Hoover Institution Distinguished Undergraduate Essay Competition

The Hoover Institution sponsors an annual competition for distinguished essays written by undergraduates as part of their coursework at Stanford University. Essay submissions are expected to come from different disciplines and address widely varying topics that evince a concern with the values and institutions of liberty, including the impact of policies on human freedom.

HOW TO APPLY

Essays may be submitted online at any time during the academic year once applications open in October 2026. Eligible essays should have been written for a Stanford course during the previous twelve months. Essays should be between 4,000 and 7,500 words (including notes and bibliography), be styled in any standard format (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.), and submitted as Word documents. Submissions must include a separate cover letter explaining the assignment for which the paper was written and providing a concise summary.

Applications for the 2026–2027 school year will open in October 2026.