Scholarship database
The best scholarships for high schoolers
Curated by consultants who have personally won several of these. Every entry includes the real deadline, real eligibility, and one tip we'd tell our own students.
Starred entries ★ are ones our team has personally won.
★Coolidge Scholarship
Full RideOur tip: One of the most prestigious full-ride scholarships in America. The committee values intellectual curiosity and public service — not just grades. Start building your narrative early.
Neal Karani & Arhan Barve are Coolidge Senators
★Coca-Cola Scholars Program
MeritOur tip: 150 winners from 100,000+ applicants. Leadership impact matters more than academic stats here. Document your community involvement starting sophomore year.
Andrew Lin is a Coca-Cola Scholar (Class of 2025)
QuestBridge National College Match
Need-BasedOur tip: If you qualify financially, this is the most powerful scholarship program in America. Match acceptances are binding — rank schools carefully.
Gates Scholarship
Need-BasedOur tip: Extremely competitive. Focus your essays on community impact and leadership trajectory, not academic achievement.
National Merit Scholarship
MeritOur tip: The PSAT is the qualifying exam. Study for it like the SAT. Semifinalist cutoffs vary by state — know yours.
★Regeneron Science Talent Search
STEMOur tip: Requires completed independent research. Top 300 scholars are announced in January. The research quality matters more than the topic — methodology and originality are everything.
Soneesh Kothagundla is a Top 300 Scholar
Davidson Fellows Scholarship
STEMOur tip: Designed for students who have completed substantial independent projects. The 'significant work' bar is high — this isn't for class projects.
★Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellowship
FellowshipOur tip: A State Department program — the application emphasizes civic engagement and cross-cultural understanding. Write about real community work, not a service trip.
Shaunak Buche is a Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellow
★NSLI-Y
FellowshipOur tip: Extremely competitive (~1–2% acceptance). Demonstrate genuine cultural curiosity, not just interest in the country.
Shaunak Buche is an NSLI-Y Summer Scholar
★Conrad Challenge
CompetitionOur tip: Not about the best invention — about the most viable one. Judges want a business model, not a science fair project.
Vishwa Rajan & Shaunak Buche are Conrad Challenge Winners
★Diamond Challenge
CompetitionOur tip: Social and business innovation tracks. The pitch matters as much as the idea — practice it obsessively.
Soneesh, Shaunak & Vishwa are Diamond Challenge Winners
Elks Most Valuable Student
MeritOur tip: Leadership and financial need are both weighted. The local lodge interview is often the deciding factor — prepare for it seriously.
Tylenol Future Care Scholarship
HealthcareOur tip: Less competitive than most scholarships of this value. If you're pre-med or interested in healthcare, apply.
Posse Foundation
Need-BasedOur tip: You must be nominated — you can't apply directly. Talk to your school counselor early junior year.
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
Need-BasedOur tip: One of the largest private scholarships in the US. The application is extensive — start in September.
Need help applying for any of these?
Our team has personally won the Coolidge, Coca-Cola Scholars, Conrad Challenge, Diamond Challenge, and more. We know what these committees actually look for.
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