<p>As a Coke Scholar from last year, I just want to let ya’ll know that this is an AMAZING scholarship. I went to a small school in Missouri, had a 29 ACT, tons of clubs/sports/organizations…and a fair amount of volunteer work. The second (essay) part of the competition was the hardest, but like it was mentioned earlier, none of the essays were that different than the run-of-the-mill college essays you’ve been filling out. As for criteria, the kids I met in Atlanta were totally awesome…super bright, involved, and interesting…not to mention FUN. I don’t think I met anyone w/ an ACT score under a 28, and there were a few “perfects.” The biggest thing I noticed was that everyone had a special “SOMETHING” they had done, whether it was starting a business, inventing a product, a cool foreign exchange…you could ask everyone there “something” and it was really cool to hear responses. Personally, I studied termites for a month in the Virgin Islands w/ an all-expenses paid award. Good luck to all of the semifinalists who posted on here; if you are one of the 250 you will have an amazing time in Atlanta. It was one of the best weekends of my life thus far. Also, I was only a regional ($10,000) winner, but the contacts made that weekend (an internship with Microsoft this summer), as well as trips (I’m volunteering for a week in Louisiana during xmas break) have been incredible.</p>
<p>I know I might be counting my chickens before I hatch, but is there anything during the week that takes place on Saturday (interviews, etc.)?</p>
<p>HansTAR, I believe that if you are selected as a finalist, you are interviewed down in Atlanta. The interviews will determine the 200 10K winners and the 50 20K winners. As for all I have heard about the Semifinalist selection, it is a mathematical formula that incorporates class rank percentage, service hours and whatever else. If you meet a certain number, you’re in. I don’t feel too bad for those who didn’t make it; reading your credentials, you should have no trouble getting money elsewhere. My friend (4.0 GPA, 5’s on all AP’s, 2400 SAT Calc 3 at U-M dual enrollment, Natl Merit Finalist, valedictorian, involved in drama, forensics) didn’t make it despite getting into Yale. It is all about volunteering as well as academics.</p>
<p>Ah, so is it more than 250 that make it to Atlanta?</p>
<p>Also, thanks for the answer, but I was just curious as to whether there was specifically anything on Saturday that might conflict with my religious beliefs.</p>
<p>its just the 250 that go to atlanta, but they’re chosen from the 2,000 semifinalists who write essays and provide recommendations. i really want to make it - atlanta sounds amazing!</p>
<p>the newsletter that was sent out to everyone that applied was a mistake. all semifinalists should have gotten emails explaining that the newsletter email was only supposed to go to alumni. just to let you know that coke wasnt purposefully trying to annoy anyone.</p>
<p>and also to those who did not make semifinalist and seem to be complaining about Coca Cola’s unfair selections, there were 80,000 applicants for this scholarship. i’m sure that thousands of them are on this website. however, there are only 2,000 semifinalist spots. i know if i didnt get semifinalist, i would be really disappointed, but you have to move on. you can’t complain that coca cola is unfair, because they’re doing the best they can. every single semifinalist, i’m sure, is well qualified for their position, and every single one of the 250 finalists will be extremely qualified.</p>
<p>DONE! I just sent mine in today. I did overnight mail seeing as how it’s very last minute. It should arrive on time, but do they really penalize you if your scholarship packet arrive maybe a day late?</p>
<p>thats crazy it attracts 80k. i ended up being a semi. but i didnt feel like i deserved it compared to a friend of mine who had much higher sats and was valedictiorian. i mean i can understand using a formula for the initial process, but it doesnt make sense to use another formular for finalist. People sometimes put their service hours into wrong perspective or bs them. Doesn’t make too much sense to me.</p>
<p>when are we supposed to find out if we’re finalists?</p>
<p>mid-Feb…last year it was 2/12 and 2/13 the year before. Less than a month!</p>
<p>And the countdown starts…12/13 more days until we know!</p>
<p>FINALISTS ARE UP!!!</p>
<p>Here’s the link: </p>
<p><a href=“https://www.coca-colascholars.org/cokeWeb/servlet/SearchResultsController?actionPage=finalists[/url]”>https://www.coca-colascholars.org/cokeWeb/servlet/SearchResultsController?actionPage=finalists</a></p>
<p>Finalist!!! Wooo!!</p>
<p>CONGRAGS DNA3!! </p>
<p>FINALIST YEEHAAA!!! Looking forward to meeting you guys during finalist weekend.</p>
<p>I think i got the finalist but i think there must be some mistake ? if i did i look foward to seeing you guys in atlanta , ima call tommrow to make sure before i get excited because there must be a mistake</p>
<p>I made Finalist!!!</p>
<p>Hi:</p>
<p>Is this list on the link offical..</p>
<p>yep… I called and it’s official!</p>
<p>who did you speak to…my daughter is on the list and I what to scream..so are you sure because I am at work and I don’t want people to think I have lost it…</p>