Deadline for 2025 Submissions:

Monday, April 14, 2025, at 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time

Students who wish to have their senior essay considered for this prize must submit their own essay. We don't have control over most of the forms in the Interfolio submission application, so apologies in advance for the data requested. The only IMPORTANT information needed for Kaplan Senior Essay Prize submissions is:

• Your name and email address
• The name of your senior essay advisor
• Your Yale residential college affiliation

Submit an entry for the prize for an outstanding senior essay, on any topic, based substantially on research done in any of the Yale University Library special collections. This includes: Arts Library Special Collections, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library (including Manuscripts and Archives), Divinity Library Special Collections, Lewis Walpole Library, Medical Historical Library, Music Library Special Collections, and the Yale Film Archive.

Steps to submit:

1) Click here to launch Interfolio, (will launch a new window).

2) Click on the Apply Now icon to submit your senior essay for prize consideration (you may ignore the paragraph about the Application Process).

a) Click on the Create an account link and follow the instructions.

b) Once you've created an account and are at the Home screen in your new account, click on Deliveries in the left-hand navigation window, then on Edit in the In-Progress entry for the "2025 Diane Kaplan Senior Essay Prize" in order to complete your submission.

c) Click on Add File and then the Add New File tab to upload a PDF copy of your senior essay.

d) Fill in required fields in the several subsequent forms. The prize competition does not use any information provided in the EEO form; collecting this information is standard procedure for the university, but will not impact the prize process. 

e) Review your information and submit your senior essay.

3) Winners of the 2025 Diane Kaplan Memorial Senior Essay Prizes, their senior essay advisor, and their residential college dean will be notified by email during the week prior to Commencement Day 2025.