The Century Magazine offers three prizes to all persons who receive the degree of A.B. this year, or who graduated with this degree in 1899. Each prize is of $250 awarded as follows: One, for the best metrical writing of not fewer than fifty lines; two, for the best essay in the field of biography, history or literary criticism, of not fewer than four thousand or more than eight thousand words; three, for the best story of not fewer than four thousand or more than eight thousand words.

A competitor may submit more than one manuscript, provided that none of them has been published. All compositions should be typewritten and sent to the Century within a year of the author's graduation. They should be marked, "For the College Competition," signed by a pen-name, and accompanied by the name and address of the author in a separate sealed envelope.