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Getting a scholarship that fully covers tuition costs is most students’ dream. It’s hard to believe there’s something even better out there. It’s the full-ride scholarship. These kinds of scholarships are special because they cover not only tuition but also other basic costs. This could mean you’re getting more than $200,000 of expenses covered with these scholarships.
One scholarship that generously offers such extraordinary prizes is the Coolidge Scholarship. This scholarship thinks that certain students are special. They are so special that the scholarship wants it to be a no-brainer for you to apply for it. As a result, the Coolidge Scholarship will provide you with the school-related necessities you need to make you want to partner with it for the next four years.
In this article, we give you the ultimate guide on the Coolidge Scholarship to cover all your tuition fees. Keep reading to know more.
About the Coolidge Scholarship
The Coolidge Scholarship is an annually awarded, full-ride, presidential scholarship for four years of undergraduate study. The scholarship may be used by recipients at any accredited college or university in the United States. It is available for anyone of any background, pursuing any academic discipline of study. The Coolidge Scholarship is sponsored and administered by the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation.
Students apply for the Coolidge Scholarship during their junior year of high school. Then, finalists are flown in for a finalist weekend at the Coolidge Historic Site in Plymouth Notch, Vermont where they interview with the jury. Recipients of the scholarship are notified of their award late in their junior year, before college application.
However, finalists who are not named Coolidge Scholars are eligible to receive a smaller, one-time, college scholarship. The main criterion that distinguishes Coolidge Scholars is academic excellence. Secondary criteria include demonstrating interest in public policy and appreciating the values Coolidge championed as well as humility and service.
Although only a few students are named Coolidge Scholars each year, one hundred of the top Coolidge Scholarships applicants are named “Coolidge Senators.” Coolidge Senators are invited, all-expenses-paid, to participate in the Senators Summit that takes place each summer in Washington, D.C. At the Summit, the Senators explore the nation’s capital, learn about President Coolidge, and meet other high-achieving students from across the country.
Program Benefits
The Coolidge Scholarship covers a student’s full tuition, room, board, and required fees for four years of undergraduate study. Additionally, it provides an annual stipend for books and supplies.
The Coolidge Scholarship also provides you a connection to a foundation dedicated to fostering undergraduates and focusing on lifelong learning. You’ll have the chance to spend several days each summer throughout your college years in Plymouth Notch, Vermont, where these meetings provide you the opportunities to network with other students at the top of your class from around the nation.
Eligibility Requirements
First of all, to qualify for the scholarship, you must intend to enroll full-time at an accredited U.S. college or university as an undergraduate for the first time in the next year’s Fall semester. That is to say, students in their junior year of high school, or the equivalent if homeschooled, are eligible to apply. Also, students who are currently high school juniors but take some courses at a local college are eligible to apply for the scholarship.
In addition, you must be a citizen or legal permanent resident of the United States of America by the scholarship deadline. As an applicant, you cannot be an immediate family member of any current employee or trustee of the Coolidge Scholars Program or the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation.
How to Apply for the Coolidge Scholarship
To apply for the scholarship, you will need to submit all the following information:
Application form which is accessible on the official website;
- SAT/ACT scorecards, PSAT score;
- School transcript, including all AP courses;
- Two essays, one no longer than 600 words and another no longer than 800 words;
- A two-page resume documenting any jobs held and the experience gained from them; and
- Two recommendation letters, one from a teacher and another from a member of the community who knows you well but is not related to you.
After submitting all these documents and are selected as a finalist, you will have an interview process with the selection jury.
Closing Date
The application first becomes available to all high school juniors in October. You then have five months until the next February deadline. Make sure to submit your application and the required documents ahead so you won’t stress about getting anything in at the last minute!
If you are selected as a finalist, you will be called directly on the phone. Once the deadline has passed, you just have to sit and wait for the call. Thus, there is no need to check the online application portal constantly.
Contact Details
Have any questions regarding the Coolidge Scholarship, its requirements, or the selection process? Send your message to the following postal address:
Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 97
Plymouth, Vermont 05056
Alternatively, you can also contact Rob Hammer at 202-827-4291 or CoolidgeScholars@CoolidgeFoundation.org for answers to your questions.
The Coolidge Scholarship Official Website
Find out more about the Coolidge Scholarship by visiting the official Coolidge Scholars website at coolidgescholars.org.
While we try to keep the information up to date and accurate, information is subject to change without prior notice. Thus, please always refer to the official website of the scholarship provider for complete and update information.
