The John Locke essay prize ceremony - is your child going ?

[notheydidnt]

so dc was shortlisted and we quickly realised the ceremony is not free and tickets are $500 each. (Around £475 I think). That’s almost a grand for the two of us.

parents of past/current shortlisted dc; did you attend the ceremony/will you be attending the ceremony ?

is it a scam?

is it worth going or a waste of money?

dc is ok about it either way.

Interesting. I'd never heard of it before.

So expensive. Would have to be an incredible night to justify that cost.

Never heard of it and Locke was born in my village!

It is a prestigious prize so congrats to your DS for being shortlisted. Good for the CV.

Attendance at the award ceremony is optional - big gala dinner type event You still get your prize whether or not you actually attend.

Apparently they shortlist 17.5% of the 63,000 entrants, so presumably they don't expect many to attend once travel etc is factored in.

I think the prestige is in getting shortlisted & it will look great in a UCAS application. I know DD only found out such things existed at an Oxford open day, which was too late by then. Your DC should be very proud of themself.