JASNA Essay Contest

The Jane Austen Society of North America runs an annual essay contest on Jane Austen's novels, open to students worldwide in three divisions, including one for high school students. Students enrolled at the high school level, including homeschoolers, write an essay on the year's topic; in 2026 the topic asked students to compare two or more of Austen's male characters. In each division, first place wins a $1,000 scholarship plus free registration and two nights of lodging at JASNA's Annual General Meeting, second place wins $500 and third place wins $250. The 2027 topic and rules will be posted in November 2026, and submissions open in February 2027. The 2026 contest closed June 1, 2026. This is a good fit for strong readers and writers, especially students who already enjoy Austen in an English class, because the essay can grow out of schoolwork.

Other deadlines near this one

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How hard is the JASNA Essay Contest to win?

A large applicant pool chases this award. Apply if the student is a genuinely strong fit, but build the plan around better-odds awards first.

What drives the odds here

Odds on a scholarship are mostly a question of how many students can enter. Each rule below changes the size of that field.

• More rivalsOpen nationwide, so the field is large
• Fewer rivalsAn essay is required, which filters out casual applicants
• Fewer rivalsRestricted to specific intended majors

How Solyo estimates this: We model the applicant field from how narrow the eligibility rules are, then divide the awards available by that field. Requirements such as essays and recommendation letters improve a serious applicant’s odds, because most browsers never complete them. These are estimates derived from each award's published structure, not reported acceptance rates, which almost no scholarship provider discloses. Treat them as a way to rank where the hours go, not as a guarantee.

Who can apply for the JASNA Essay Contest?

These are the eligibility rules Solyo verified against the official award page, translated into plain English. Your student must meet each one.

• ✓Open to high school freshmen, high school sophomores, high school juniors, and high school seniors
• ✓Planning to study the Humanities

What the application takes

• Essay required.

Deadline and application cycle

The next projected deadline is June 1, 2027 (estimated). The last verified deadline has passed; the next cycle is projected from this award's usual June 1 deadline. Confirm the exact date on the official site. Applications open February. The 2027 deadline is not posted yet; the 2026 contest closed June 1.

2027 topic and rules posted

November 2026

Submissions open

February 2027

Essay due

June 1, 2027 (estimated)

Common questions about the JASNA Essay Contest

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Lists this award appears on

• Scholarships With June Deadlines