Harvard Crimson Global Essay Competition (HCGEC)
Cash prize $1000 + free Summer Journalism Course
Harvard Crimson Global Essay Competition (HCGEC) is a competition by The Harvard Crimson for students in Class 5–12, open to students across India.
Mode
Online
Eligibility
Class 5–12
Fee
$20
Duration
The competition runs from February to March, including regional and global rounds.
Format
Individual
Time needed
Varies based on individual preparation. Requires time to draft a 500-word essay for the regional round and a 1000-1500 word essay for the global final.
About This Opportunity
The Harvard Crimson Global Essay Competition (HCGEC) is a prestigious annual writing contest for high school students worldwide. It offers a platform for young writers to showcase their skills in creative, argumentative, or journalistic writing on an international stage.
Open to students aged 10-18, the competition provides a chance to win cash prizes, an internship with The Harvard Crimson, and gain recognition that strengthens university applications. All participants gain access to exclusive workshops to hone their writing abilities.
Eligibility
- Grade Level
- Class 5–12
- Age Range
- 10 - 18 years
- Location
- Nationwide
Academic requirement
Must be a current high school/secondary school student. Students who have graduated but have not yet started university studies are also eligible if they are under 18.
Prerequisites
- Strong command of the English language.
- Ability to write a structured and coherent essay.
Students aged 10–18 in high school from any country, including India, can participate. The competition is open globally and requires applicants to have a strong command of English to complete the tasks effectively.
Does your child qualify?
WiWit checks eligibility against your child's class, age, and location, and finds more opportunities like this one.
Academic Details
Difficulty: Mixed Levels
Rewards & Recognition
Award
$1,000
Top winners receive cash prizes, with the first-place winner awarded $1,000, 2nd $750, 3rd $500.
Certificate
Global Champion Certificate
All winners receive a Global Champion Certificate to recognize their achievement.
Opens doors to
Winning a prestigious, globally recognized competition significantly strengthens a student's profile for top university applications.
Career pathways
Top winners are offered an exclusive internship opportunity with The Harvard Crimson, providing invaluable journalism experience.
Recognition
International recognition
Skills your child builds
Rounds & format
The competition consists of two main rounds: Regional Qualifiers and a Global Final. Participants first submit a 500-word essay for the regional round. The top finalists from each region advance to the global round, where they expand on their initial submission to 1000-1500 words.
How entries are judged
Essays are judged based on content, structure, and style. Specific rubrics for each category (Creative, Argumentative, Journalistic) assess elements like originality, clarity of argument, use of evidence, and overall writing quality.
Selection process
The top essays from each of the three streams in each of the five global regions are selected to advance to the global final. A panel of judges from The Harvard Crimson evaluates the submissions based on official rubrics to determine the winners.
How to apply
- 1Register online through the official competition website.
- 2Pay the registration fee to confirm entry.
- 3Submit the essay in the required format before the deadline.
Fees & financial support
Fee details
The registration fee varies based on the registration period. Early Bird Registration is $15 USD, and Regular Registration is $20 USD. The fee includes competition entry and access to exclusive participant workshops.
Refund policy
Registration fees are non-refundable.
Frequently asked questions
Is Harvard Crimson Global Essay Competition (HCGEC) free?
$20 registration
Who can participate in Harvard Crimson Global Essay Competition (HCGEC) ?
Students in Class 5–12. children aged 10-18.
What will my child gain from Harvard Crimson Global Essay Competition (HCGEC) ?
Win cash prizes up to $1,000 USD.. Secure an internship opportunity with The Harvard Crimson.. Receive a letter of recommendation.. Get your winning essay published and endorsed by The Harvard Crimson.. Enhance your profile for university applications.. Gain access to exclusive writing workshops and bootcamps.. Receive a Global Champion Certificate..
Share with other parents
Is this the right fit for your child?
WiWit matches opportunities to your child's class, interests, and skills, not a generic list. Save this and get reminders before the deadline closes.
Categories
WiWit
Don't miss what your child actually qualifies for
There are hundreds more opportunities like this one. WiWit matches them to your child's class, interests, and skills, so you find the right ones without searching through everything.
- Matched to your child's class, age, and interests
- Deadline reminders so you never miss registration
- Every opportunity verified before it's listed
Related Opportunities
Asian Regional Space Settlement Design Competition (ARSSDC)
by Atlantis Erudition & Travel Services Pvt. Ltd.
The Asian Regional Space Settlement Design Competition (ARSSDC) is a prestigious space engineering design challenge for high school students across Asia, simulating real-world aerospace industry work.
What your child could gain:
Indian Nationals Space Settlement Design Competition (INSSDC)
by Atlantis Erudition & Travel Services Pvt. Ltd.
A national-level competition for Indian high school students to design innovative space settlements, offering a direct pathway to international finals at NASA. Teams collaborate to create detailed proposals for future space habitats.
What your child could gain:
International Space Settlement Design Competition (ISSDC)
by Aerospace Education Competitions (AEC)
The International Space Settlement Design Competition (ISSDC) is a global aerospace engineering challenge for high school students to design space settlements, fostering STEM skills and teamwork.
What your child could gain: