The Strongest Weapon for Admission to Top 20 US Universities!

Today's post is a continuation of the last one, the powerful weapon for admission to the top 20 US universities, Writing Competition Part 2.

In Part 1, I introduced several contests, and today, consider this as a continuation. The blog post for Writing Competition 1 is linked below for reference. Here are the contests introduced in Part 1:

• The Concord Review

• National History Day

• Ayn Rand Essay Contest

• Voice of Democracy Audio-Essay Scholarship Program

The Strongest Weapon for Admission to Top 20 US Universities! Let's start Writing Competition Part 2.

Introducing the activity that changes the "doubts" about English for Asian students held by US universities to "confidence," Writing Competition.

 • Date of establishment: 1923

• Qualification: 7th - 12th

• Scale: more than 0.3M

• Application Date: Dec. 1st.

• Result Announcement - Regional: Jan. National: Mar.

This contest is very well-known and a familiar one. With a long history, it is open for grades 7-12 and isn't limited to just writing, despite its name being Art and Writing. It encompasses various categories for writing participation:

• Critical Essay

• Dramatic Script

• Flash Fiction

• Humor

• Journalism

• Novel Writing

• Personal Essay & Memoir

• Poetry

• Science Fiction & Fantasy

• Short Story

Similar to other contests, students with good scores regionally progress to the national level. Apart from the Writing Competition, there are several other categories worth considering.

• Date of establishment: 1981

• Qualification: 10th - 12th or 15-18 years old

• Scale: 7000

• Application Date: Oct. 15

• Result Announcement: Dec.

• Preparation Period: Vary

It would be good to know that there's a Writing section in the Young Arts competition. With a long history, this contest is open to high school students. With a scale of 7,000 participants, it has slightly fewer applicants compared to other contests. This is because only US residents or citizens can participate. One advantage of the Young Arts- National Arts Competition, commonly known as Young Arts, is that even with a small award within the relatively few applicants, winners can access the education program provided by Young Arts. Various organizations offer classes and scholarships to Young Arts winners, creating a sense of belonging and boosting confidence by being part of such a community. The application deadline in October and the absence of a specific topic mean preparation periods vary for each student.

• Year awards Created: 1989

• Qualification: High School Student

• Application Date: Jan. 14

• Result Announcement: April

• Preparation Period: at least 6 months

• 700-1000 words

This contest was created by the John F. Kennedy Foundation and is based on John F. Kennedy's Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Profile in Courage. It has a history of over 30 years and is open to homeschooling/high school students. This contest has a relatively high entry barrier, requiring substantial preparation time, although the word count is not extensive, ranging from 700-1000 characters. A tip: alongside contests like the Concord Review/NHD introduced in Part 1, writing based on historical backgrounds can enhance efficiency. The contest theme is: "Describe and analyze an act of political courage by a U.S. elected official who served during or after 1917, the year John F. Kennedy was born. Include an analysis of the obstacles, risks, and consequences associated with the act. The essay may concern an issue at the local, state, national, or international level." Think of this as researching and writing about the actions of a political figure displaying courage since 1917. The definition of political courage here includes pressure to be liked, and re-elected, and pressure from constituents and interest groups. To meet the contest criteria, present more than five references in your essay. This contest requires an interest in both 'history' and 'politics.' It necessitates reading and studying history, leading to a longer preparation period.

• Date of establishment: 2010

• Qualification: Junior - Age 11-14 (750 words) Senior: Age 15-18 (1,250 words)

• Scale: 6,000

• Application Date: Jan. 14

• Result Announcement: June

• Preparation Period: 1-4 months

This contest is related to environmental issues and is gaining increasing attention. Founded to raise awareness about the impact of climate change on the ocean, it's been around for about 11 years. Due to its environmental theme, interest in this contest is growing. While last year's participants were around 6,000, this year's expected participants could reach 10,000. Participants worldwide aged 11 to 18 can enter, not only in writing but also in the art category. Emphasizing creativity, the preparation period for this contest is relatively short. In 2022, the theme was "The funny about climate change," asking for a humorous satire on climate change. Humor involves delivering profound observations in a tender manner, and creating humor requires in-depth observation. Therefore, extensive research would be helpful in preparing for such a contest. Apart from writing, as seen in the image, various categories are available for entry based on personal interests.

I've covered Writing Competitions in Part 1 and Part 2 of the post. When considering whether to participate in any contest, it might be beneficial to refer to past winning works. Many of the past winning works are often available on each contest's website for reference. Apart from the explanations provided in Writing Competition Parts 1 and 2, there are several other contests recommended.

Lastly, what I'd like to emphasize is that regardless of one's confidence in English or strong interest in history or writing, if one can showcase even a bit of creativity, winning is possible. So, take some time and give it a try.

Thank you.