Contest Details
- Eligible to Enter: High school students in grades 10-12
- Word Count: 500-1000 word essay
- Submission Deadline: December 1, 2025
- Citation Format: Turabian
*All essays must be submitted through the application link.
Use of AI:
(a) A.I. should not be used in any way in the writing of the essay and (b) finalists will be contacted for a brief interview about their papers.
Essay Prompt
Why is college today still worth the investment of time?
Various mechanisms exist to mitigate the financial cost of college, but every college student has limited time and chooses to spend 3+ years in pursuit of collegiate studies. Why? And what must a college be like in order to be worthy of a student's investment? Does college as an institution add value to the individual?
First Prize
$8,000 tuition grant OR $2,500 cash prize
Published in The University Bookman and Thales College's Theory & Ground
Second Prize
$4,000 tuition grant OR $1,000 cash prize
Published in The University Bookman and Thales College's Theory & Ground
Third Prize
$2,000 tuition grant OR $500 cash prize
Published in Thales College's Theory & Ground
Honorable Mention
Free enrollment in Thales College Summer Institute 2026.