The John Locke Institute Essay Competition is a long-running writing contest for students interested in the humanities and social sciences. This post gives an overview of the competition, including key dates, application requirements, and why it’s worth entering.
Rishab Jain, a Harvard student and ISEF winner, has made his free Student STEM guide public, with a list of 50+ more opportunities and competitions. It’s worth a look next.
What is the John Locke Institute Essay Competition?
John Locke Institute annual dinner gala.
The John Locke Institute (JLI) is an independent educational organization that runs summer schools and gap-year courses in the humanities and social sciences, with faculty drawn from universities including Oxford and Princeton.
The JLI essay competition is a prestigious writing contest that invites secondary school students from around the world to submit an essay in one of several humanities categories. The categories are listed below, with sample questions:
- Philosophy (e.g. Do we have any good reasons to trust our moral intuition?)
- Politics (e.g. When is compliance complicity?)
- Economics (e.g. What is the optimal global population?)
- History (e.g. Has music ever significantly changed the course of history?)
- Law (e.g. When, if ever, should a company be permitted to refuse to do business with a person because of that person’s public statements?)
- Psychology (e.g. There is an unprecedented epidemic of depression and anxiety among young people. Can we fix this? How?)
- Theology (e.g. Does God reward those who believe in him? If so, why?)
- Junior Prize (e.g. Is there life after death?)
Each year, tens of thousands of entries are submitted from students in more than 150 countries. Essays may win prizes or commendations, and top contestants are invited to an academic conference and gala ceremony in London.
What are the prizes?
The competition awards first, second, and third prizes along with commendations. The strongest essays are first shortlisted, and shortlisted students are invited to the annual dinner gala where the prize winners are announced.
The prize winner in each subject category receives a scholarship worth US$2,000 toward the cost of attending any John Locke Institute program, and the winning essays are published on the Institute’s website. The best essay overall receives a US$10,000 scholarship.
Am I eligible for the John Locke Institute Essay Competition?
The main eligibility rule is age: students must not turn 19 on or before 30 June of the competition year. There is a separate Junior category for students whose fifteenth birthday falls after 30 June of the competition year. Confirm the exact cutoff dates for the current year on the John Locke Institute website.
Each entry must be original work written by the student. Only individual essays are allowed.
How do I apply to the John Locke Institute Essay Competition?
To apply, students submit an essay of no more than 2,000 words. You may add endnotes and/or a bibliography for citations. The application also requires verification from an academic referee confirming the essay is the student’s own original work.
The competition runs on an annual cycle. A typical year’s timeline looks like this:
- Registration opens: early April.
- Registration deadline: 31 May. (Registration is required by this date to submit later.)
- Submission deadline: 30 June.
- Late entry deadline: mid-July. (Late entries carry a US$20 charge.)
- Notification of shortlisted essayists: end of July.
- Academic conference and awards dinner: September, in London.
Check the John Locke Institute website for the current year’s exact dates before you plan your submission.
Why should I apply to the John Locke Institute Essay Competition?
Beyond being competitive and prestigious, the competition offers several real benefits. Here are a few.
Gain recognition
If you’re a serious writer or aspiring scholar, a strong result here puts your work in front of a wide audience. High school students don’t get many chances to have their writing read and judged at this level, so entering is a good way to gain real recognition.
A distinction from the John Locke Institute also validates the quality of your thinking and writing. It means your essay made it through a rigorous round of selection and earned a place among the top entries.
Get a boost on your college application
Entering essay competitions shows genuine intellectual interest in the humanities and social sciences. An honor like this rounds out your college application and contrasts nicely with your other activities. If the humanities are your main focus, it helps build your spike.
Taking part in competitions like this one shows you actively seek out opportunities in the fields you care about and keep developing your ideas. That kind of initiative tends to read well in admissions.
Win scholarships
Several of the distinctions come with scholarships. The overall winner receives a US$10,000 scholarship, and each category winner receives US$2,000 toward a John Locke Institute program. These awards add real value to the honor and carry over into college applications.
Join a community
The competition connects you with other students who care about ideas and argument. Tens of thousands apply each year, and for shortlisted students, the conference and awards dinner in London are a chance to meet peers and academics. Having a community of like-minded thinkers can broaden your perspective and support your work.
Conclusion
The John Locke Institute Essay Competition is a strong opportunity for students in the humanities and social sciences. Entering and winning can strengthen your college application, bring recognition to your writing, and earn scholarships.
It isn’t the only well-known writing competition for high schoolers, though. Check out this list of the top 10 writing competitions for high school students to take your writing further.
Rishab Jain, a Harvard student and ISEF winner, has made his free Student STEM guide public, with a list of 50+ more opportunities and competitions. It’s worth a look next.
Image Credits: John Locke Institute
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