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.

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

Let’s TAKE ABOUT REAL IMPACT

  • A young boy smiling outdoors with a blurred green background.

    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