About the competition
The Junior Scholars Essay Contest is a free, international essay competition for students in grades 6 to 8. Six winners share more than $11,000 in cash prizes and scholarships. Entries are reviewed double-blind by professors and researchers from Cambridge, Columbia, Brown, and Dartmouth. Essays must be original, argumentative writing in English (max 1,000 words, MLA 8). Free registration until 30 Nov 2026 ($5 late); submission deadline 20 Dec 2026; shortlist 4 Jan 2027; results 10 Jan 2027.
Prize
Mixed/Other
Gold $300 + $2,890 scholarship; Silver $200 + $2,500; Bronze $100 + $2,000; over $11,000 total
Deadline
December 20, 2026
in 1 month
Eligibility
Open to everyone
Open worldwide unless noted.
