An essay contest is a writing contest that often pays a cash prize. As a rule, you have to write on a specified topic or answer writing prompts paying attention to style, clarity and word count. Winning writers often have their work published and prize money that helps to pay for college. Plus, entrants don’t typically need to fill out a long application or pay an entry fee which makes these contests pretty easy to apply for.
According to a Sallie Mae study, only 21% of students have applied for scholarships in 2019 to 2020. Essay contests could be worth it for college students. It depends on your goals, the competition, and how well you may handle rejection. Writing contests could be fun to get your creative juices flowing. Also, you may win extra funds to help pay for textbooks, tuition, and other fees.
Different Types of Essay Contests
There are writing competitions of all kinds due to the many genres and platforms including social media. Here are a few you should write for:
Novella or Short story contest
Creative writing / creative nonfiction
Poetry contest
Short fiction
One act play
Science fiction
Flash fiction
Personal essay
Another type of essay competition is all about the work of a specific author. Ayn Rand Institute’s essay writing contests ask students for an 800 to 1,600 word essay discussing a book such as ‘Atlas Shrugged‘. Current high school seniors and undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to apply.
Scholarship essay contests are the same but the prize winner may have to verify enrollment for college at an accredited university. This is true for the Race Entry Student Scholarship. It’s an annual $500 scholarship writing contest where you write about why you enjoy running a race.
If you prefer to write what’s on your mind, check out the Think For Yourself College Scholarship Essay Contest. There are four awards (one first place top prize and three runners up). The contest is only for high school students. It asks you to consider the value of free speech, curiosity, and open mindedness in your everyday lives and write on the topic.
You might also pick up your pen to kickstart a writing career. Writer’s Digest helps up and coming writers in all genres with their annual competition. Winning stories (articles, memoirs, poetry etc.) may catch the eye of editors and literary agents alike. One grand prize winner takes away $5,000 in cash, first place is $1,000, second place $500 and another 8 writers also win money. The literary magazine also publishes the names of honorable mentions.
10 Essay Contests You Should Write for in 2021
Eligibility for many essay contests vary but there are ones for seasoned and new writers. If you live and study in the United States, see if you qualify for the scholarship essay awards below and apply soon!
Cafe Bustelo® El Cafe Del Futuro Scholarship Essay Contest
2021 Think For Yourself College Scholarship Contest
Americans United Essay Contest
Americanism Education Leaders Essay Contest
Zavodnick, Zavodnick & Lasky, LLC Essay Contest
Nicholas Braswell Strong Roots Scholarship
Eyre Writing Center Ayn Rand – Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest
Race to Inspire Essay Contest
Ayn Rand – Fountainhead Essay Contest
Ayn Rand – Anthem Essay Contest
How Do You Write a Winning Scholarship Essay?
Expressing yourself in a unique way that addresses the topic at hand is one aspect of writing a winning scholarship essay contest. When you’re writing a winning essay, consider the following tips.
1. Identify the question or idea to write a clear and personal answer. Is it about leadership, community service, family, etc.? Then find examples of how you led, helped out or interact.
2. Dig into the theme a bit more. Maybe you did not lead a group but you babysat or tutored. Take part in the discussion in the best way for you.
3. Use any key words that the essay asks so that the team looking over your statement knows you read the question.
4. Engage your audience. Some people add quotes or pull in inspiration from others. If it stays on topic, try to show you have a broad experience in some way.
5. If you are applying for a named scholarship, find out about the person’s legacy. Try to show how they inspire or motivate you.
6. Know what criteria the committee is using to evaluate your essay. Try to check them all without it sounding rote.
7. A essay contest is an award and also an investment in your education and future. Make sure to explain how you plan to use your degree and leader skills once you graduate.
8. Many full ride scholarships look beyond grades. If this is the case, you may have to show how you helped others. Apart from stating your experience, relate it to what you learned through giving back.
How Should a Scholarship Essay be Structured?
Many scholarship essays come with prompts to help you format your writing. These guides are useful and necessary to stick to. Read them carefully and follow instructions because this is part of the exercise.
Format
This includes style (e.g. AP, Chicago), double or single spaced, Word or PDF Document, margins and so on.
Word Count
This is the number of words you have to stick to while answering every question. The judges want to see you understand the questions and answer them in a clear way so don’t attempt to write a full length book.
Title
You may need a title for a short story competition but not always for a scholarship essay contest.
Introduction
This is where you draw your audience in with opening remarks in 1 to 2 paragraphs. It should include the main points but should not go into detail.
Main Body
After you introduce your main points, expand on each of them. If you made 3 points (e.g. first generation to go to college, faced a challenge, excited to reach my potential) make each point its own paragraph.
Conclusion
This is where you show how the essay contest could make a difference to your goals and future.
Edit and Proofread
You read and followed directions now go back and double check yourself. Make sure to check your spelling and that you answered each prompt. Proofread to catch mistakes like grammatical errors, run on sentences, and others.
This scholarship is open to U.S. high school seniors, undergraduates, and graduate students who possess an interest in community building as demonstrated by their resume and application essay. Students must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
The Outstanding Citizen Scholarship and Essay Contest aims to give demonstrated community leaders and dedicated citizens an opportunity to pursue the education that will inform and better their causes. We are proud to sponsor the discussion on the topic of good citizenship, for the fourth year in a row, as well as to offer educational benefits to those individuals who demonstrate that they are outstanding citizens.
The Money Metals Exchange Scholarship Program is available for U.S. undergraduate and graduate students who submit an essay of approximately 1,000 words on one of the monetary or currency-related topics listed at the provider’s website.
The Stuck at Prom Scholarship Program is available to high school students with creativity. Applicants must create and wear an outfit completely made of Duck brand duct tape to a school prom. Applicants must be 14 years of age or older and a resident of the United States or Canada to enter.
Interested students can go to www.stuckatprom.com to obtain official contest rules and a registration form. Information is available under the ‘Contests’ link.
Each applicant is required to submit a completed entry form and one color photograph (professional or amateur) of him or herself in prom attire; the applicant’s full name, address, telephone number, email address (if applicable) and age/grade level, and the name of the closest major city to the individual’s hometown; a release form and, if any entrant is a minor (under 18 years of age), that individual’s parent or guardian; and the name, address, and telephone number of the high school, or home school association, which is hosting the prom, and the date the prom was held.
The complete entry must be received by 11:59 p.m. EST on the deadline date. If the students cannot scan and upload their signed release forms online, those forms must be faxed to the number provided. Students may also mail their entry information to the address provided. Entries postmarked after the deadline date will not be accepted.
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The Global Teletherapy Academic Excellence Award is designed for students who understand the importance of bettering one’s self. Applicants must be enrolled in a college, university, or graduate school during the 2020-2021 academic year with at least a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
The Herrman & Herrman Innovation Scholarship is available for high school juniors, seniors, and undergraduate students who submit an original essay on the topic of social media and distracted driving.
This scholarship is available for U.S. and international undergraduate students who submit an original Blrt document of up to 60 seconds in length. Students may download the required software upon registration in to the program.
The PAVE International Design Competition is open to undergraduate students around the world who submit a design proposal based on the current year’s project guidelines.
