Scholar of Tomorrow (SoT) is a nonprofit academic organization founded and led by college and high school students around the world. Through its annual Essay Competition, SoT invites students to engage with thought-provoking questions in economics and psychology while building critical thinking and research skills. The competition also aims to foster creativity and innovation by creating a global community where young people can share academic ideas and discoveries.
Students can choose to participate in one of two categories: economics or psychology. Each year, SoT announces a new topic for each category, marking the beginning of another competition cycle.
1. SoT Essay Competition Topics
SoT has announced the new topics for this year’s essay competition. The prompts for the economics and psychology categories are listed below:
- Psychology: What is gained and lost when students delegate cognitive labor to AI? Is this simply cognitive offloading, or something fundamentally different
- Economics: To what extent are modern economies shaped by networks rather than markets? In a world increasingly influenced by artificial intelligence, will human connections become more or less economically important?
2. Who Can Participate?
High school students from any country can join as long as they are 18 years old or younger by the submission deadline.
3. Competition Timeline
The competition will run from early July through the beginning of September:
- Submission opens: July 1, 2026
- Submission deadline: September 1, 2026
- Awards announced: Mid-October, 2026
Builds Writing Skills Step-By-Step, From Foundational Techniques to Advanced Academic Research.
4. Fees and Awards
Entry Fee
The entry fee for the competition is $30/person.
Awards
By participating in the competition, students have the chance to win one of the following prizes:
- First Prize: 100 USD / 700 RMB
- Second Prize: 50 USD / 350 RMB
- Third Prize: 30 USD / 200 RMB
- Honorable Mentions
5. Submission Guidelines
Students are required to write an essay of up to 1,500 words on one of the topics listed above. Your submission should:
- Be written in English and completed individually.
- Have a maximum length of 1,500 words (the cover page, abstract, and references are not included in the word count).
- The format of citations for Psychology question is APA and for Economics question is MLA (you can consult Purdue OWL for guidance).
- Be typed in Times New Roman, 12-point font, and double-spaced.
- Include a cover page with the essay title and author information.
- Contain an abstract between 120 and 250 words.
- Use credible, peer-reviewed sources with proper citations.
- Be submitted only in MS Word format.
- Be free of plagiarism and AI assistance; all essays will be checked using Turnitin and AI detection tools.
6. How to Prepare for the SoT Essay Competition
For a deeper breakdown of the judging rubric, topic-specific research resources, and tips for writing a competitive entry, read our companion guide: In-Depth Guide to the Scholar of Tomorrow Essay Competition
7. Resources for the Psychology Topic
If you plan to submit an essay on the psychology topic of the SoT Essay Competition, here are some steps to get you started:
Explore psychology research on the SoT website
SoT regularly publishes research articles and resources related to both past and current essay topics. Reviewing these materials can help you become familiar with the subjects featured on the SoT platform.
Build foundational knowledge about psychology.
If you are new to psychology, consider spending time learning about its key concepts and frameworks before diving into your essay.
- Read psychology books: Introductory psychology textbooks and books will help you build a stronger understanding of the prompt. For recommended titles, you can refer to Aralia’s psychology reading guide.
- Research related psychology topics: The 2026 Psychology prompt explores how artificial intelligence is changing the way students think, learn, and solve problems. To prepare, students should read academic journal articles, books, and credible news sources on topics such as cognitive offloading, metacognition, learning and memory, human-AI interaction, educational psychology, and the cognitive impacts of AI-assisted learning. Exploring different perspectives will help students develop a balanced and well-supported argument on whether delegating cognitive tasks to AI represents a natural extension of existing learning strategies or a fundamentally new shift in human cognition.
- Take a foundational psychology course: If possible, enroll in an introductory psychology course at your school or through an online platform. A structured course can help you understand research methods, key psychological theories, and essential terminology, which will be valuable when writing your essay.
Review past winning essays
Reading past winning essays from the SoT competition will help you understand what a strong essay looks like. Pay attention to how previous winners structured their arguments, integrated research, and connected their analysis back to the prompt.
8. Resources for the Psychology Topic
Explore economics research on the SoT website
SoT provides valuable resources and research materials to help you broaden your economics knowledge. Reviewing these will give you insight and ideas on how to approach the question.
Build foundational knowledge about economics
Begin by strengthening your understanding of core economic concepts and theories. This will help you analyze the prompt more effectively and apply relevant ideas in your essay.
- Build background knowledge through reputable sources: Explore economics research published by respected organizations such as the National Bureau of Economic Research, the Federal Reserve Board, and the American Economic Association. These sources offer high-quality papers and data that can deepen your understanding of topics like sanctions, trade wars, tariffs, and industrial policies.
- Research the specific topics mentioned in the prompt: The 2026 Economics prompt examines the roles of markets, networks, and artificial intelligence in shaping modern economies. To prepare, students should research key concepts such as market economies, economic networks, social capital, network effects, digital platforms, globalization, labor markets, and the economic impact of AI. Reading academic articles, books, and credible news sources on these topics will help students understand different economic perspectives and build a well-reasoned argument about how human relationships and networks may evolve in an AI-driven economy.
- Stay updated on current economic issues: Read daily economic news from reputable outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, and The New York Times. Being aware of recent developments will allow you to connect your essay to real-world examples and current debates.
- Take an introductory economics course: Doing so either online or at your school will enable you to build a solid foundation in economics. This will help you better understand and analyze the essay topics and related materials.
Review past winning essays
To understand what makes an essay successful, read past winning essays to learn how to develop clear reasoning, incorporate supporting evidence, and follow the proper format.
Aralia Students Are 4x More Likely to Publish a Research Paper
Looking to Enter the SoT Essay Competition?
With expert guidance from our experienced instructors and professors from leading universities, many Aralia students have proudly earned prizes in the SoT Essay Competition. Our instructors will help you build a deep understanding of essential economics and psychology concepts while developing and refining your essay ideas.
You’ll receive personalized feedback tailored to strengthening your critical analysis and writing skills. By the end of the course, you’ll have a polished, competitive essay ready to submit with confidence.
