9 Writing Competitions for Teens
While extracurricular activities offer high school students the opportunity to meet new people and learn new skills, their primary purpose is to enhance academic profiles so students can improve their college admissions results. Entering writing competitions is a great way for a college applicant to demonstrate their creativity, critical thinking skills, and drive. Since the fall semester is just around the corner, check out these 9 avenues for you to start strategizing the next few months of extracurriculars.
Immerse Education Essay Competition
Applications open until September 18, 2025
Students aged 13 to 18 can submit a 500-word essay to compete for full or partial scholarships to Immerse Education’s college and career prep programs. There are over 20 essay prompts for students to choose from, and winners and runner-ups can use their scholarships toward online programs or residential courses at locations around the globe, like Oxford, London, New York, Cambridge, Sydney, and more.
Bennington College Young Writers Award
Applications open until November 1, 2025
High school students from every corner of the globe can submit poetry, short stories, or essays to the Young Writers Award competition and take their shot at winning cash prizes and scholarships. Bennington’s renowned alumni include U.S. poet laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, New York Times bestselling authors, and MacArthur Geniuses. They launched this competition to celebrate this legacy and promote high school talent.
The Tower Poetry Competition
Applications open in October 2025
UK teens aged 16 to 18 can enter this competition to compete for cash prizes up to £ 5,000.
High School Academic Research Competition (HSARC)
Pre-registration is now open
HSARC offers an opportunity similar to Scholar Launch’s research programs, but with a competitive edge. Students aged 13 to 18, including recent high school grads taking a gap year, can immerse themselves in this online research experience wherein they’ll develop research proposals. The top proposals are then awarded publication opportunities and cash prizes.
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
Applications open this fall, and deadlines are determined by region
As the U.S.’s longest-running and most prestigious recognition program for teenagers, the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards has celebrated the art and creative writing of students in grades 7 to 12 since 1923. There are nearly 30 award categories for teens to enter, and up to $12,500 in scholarship funds to compete for.
Harvard University’s High School International Economics Essay Competition (HIEEC)
Applications open this fall
High school students interested in economic theory and finance can hone their academic skills and demonstrate the breadth of their knowledge by participating in this prestigious essay competition.
Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA) Essay Contest
Applications open in November 2025
In appreciation of Jane Austen’s classic body of work, this contest invites high school, college, and graduate school students to analyze one of her works while writing on a specific theme, which changes year by year.
World Youth and Teenage Writing Contest (WYTWC)
Applications open until September 15, 2025
Students as young as five years old can submit short stories, cultural analyses, creative nonfictions, and critical essays to several categories of this competition. They’re judged on various criteria, like creative expression, thematic expression, and problem-solving through words.
Rachel Carson Intergenerational Sense of Wonder/Sense of the Wild Contest 2025
Applications open until November 16, 2025
This competition was created to honor Rachel Carson, an author and biologist who wrote the book The Sense of Wonder, which describes how time spent in nature contributes to our health and well-being, particularly in reducing teen depression. Students are invited to team up with someone from a different generation to submit creative essays and poetry about humanity’s profound and enduring connection with nature.
Enhance your college application and apply for a writing competition today.