students

Deadline: November 6, 2023

The Atlas Shrugged novel essay contest is open to all students globally. Atlas Shrugged is a heroic mystery novel written by Ayn Rand. Choose a prompt and write an 800-1,600 word essay. The Ayn Rand Insititute holds two other contests covering Rand’s work with deadlines in Spring 2023.

The Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Young Writers

Genres: Poetry

Award: Scholarships to Young Writers Workshop, publication

Eligibility: Grades 10 & 11

Deadline: November 1-30, 2023 (TBD)

Hosted annually by the Kenyon Review, the Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize was created in 2007 to recognize outstanding young poets. The Kenyon Review also hosts a Short Fiction and Short Nonfiction competition yearly for a wide variety of authors.

Center for Environmental Literacy — River of Words

Award: Recognition and publication

Eligibility: Grades K-12 and/or ages 5-19

Deadline: December 2023/February 2024 (TBD)

River of Words® (ROW) is a program of The Center for Environmental Literacy and a part of the Kalmanovitz School of Education. Acknowledged pioneers in the field of place-based education, River of Words has been inspiring educators and their students for over twenty-five years with an innovative blend of science and the arts. This free, annual, international youth poetry and art contest — the largest in the world — inspires children ages 5 to 19 to translate their observations into creative expression.

John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest

Award: Up to $10,000

Eligibility: U.S. citizens in grades 9-12

Deadline: January 2024 (TBD)

The Profile in Courage Essay Contest challenges students to write an original and creative essay that demonstrates an understanding of political courage as described by John F. Kennedy in Profiles in Courage . This is a great fit for any student interested in government, politics, or history.

The Concord Review

Genres: Nonfiction, historical research

Award: Publication and potential to win The Emerson Prize

Eligibility: Work completed while you were a high school student

Deadline: Rolling basis

The Concord Review was founded in March 1987 to recognize and publish exemplary history essays by high school students in the English-speaking world. Although this is not a traditional writing competition, it offers students the opportunity to publish their historical research and gain recognition throughout the academic year. Outstanding submissions may even receive the Emerson Prize, an award named after essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson. The entry fee is steeper than most, but it comes with a year-long subscription to The Concord Review.

What are you waiting for? Polish your submissions and share your work today!

If you’re looking for help editing your scholarship applications or general college admissions consulting , don’t hesitate to set up a free consultation today.

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THE HARVARD CRIMSON

GLOBAL ESSAY

COMPETITION 2025

Register below!

REGULAR REGISTRATION for hcgEc 2025 is now open!

What is a global essay competition.

The Harvard Crimson Global Essay Competition provides a platform for young, ambitious high school students to exercise their writing skills and compete with students from all over the world!

This competition encourages students to challenge themselves and explore different writing styles to ultimately strengthen their writing skills.

writing SKILLS

Hone written communication skills and challenge yourself with university-style guidelines, while in high school.

Add a high-impact achievement to your CV/resume and/or university application.

Have your essays evaluated, and possibly endorsed, by The Harvard Crimson.

Prepare for university-style writing and expand your repertoire.

NO BARRIERS

The entire competition is held online, removing geographical barriers to entry.

Workshops and webinars will guide participants through the competition.

Represent your country and region on the global stage.

Compete and network with highly-motivated and talented students invited from every country around the world.

EXCLUSIVE PRIZES

UP FOR GRABS

Published work on the official HCGEC website.

Exclusive internships with The Harvard Crimson.

Crimson credit with Crimson Education to help reach individual goals.

Generous cash prizes.

HCGEC 2025 Timeline

What makes The Harvard Crimson Global Essay Competition different from other competitions?

HCGEC is brought to you by The Harvard Crimson and Crimson Education . These two powerhouses provide an experience like no other.

Each participant is invited to attend best-in-class bootcamps, explore careers in writing, and compete for exclusive opportunities and global recognition! Check out the HCGEC 2025 Prizes for more details!

Have you dreamt of careers such as: editor, columnist, reporter, communications specialist, social media manager, or marketing professional? There are so many awesome careers to explore if you enjoy writing.

participant-exclusive bootcamps

HCGEC 2024 provides exclusive and on-demand bootcamps to help participants develop university-level writing competencies and learn about career paths. Learn more here!

HCGEC 2024 PROMPTS

About the competition

Find out more about the competition format, key dates, and upcoming webinars!

Find more about writing tips, past winners and their winning essays!

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2023 Essay Contest Now Open: Ideas Have Consequences

The Buckley Institute is proud to announce that the 2023 essay contest for U.S. high school students and Yale undergraduates is  officially open .

The annual essay contest is comprised of one competition for American high school students and another for Yale undergraduates. 

The first, second, and third place winners in both competitions will win $1,000, $500, or $250 respectively and be invited to the Buckley Institute’s annual conference in New Haven on December 1 to receive their awards. 

The 2023 essay contest submission deadline is Sunday, October 22 at 11:59pm. This year’s essay contest asks students to respond to the following quote from Richard Weaver’s  Ideas Have Consequences , published 75 years ago, and answer the question below:

Certainly there is no more innocent-seeming form of debauchery than the worship of comfort; and, when it is accompanied by a high degree of technical resourcefulness, the difficulty of getting people not to renounce it but merely to see its consequences is staggering. The task is bound up, of course, with that of getting principles accepted again, for, where everything ministers to desire, there can be no rebuke of comfort. As we endeavor to restore values, we need to earnestly point out that there is no correlation between the degree of comfort enjoyed and the achievement of a civilization. On the contrary, absorption in ease is one of the most reliable signs of present or impending decay.

In his book  Ideas Have Consequences , excerpted above, Richard Weaver argues that “absorption in ease is one of the most reliable signs of present or impending decay.” Weaver wrote in 1948 but America has only become wealthier and more comfortable since. Has an obsession with opulence and comfort put America on a path to decay or has America’s unprecedented wealth allowed it to flourish?

See the full submission guidelines  here .

• Blog > Applications

End-of-the-Year Academic Competitions for High School Students

Madeleine Karydes

• November 2, 2024

How Academic Competitions Can Make a Difference

Imagine this: Jamie has always loved science and tinkering with experiments at home. But how can she show colleges that she’s more than just a good student with high grades?

Academic competitions open that door, providing high school students like Jamie with a powerful way to demonstrate their passions, talents, and commitment to their craft.

For high school students aiming to stand out, competitions aren’t just resume fillers.

They offer real deadlines, measurable feedback , and genuine recognition —all qualities that college admissions teams look for. By participating in these competitions, students have an opportunity to show how they can meet challenges and excel under pressure.

But what kind of academic competitions should high school students consider, and how do they prepare? Let’s dive in.

Why Academic Competitions Are Essential for College Applications

Accountability and real deadlines.

Academic competitions provide what’s often missing in everyday homework assignments: real accountability. With strict deadlines, students learn to work towards a concrete goal. Colleges appreciate this quality—it demonstrates an applicant’s ability to stay focused and meet high standards.

Development of Real-World Skills

Competing offers more than just a chance to win. Students gain valuable skills such as time management, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Unlike school projects, where effort might be good enough, academic competitions push students to refine their work, often under the guidance of mentors or teachers.

Validation and External Recognition

Awards from respected competitions add credibility to applications. They reflect not only talent but also the commitment to improve and persevere. High school students who place in competitions can include these accolades in college applications to showcase their achievements in a quantifiable way.

Opportunity to Showcase Unique Passions

Not every student finds their niche in standard classroom settings. Academic competitions offer a platform for students with unique talents in areas like debate, environmental science, or art to show their dedication and passion.

Want to know a college counselor’s take? 

While awards are impressive, the skills students gain through participation—such as resilience, teamwork, and adaptability—are equally important. Colleges appreciate students who view competitions as learning experiences and who can reflect on their growth and personal takeaways from each challenge, regardless of the outcome.

Top Competitions for High School Students, Organized by Category

Below is a list of competitions covering diverse subjects, from STEM to social sciences, the arts, and more. Whether your student is a budding scientist, a creative writer, or passionate about social issues, there’s a competition to match their strengths.

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)

Intel international science and engineering fair (isef).

Description : Known as one of the most prestigious science fairs globally, ISEF allows high school students to present original research. Participants compete for awards and scholarships valued at over $5 million. Dates : Registration opens in December; regional events occur from February to April. Deadlines : Vary by region but typically fall in early spring. Why It Matters : ISEF provides students with an international platform to present their work and gain feedback from experts.

FIRST Robotics Competition

Description : FIRST Robotics combines engineering and innovation, challenging students to build and program robots to complete specific tasks. Teams compete against each other, scoring points through a series of matches. Dates : Registration opens in September, with events running through April. Deadlines : Varies based on regional tournaments. Why It Matters : Robotics competitions demonstrate a student’s engineering, coding, and teamwork skills—essential for STEM-focused college applications.

Humanities and Social Sciences

National history day contest.

Description : This annual event encourages students to delve into historical topics, develop research projects, and present their findings. Categories include individual or group projects, papers, websites, and documentaries. Dates : The contest cycle begins each fall with regional, state, and national rounds occurring through May. Deadlines : Registration opens in October, with deadlines based on competition rounds. Why It Matters : National History Day showcases research skills and historical insight, and it’s recognized by college admissions as a prestigious academic contest.

American Foreign Service National High School Essay Contest

Description : Sponsored by the American Foreign Service Association, this essay competition invites students to write on international diplomacy and global issues, with winners receiving scholarships and cash awards. Dates : Annually from fall to spring. Deadlines : Essays are typically due in April. Why It Matters : Essay competitions emphasize critical thinking, persuasive writing, and a global perspective—traits that colleges highly value.

Environmental and Sustainability

The earth prize.

Description : Open to students worldwide, The Earth Prize inspires high school students to create innovative solutions to environmental challenges. Winners are awarded prizes and grants to bring their ideas to life. Dates : Registration opens in September; final submissions are due in March. Deadlines : March. Why It Matters : The Earth Prize offers a unique chance to highlight sustainability, environmental activism, and real-world problem-solving.

Arts and Creative Fields

Scholastic art & writing awards.

Description : This prestigious national competition invites high school students to submit work in categories like photography, painting, sculpture, poetry, and short stories. Winners are awarded gold keys, scholarships, and exhibition opportunities. Dates : Submissions open in September, with judging rounds running through February. Deadlines : Vary by region, typically in December or January. Why It Matters : The Scholastic Awards are widely recognized by colleges and provide significant weight in applications, especially for students pursuing creative fields.

YoungArts National Arts Competition

Description : YoungArts supports young artists in the visual, literary, and performing arts, offering cash awards, mentorship, and potential nominations to the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. Dates : Applications are accepted from June through October. Deadlines : October. Why It Matters : YoungArts is a prestigious program that recognizes and supports emerging artists. It’s highly regarded by colleges, making it a standout on any art student’s application.

National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) Competitions

Description : NSDA offers a variety of competitions in debate, original oratory, and speech for students across the nation. It includes levels from novice to varsity, culminating in the NSDA Nationals. Dates : Competitions run throughout the academic year, with the national tournament held each June. Deadlines : Registration opens in the fall. Why It Matters : NSDA competitions build essential skills in public speaking and persuasion, which are key to fields in law, communications, and media.

Business, Economics, and Political Science

The deca competitive events program.

Description : DECA prepares high school students for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. Through its competitions, students work on case studies, develop business strategies, and present them to industry judges. Dates : Competitions occur throughout the academic year, with finals in April. Deadlines : Vary by state but typically close by November. Why It Matters : DECA showcases business acumen, strategic thinking, and presentation skills, all qualities highly valued in business and management programs.

Fed Challenge by the Federal Reserve

Description : In this team-based competition , high school students take on the role of economists and analyze current economic conditions to make monetary policy recommendations to Federal Reserve officials. Dates : Registration is in the fall, with regional rounds beginning in January. Deadlines : November. Why It Matters : The Fed Challenge is an exceptional opportunity to explore macroeconomics, economic policy, and public speaking, making it a standout addition for students interested in economics or government.

The Model United Nations (MUN)

Description : Model United Nations is a simulation of the UN Assembly where students represent different countries and work to address global issues. Participants gain experience in diplomacy, negotiation, and research. Dates : MUN events are held throughout the year, hosted by various organizations and schools. Deadlines : Varies depending on the MUN event. Why It Matters : MUN teaches students about diplomacy and negotiation, ideal for those interested in political science and international relations. Many top-tier colleges view MUN participation as highly relevant to global-minded applicants.

Choosing the Right Competition for Your Student

With so many options, selecting the right competition might feel overwhelming. Here are a few tips to help:

Identify Passions First

Students should choose competitions aligned with their interests. If they love biology, a science fair is a perfect fit; for students passionate about social justice, an essay on diplomacy could be ideal.

Assess Time Commitments

While some competitions require intense preparation, others are more manageable. Make sure students can balance school and extracurriculars. 

For students interested in participating in more than one competition, it’s essential to develop a strategy that balances commitments effectively. Prioritize competitions that align most closely with college and career goals, and consider spreading them out over different school years to avoid burnout. Creating a calendar of deadlines, practice sessions, and project milestones can help students stay organized and focused.

Consider Mentorship: 

Many students succeed in competitions with the guidance of mentors. At Empowerly, we offer resources and mentors to support students in preparing for these challenges, from setting a project timeline to final presentation skills.

Competitions offer a great opportunity to connect with like-minded peers and professionals in the field. Encouraging students to network, ask questions, and seek feedback can help them gain insights beyond the competition and open doors for future collaborations or mentorships. Networking also demonstrates initiative and the desire to grow, both qualities colleges value.

Taking the Next Step: Getting Started with Competitions

Finding the right competition is just the first step; preparation is key to success. From understanding the rules to setting a timeline for project completion, Empowerly offers mentorship to guide students through each step of the journey .

Ready to Stand Out?

Engaging in academic competitions can be transformative. They teach students to set goals, work under pressure, and embrace the challenge of competing with talented peers. Colleges see this as more than just an accolade—it’s a testament to character, passion, and resilience.

What’s more, these academic competitions are about more than just winning. They offer the chance for growth, resilience, and self-discovery. Even if students don’t place, participating teaches them invaluable lessons about commitment, creativity, and handling feedback. Colleges recognize this value—whether it’s a victory or a lesson learned, every attempt makes a difference.

Empowerly is Here to Help Your Student Succeed

Whether your student is ready to tackle a competition on their own or could use guidance to navigate the process, Empowerly’s experienced mentors are here to help. Our team can support students in finding the right competition, preparing effectively, and integrating these experiences into their college applications.

Let’s go for gold!

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