Since 1985, the Ayn Rand Institute has hosted annual essay contests. The contests are categorized by Ayn Rand novels: Anthem, The Fountainhead, and Atlas Shrugged.
Each year different essay prompt options are provided. Students are instructed to pay attention to the themes and character motivations as they read the novels and think about how to answer the essay topic questions.
- Anthem: Students in grades 8th to 12th worldwide can write an essay about Anthem for a top prize of $2,000
- The Fountainhead: Middle & high school students worldwide can write an essay on The Fountainhead for a top prize of $25,000
- Atlas Shrugged: High school, college, and graduate students worldwide can write an essay about Atlas Shrugged for a top prize of $25,000
Location(s)
Schedule
- Fall/Winter/Spring/Summer
Cost/Compensation
- Free
Eligibility Requirements
- All applicants must be at least 13 years old
Deadline
- Anthem: Late May
- The Fountainhead: Early June (Summer prompt); mid-September (Fall prompt); mid December (Winter prompt)
- Atlas Shrugged: Mid-June (Summer prompt); late September (Fall prompt); late December (Winter prompt)
Application or Entry Requirements
- Visit the Ayn Rand Institute website to sign up for an email with application instructions and application portal
- Requirements vary by novel
Notifications of Decisions
- Final results are announced approximately three to four months after the entry deadline.
Financial Aid Details
Other Dates to Keep in Mind
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Headquartered in Santa Ana, California, the Ayn Rand Institute offers educational experiences based on Ayn Rand’s books and ideas for a variety of audiences, including students, educators, policymakers, and lifelong learners. ARI also engages in research and advocacy efforts, applying Rand’s ideas to current issues and seeking to promote her philosophical principles of reason, rational self-interest, and laissez-faire capitalism.
