Discussion on winning the Coolidge Scholarship

Archive Other Major Scholarships and Competitions
1

If anyone knows any tips or is a winner on CC of this scholarship, mind posting a few tips and recommended criteria and such to win the scholarship? I’m interested in investing a a lot of time into this scholarship, but I need to know if I’d have any chance of winning.

I’m Vietnamese and attend a small high school in a small town in Florida (off the radar), I hold a 4.0 GPA and have taken honors and AP courses since freshman year, my parents both own and operate a salon and make a combined salary of about 40k, I’ve had some volunteering experience such as in a doctor’s office, active in art club for 2 years, volunteered at a children’s bible school in the summer, helped sell food for a couple of years in a row at the annual fundraiser for the local monastery, was a speaker on a holiday at the monastery (so some public speaking experience I guess?), and after school sometimes I help at the salon with cleaning and washing the tubs and tools and such. I don’t, however, have much awards other than the honor roll and perfect attendance. This year I’m juggling 4 AP courses which is tough for me, but I still managed to scrape by the first quarter with all A’s.

I’m also very interested in studying and pursuing computer engineering and dream of working in Silicon Valley someday.

Thanks. :slight_smile:

2

I would read thru this thread:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/other-major-scholarships-competitions/1880807-coolidge-scholarship-p1.html

3

Also, be aware that for its first year in 2016, there were 2300 applications, 10 finalists, and only 2 winners. No matter what, this is a very long shot for anyone to win.

4

You need to have very big accomplishments and achievements on a large scale to be competitive. You also need to write amazing essays (this is weighted the heaviest, especially the essay that requires you to read the Coolidge autobiography. ) and get very in-depth, personal, and descriptive letters of recommendations. Also, academic stats are important, but writing is the biggest component of the assessment.

5

Questbridge sounds like your niche: https://www.questbridge.org/high-school-students/college-prep-scholars

6

For this one, if you don’t get that “I could win this” feeling, probably not. This is one of the ones where the winners have international awards, successful companies or non-profits already going, etc. I’d pass and work on other ones where you have a greater chance. Even Coca-Cola etc is much more likely, with 150 winners of the top prize.