Harvard Crimson Global Essay Competition

An annual, free, virtual global essay contest for high school students aged 13-18, organized by The Harvard Crimson and Crimson Education to develop university-level writing skills and award publication, mentorship, and cash prizes.

The Harvard Crimson Global Essay Competition (HCGEC) is an annual, fully virtual international writing contest organized by The Harvard Crimson, Harvard University's oldest student newspaper, in collaboration with Crimson Education. Targeted at high school students aged 13-18 worldwide, this competition promotes university-level writing skills through prompts across creative, argumentative, journalistic, and topical categories. Participants compete at regional and global levels, with winners receiving publication, cash prizes, mentorship, and opportunities to join prestigious bootcamps.

Competition Details

Judging Criteria

Essays are judged based on originality, critical thinking, coherence, structure, and adherence to the prompt and category. Submissions are screened for plagiarism and AI-authorship violations, leading to disqualification if found. Top essays per category and region advance from the regional round to global finals, where essays are reevaluated. Judging panels include professionals and educators from The Harvard Crimson and Crimson Education. Winners are selected based on improved essays and awarded across categories.