The Columbia Political Review's (CPR) High School Essay Contest is an annual competition open to talented high school students from across the country and designed to cultivate the next generation of politically engaged writers. Submissions are between 700 and 1,200 words and are evaluated based on clarity, conciseness, the strength of the argument, and effective use of evidence. Every year, the grand prize winner receives a cash prize of $300, and two honorable mentions each receive $100.
Location(s)
- Remote
Schedule
- Spring/Summer
Cost/Compensation
- Free entry
Eligibility Requirements
- Open to U.S. high school students
Deadline
- July 1 at 11:59 PM EST
Application or Entry Requirements
- Essays should be between 700 and 1,200 words
- Citations should be included as in-text hyperlinks (consult CPR-published articles for examples)
- Entries must be submitted through the online form available on the organization's website
- Each contestant may only submit one essay for consideration
Notifications of Decisions
Financial Aid Details
Other Dates to Keep in Mind
- Prompts are announced in early June
Have other questions?
The Columbia Political Review (CPR) is an undergraduate publication for multipartisan political discourse whose mission is to provide an open forum for political thought on issues of local to global significance. CPR publishes online content on a near-daily basis and produces a semesterly print magazine featuring select articles. It maintains a staff of over 150 writers and editors and, in addition to weekly staff meetings, hosts a podcast, a newsletter, and a yearly High School Essay Contest.
