The Berkeley Economic Review High School Essay Contest invites high school students from all around the world to explore economic topics through essay writing. Participants are required to respond to one of two available prompts in 1,000 words or fewer. Essays must be supported by evidence from credible sources and include a works cited page. Winning entries are published in the Berkeley Economic Review magazine, Equilibrium, and featured on the organization's website and social media.
Location(s)
- Remote
Schedule
Cost/Compensation
Eligibility Requirements
- BER accepts submissions globally
- Students are only eligible to participate if they haven’t begun their undergraduate university studies yet
- Team submissions are not allowed
Deadline
- March 14, 2026 at 11:59 PM PST
Application or Entry Requirements
All submissions must follow standard MLA format. Essays should:
- Be no longer than 1,000 words (not including the Works Cited page or any figures)
- Use 12-point Times New Roman font with 1-inch margins on all sides
- Include a Works Cited page at the end
- Be submitted as either a PDF or Word (.docx) file
Notifications of Decisions
- Winners are announced during the first week of May
- Winners are announced during the first week of May
Financial Aid Details
Other Dates to Keep in Mind
Have other questions?
The Berkeley Economic Review (BER) is Berkeley’s premier undergraduate student-run economics journal. BER publishes high-quality original research by fellow undergraduates from accredited universities around the world. Submissions are reviewed in two cycles—the Spring and Fall semesters of a calendar year. Once submissions are reviewed and edited for publication, the annual journal is released in the winter.
