GRC Social Impact Essay Competition 2024
Solutions for Good
GRC Social Impact Essay Competition 2026
Solutions for Good
A platform for ambitious high school students to share ideas for social good
GRC is an international 501(c)(3) non-profit with branches at over 30 top universities around the globe, including Harvard, UPenn, and Columbia. Every year over 1,000 GRC members work with non-profits, NGOs, startups, governments, and corporations on solving their social impact challenges. Every year, GRC hosts an essay competition for high school students from around the world to brainstorm Solutions for Good.
more about GRC
Awards
TOP 10
Coaching sessions with an undergraduate mentor from one of GRC’s branches.
TOP 30
Publication of the essay on GRC Insights and a digital finalist certificate.
TOP 31-50
Authors will receive a digital finalist certificate and be inducted into the GRC Class of 2026-2027 Fellows Cohort. See the section below for details
TOP 5
Authors will be offered an internship with one of GRC university branches and will support a consulting team with a client project from February till May 2024.
TOP 10
Authors will get an Ivy League mentor to support them in their academic journey for at least three coaching sessions.
TOP 30
Essays will be published by GRC's think tank on our Insights platform and all authors will receive a digital laureate certificate.
TOP 31-50
Authors will receive a digital finalist certificate.
Prompts
Students must produce a research essay answering a prompt related to one of the following topics: Technology for Good, Global Health, Sustainable Development & Climate Change, Trade and the New Economic Order, Modern Solutions to Human Rights Issues, and Mental Health and Generation Z.
Choose one of the following topics:
Sustainable Development& Climate Change
Increasing demand for energy-intensive technologies, such as AI is straining climate targets. How should governments and companies prioritize technological progress and environmental responsibility?
Global
Health
Misinformation and falling trust in institutions are making public health crises harder to manage. How can trust in public institutions be rebuilt?
Technology
for Good
A few countries and companies now control most of the world’s advanced technology, from AI models to the chips that power them. How can the benefits of innovation be shared more fairly across the globe?
Trade and the New Economic Order
Rising tariffs and reshoring are reversing decades of globalization. How should countries balance self-sufficiency with the benefits of international trade?
Community-Based Economic Solutions
How can residents be encouraged to participate in community-based economic activities and public governance?What obstacles currently exist, and how would you like to address them?
Mental Health and Generation Z
Rising anxiety and social media use are reshaping how young people grow up. What role should schools, policymakers, or tech companies play in protecting youth mental health?
Rules
Word count
Minimum 500, maximum 1000 words (excluding titles, references, and footnotes).
Graphics
You can attach up to 2 charts or infographics to support your argument.
Authors
Participation is limited to individuals only.
Plagiarism
All essays will be screened for plagiarism using software. Any plagiarism will result in immediate disqualification.
References
Reference all sources, preferably using Chicago citation style. References do not count towards the word limit.
Timeline
Registration
opens
Sep 1st, 2026
Submission
deadline
Nov 7th, 2026
Results
announced
December 2026 - January 2027
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any questions, please contact us:
Registration Inquiry:info@seedasdan.org | Business Cooperation:BD@seedasdan.org | Feedback and Complaints:IN@seedasdan.org