How Good is being on the JLI Essay contest shortlist?

Applying to College
1

Hi! I’m currently a junior who has a strong passion for writing and I’ve won some awards for it before. Recently, I submitted an essay to the John Locke Institute’s essay contest. A few days ago, I got the email saying I’d been shortlisted (top 18.65% out of 63,000+ entrants from all over the world.) How prestigious is this achievement for college apps? I will definitely enter in more contests like this, I just want to know what it means to do well in this particular one.

Thanks for reading!

2

Congrats -keep writing.

I don’t think it moves the needle, but if you include it then great. It also depends on where you apply. Most schools don’t care about awards etc but some do.

In the end, you have a passion for writing. So keep doing so. Do it for you, not college apps.

But who knows, maybe you’ll win a contest or scholarship/prize. But more importantly, you’re sharpening those skills.