Write your way
TO THE GLOBAL STAGE

The Harvard Crimson Global Essay Competition challenges high school students worldwide to think big, write boldly and gain recognition that lasts.

Early Bird US$15 (until 15 Dec 2026)  ·  Regular US$20 (until 10 Feb 2027)  ·  Ages 10–18 Worldwide

Why take part?

  • Sharpen your writing with university-style prompts

  • Access world-class learning events such as curated resources, on-demand bootcamps and live webinars with experts

  • Gain recognition from The Harvard Crimson and Crimson Education

  • Stand out with stronger applications and published work

  • Join a global community – last year 10,200 students from 119 countries took part

Kazakhstan students can register here

Let’s TAKE ABOUT REAL IMPACT

  • Justin Yu HCGEC

    1ST PLACE WINNER 2025 - CREATIVE

    “I really enjoyed the variety of unique prompts that HCGEC offered, and I think that’s what makes the competition so unique. Additionally, the initial 500 word limit forces you to make your writing concise and precise, which I believe is an important skill for any writer to have. Overall, HCGEC was a really awesome experience and I recommend it to all students even slightly passionate about writing.”

    Justin Yu
    United States of America

  • Olivia Zhang

    3rd place winner - creative

    “It's a great way to give high school students the chance to share their voice, story, and talents. The best thing I learned from HCGEC was from reading other winners' writing; I gained a lot of insight on how I can craft better stories.”

    Olivia Zhang
    United States of America

  • Elina Quito HCGEC

    2ND PLACE WINNER 2025 - CREATIVE

    “I am thankful to have taken part in the HCGEC due to it’s challenging guidelines that encouraged me to enhance and explore my creative writing skills within a short time frame. I especially enjoyed the prompt question, as it inspired me to think of concepts, ideas and alternative realities that are yet unexplored and share them with a wider community.”

    Elina Quito
    Germany

  • A young man with brown hair outdoors during sunset.

    3rd Place winner 2023 - argumentativ

    “I love the numerous life changing opportunities that HGEC offers.

    Even if you do not win one of the prizes, the intellectual journey of writing a brilliant essay can be life changing in and of itself.”

    Armand
    Bostwana

  • Marianna HCGEC

    English Language learner 2024 - creative

    “The competition made me love writing, giving me the opportunity to explore topics of my interest and be awarded for my effort.

    HCGEC showed me that writing does not need to be boring, but is one of the most beautiful ways of expressing my feelings. It was such an amazing experience!”

    Marianna Rodrigues chaves
    Brazil

  • Jayshil HCGEC

    1st place winner 2024 - argumentative

    “Entering HCGEC was a fantastic choice! Through the varied prompts, I learned which writing style I am most comfortable with. Through the formatting guidelines, I forced myself to write with brevity. Through the HCGEC community, I became a more confident writer. This was an experience I whole-heartedly recommend to anyone looking for a worthy challenge.”

    Jayshil Blomstedt
    United States of America