As college admissions criteria evolve, applicants must showcase more than just academics. Engaging in diverse extracurriculars develops transferable skills and highlights passions. Writing competitions, in particular, distinguish applicants by demonstrating intelligence and creativity and help boost your student profile. Additionally, participating in these competitions refines essay writing skills, crucial for crafting compelling personal statements in college applications.
2024 Writing Competitions for Middle and High School Students
AFSA National High School Essay Contest
If you’re a student with interest in writing and international relations, history, and more, then look no further than this essay contest from the American Foreign Service Association. Winners of the contest will receive a $2500 prize along with a paid trip to the capital with their parents and an all-expense paid educational voyage courtesy of Semester at Sea.
Eligibility:
Open to Grade 9-12 students whose parents are not in the Foreign Service.
Deadline:
April 1, 2024, 11:59 p.m. EDT
John Locke Global Essay Prize
The John Locke Global Essay Prize is a prestigious competition hosted by the esteemed John Locke Institute, aimed at encouraging young minds to explore complex and intriguing questions outside the confines of traditional academic curricula. With a panel of expert judges drawn from leading universities worldwide, including Oxford and Princeton, this competition offers students a platform to showcase their intellectual abilities and engage in meaningful discourse.
Eligibility:
Entry to the John Locke Institute Essay Competition 2024 is open to students from any country. Candidates must be eighteen years old, or younger, on the date of submission deadline. (Candidates for the Junior Prize must be fourteen years old, or younger, on that date.)
Deadline:
Registration deadline: May 31, 2024
Submission deadline: June 30, 2024
Explore further details about our John Locke Global Essay Prize Boot Camp.
National Scholastic Press Association Awards
The National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) offers highly esteemed awards in scholastic journalism, celebrating excellence and innovation in print, broadcast, and digital media nationwide. NSPA presents Individual Awards recognizing outstanding work in scholastic journalism across 11 categories, plus an additional category for junior high/middle school, each with multiple subcategories.
Eligibility:
The contests are open only to student media with a current NSPA membership as of the contest deadline. Any student on the staff of an NSPA-member media outlet is eligible to enter. The entry must be published in the NSPA-member student media.
Entry Deadline:
2023-24 High School: June 3, 2024
2023-24 Junior High/ Middle School: June 12, 2024
Jane Austen Essay Contest
JASNA holds an annual student Essay Contest to promote the study and appreciation of Jane Austen's works. Open to students worldwide, the competition offers scholarship awards in three divisions: High School, College/University, and Graduate School. Participants engage with Austen's literature, showcasing their analytical and writing skills.
Eligibility:
The JASNA student Essay Contest is open to students worldwide, including those in high school, college/university, and graduate school, with no requirement for JASNA membership to enter.
Entry Deadline:
June 1, 2024
New York Times Student Writing Contests
The New York Times hosts monthly writing contests for middle and high school students, each with unique topics and requirements. These contests offer opportunities for young authors and journalists to explore various themes and styles of writing.
Eligibility:
Open to middle and high school students.
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