When you do come across fun scholarships, take the extra time to apply. Their creative and unique elements make them far more interesting than traditional college scholarships, and they're worth the effort.
Taco Bell's Live Mas Scholarship
Taco Bell has a fun and easy Live Mas scholarship with a simple premise: you submit a two-minute video in which you explain the driving passion of your life. That's it. The competition typically runs through November to February, and this year's deadline is February 21. Awards range from $5,000 to $25,000.
Design a Greeting Card
The Gallery Collection has an annual scholarship for creating greeting cards. You draw and color a greeting card design and submit it to The Gallery Collection. The last day to submit is March 1, 2019. The winner receives $10,000 in cash to go towards tuition expenses. The contest opens around May of each year and closes the following March.
Stuck at Prom
The Duck Brand Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest challenges high school students to create prom outfits entirely from Duck brand duct tape. The company awards more than $10,000 in scholarships each year, and past award winners have been quite elaborate, so if you have your eye on this scholarship, be prepared to challenge your crafting and design skills.
Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship
Each year, zombie fans can apply for Unigo's Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship. The deadline, of course, coincides with the creepiest day of the year (October 31), and winners are notified the following January. To apply, you need to write an essay of sorts on your plan to survive the zombie apocalypse. Award amount is a $2,000 non-renewable scholarship.
Superpower Scholarship
Which superhero or villain would you be for a day and why? If you have a ready answer to that question, the Superhero Scholarship is for you. The award amount is $2,500 towards tuition expenses and a winner is chosen based on their 250-word response to that question. Deadline is in March, and the winners are notified in June.
The Resume Companion Scholarship
This fun scholarship challenges would-be recipients to create a resume based on a fictional or non-fictional character, from TV, history, literature or myth. The deadline is July for the upcoming fall semester and you only need to submit your character's resume, as well as a brief description of who you're submitting for.
Power Poetry Scholarships
Power Poetry invites students to respond to a regularly-updated prompt, otherwise known as a 'Scholarship Slam.' You can enter as one time for each slam but can enter as many slams as you want, and each prize is worth $1,000 towards tuition and fees. Students register for the site first and then submit their poetry for a chance to win. If you're not enrolled in college yet, they will hold your scholarship for you until you are.
Minecraft Scholarship
If you love Minecraft, the Minecraft Scholarship just might be for you. If you can write a decently persuasive essay on how Minecraft can be a force in education, you can apply to earn a scholarship of $2,000. The deadline is in July each year, and you need to have a GPA of at least 3.0. A committee reviews the essays and lets students know via email if they've won. Note that you need to be a Minecrafter - as your IGN (in game name) is required on the application.
Make Me Laugh Scholarship
This hilarious scholarship opportunity simply asks you to tell a story, in 250 words or less, about a funny incident. It doesn't even have to be true - just make the judges laugh. The Make Me Laugh Scholarship is due by the end of August, and if your story is the most hilarious, the award is $1,500.
10 Things About You
If you're tired of boasting about your awesome extracurriculars, or your GPA, you can earn the 10 Things You Love About You Scholarship, simply by writing about things that make you an awesome human being. The directions are intentionally vague, but don't let that discourage you because you could win $1,500. The deadline is the end of December and winners are notified by the end of March each year.
Hit the Books (Coffee for Less) Scholarship
If you need money for books (and who doesn't), can write 500 words about the importance of education, and muster up a creative way to talk about your love of coffee without derailing your essay topic, make sure and apply for the Hit the Books scholarship from Coffee for Less. Students can apply twice per year, once in January and once in September, but are only eligible to win the $500 once. The award is non-renewable and is specifically for books and other educational expenses as opposed to tuition.
Shout It Out Scholarship
If you have something to say, the Shout It Out Scholarship is the perfect way to get your message out and earn a little moola for college. You simply answer the question, 'If you could say something to the whole world at once, what would it be?' Awards are $1500 and the application deadline is in September each year. Think creatively on this one - the fun is in finding something well outside of the box to write about.
DoSomething.org's Easy Scholarships
These 'easy' scholarships vary in tasks but the idea is simple - DoSomething.org will award you a scholarship for simply doing something and uploading a photo showing that you did it. Awards are generally about $5,000, and tasks run from things like giving your friend a Valentine's Day card to doing five nice things to impact your community within five days. No GPA requirements, essays, or letters of recommendation.
The Fifth Month Scholarship
If you can think outside of the box, and come up with something creative to say to the number five, you could win $1,500 for college tuition expenses. The deadline for The Fifth Month Scholarship is at the end of May every year.
Groove Life Scholarship
If you love adventure, the Groove Life Scholarship is definitely worth looking at. Think of your greatest adventure - either past, present, or future - and make a two-minute video about it. (If you are not into making videos, you can also write an essay.) Groove Life awards two scholarships - one for $3,000 and one for $2,000. The deadline to apply is July of each year.
Fun, But Also Serious
Though many fun scholarships encourage you to be creative and unique with your application, it's also important to be professional and take the process seriously. Whether your entry is an essay, a performance, a piece of artwork, or just a completed form, it's the only impression the judges will have of you, and you should treat it accordingly. You don't have to be reserved or stuffy, but always present your work with courtesy, genuine interest, and a sense of care.
