Introduction
The Coca-Cola Scholars Scholarship Award for High School Students is one of the most sought after and difficult-to-attain awards for high schoolers to achieve, with almost 7,000 scholars and more than $84 million in university funding scholarships having been handed out in total, $20,000 per student.
I’m Rishab Jain, a Harvard undergrad, and I won the Coca-Cola Scholars Scholarship my senior year of high school. Here’s exactly how I did it — and how you can too.
I won 10 scholarships in total. I put the whole playbook — plus 90+ scholarships and templates — in a free guide here.
About the Coke (Coca-Cola Scholars) Scholarship Award
The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation (CCSF), a non-profit connected to the Coca-Cola system, was founded in 1986. Each year it awards $20,000 scholarships to 150 graduating high school seniors, roughly $3 million a year.
However, there is a tough selection procedure, with 150 Coca-Cola Scholars being chosen each year from between 85,000 and 110,000 applications. Additionally, becoming eligible necessitates a minimum GPA of 3.00, being a senior in a U.S. high school or homeschooling program, and being a citizen or permanent resident of the United States. Amongst the many rewards that people get if they are select also includes the Coca-Cola Scholars Weekend in Atlanta, where scholars take part in networking with alumni, community service, and leadership development.
Just a quick note: for obvious reasons, applicants having family links to Coca-Cola companies are not eligible for the program.
How I Won the Coke (Coca-Cola Scholars) Scholarship Award
Let me first preface this with two important things. Firstly, why should you trust me?
Besides the obvious reason of the fact that I’ve won this scholarship myself, I have also won over $120,000 in scholarships to pay for my first year of Harvard, all for free. On top of that, I am an ISEF (International Science and Engineering Fair) winner, have performed novel research in high school, and am a YouTuber with over 120,000 subscribers across my channels all dedicated towards giving high schoolers tips like this all throughout my high school years.
The other thing: these tips are not the generic advice you will find everywhere. They will help with the Coca-Cola Scholarship specifically, and they work as general guidelines for winning almost any scholarship.
Now that is out of the way, let’s get into the meat of things.
1. Scams
First and foremost, avoid falling for the online scholarship scammers. I’ve been there, and I know exactly how to assist you put together a customized list of scholarships based on your qualifications and experience. Put an end to squandering time on dubious offers that solicit your email address, and lock in. For your convenience, I’ve also created a free Google Doc template that will help you concentrate on scholarships that are actually important.
2. Essays
Let’s now discuss how to make your applications stand out. Writing a strong essay is essential. Rather than offering cliched remarks, use specific stories to show your enthusiasm. I could give you pointers on crafting hooks that draw in readers and offer my X Factor advice, but the most important thing is to just be real and genuine to yourself throughout. It really does make a big impact, I promise.
3. Interviews
However, we won’t stop there! A vital component of the scholarship game is the interview. Talk with enthusiasm, smile, and an upbeat attitude. Now is your chance to shine, so don’t be hesitant to expound on your accomplishments. Oh, and here’s a pro tip: get in touch with scholarship providers to make a lasting impression and find out whether they exist.
Coke Scholarship Award Conclusion
Overall, my lasting piece of advice is always this: be real to yourself, try to get involved in as much as you can that relates to your passion and that is actually impactful to society, and be confident! If you stay relaxed, take a deep breath, and show the people reviewing your scholarship application how bright you shine in the world, then who knows? They might just rejoice in a toast to you… over a bottle of coke.
Win the Coke Scholarship Yourself as a High Schooler
Want to read more about the 2023 Coca-Cola Scholars, including myself? Check us out on the official Coca-Cola Scholars webpage.
Additionally, if you would like to win a scholarship of your own like the Coke Scholarship that I won (along side the many others like National Merit Scholar and ISEF), then please watch my full guide right here:
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