The Harvard Crimson Global Essay Competition (HCGEC) is a fully virtual, international writing challenge hosted by The Harvard Crimson (Harvard University’s oldest student-run newspaper) in collaboration with Crimson Education.
Is It Prestigious?
Highly Prestigious. It is a major resume booster with global reach.
- The Prizes: Top Global Winners receive cash prizes (up to $1,000 for 1st place), publication on the HCGEC website, exclusive Mentorship Credits, and free enrollment in the coveted Harvard Crimson Summer Journalism Course.
Eligibility: Who Can Submit?
- Age/Grade: Motivated middle and high school students worldwide (ages 10-18).
- Geography: 100% online; open to any country.
- Originality: English only, 100% original. AI-generated content is strictly prohibited.
The Requirements (How to “Win”)
HCGEC uses a two-round structure (Regional and Global).
- The Categories: Choose one prompt from three tracks:
- Creative: Narrative storytelling.
- Argumentative: Persuading the reader on global issues.
- Journalistic: Investigating real-world topics.
- Regional Qualifiers (Round 1): Submit an essay of max 500 words (excluding citations/title).
- Global Finals (Round 2): Regional Winners (Top 30 per region) have 9 days to expand their essay to 1,000 – 1,500 words.
- Strict Formatting:
- Must be a Word Document (.doc / .docx). Google Docs links are rejected.
- Times New Roman, Size 11, 1.5 spacing.
- File Naming: PromptNumber_Category_Surname (e.g., 2_Creative_Doe).
- First Page: Must include full name, category, chosen prompt, and region.
How to Participate & Submit
- Register & Pay: Go to essaycomp.org and pay the fee (approx. $15–$20) before the mid-February deadline.
- Learn: Utilize participant-exclusive bootcamps and webinars.
- Submit Regional Essay: Upload your 500-word essay via the secure portal link sent to your email before the late February deadline. (One entry per student).
- Wait for Global Invites: Regional Winners (announced in March) will expand their essays for the Global Finals.
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