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Winning a full-ride scholarship for college is the absolute dream. For a few high-achieving students, the Coolidge Scholarship makes that dream a reality.
What Is the Coolidge Scholarship?
Every year, the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation awards the Coolidge Scholarship. This merit scholarship is a full-ride, presidential scholarship. It covers tuition, room and board for all four years of college. Students of all backgrounds, income levels, and geographic locations may apply.
How Many Students Apply For the Coolidge Scholarship?
The Coolidge Scholarship received around 3,200 applicants in 2020.
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Eligibility
To be eligible for the Coolidge Scholarship, you must:
- Be a citizen or legal permanent resident of the U.S.
- Intend to enroll full-time at an accredited college or university in the U.S.
- Be a first-time student and pursue a four-year undergraduate degree.
Students pursuing any academic discipline may apply. Applicants must not be the immediate family member of employees of the Coolidge Scholars Program or the Presidential Foundation.
How Many Scholarships Are Awarded Every Year?
Every year, two or three students receive the Coolidge Scholarship. Winners attend a summer orientation before their senior year of high school. Scholars continue to return to Plymouth Notch every summer for a week while in college.
While only a few students become Coolidge Scholars, you shouldn’t be put off by that low number! There are other opportunities to win awards.
Up to ten applicants become finalists. Finalists receive a one-time $5,000 scholarship. They attend the finalist weekend at the Coolidge Historic Site in Plymouth Notch, Vermont. During the weekend, they interview with the Coolidge Scholars Finalist Jury. The costs of travel and lodging are covered for finalists and one parent.
The other opportunity applicants have is to become a Coolidge Senator. The top one hundred applicants who don’t become Coolidge Scholars can become Coolidge Senators. This prestigious program awards a one-time scholarship of $1,000. Coolidge Senators attend the Senators’ Summit every summer in Washington, D.C. They explore D.C. and learn about President Coolidge. They also meet the other student senators from across the country. Students are considered for the Senators Program when they apply for the Coolidge Scholarship. There is no separate application.
How Do You Get the Scholarship?
You can apply for the Coolidge Scholarship during your junior year of high school. To apply, take the following steps:
- Fill out the scholarship application. Include a copy of your unofficial transcript, your GPA, and class rank.
- Submit two letters of recommendation with your application. One letter should be from somebody who can speak to your academic abilities. The other letter should be from somebody who can speak to your character and accomplishments.
- Submit three essays with your application. Two essays must be 400 words and one essay must be 600 words. One essay requires you to read “The Autobiography of Calvin Coolidge.” It also requires you to read the three Coolidge speeches.
*Note You can streamline the process by applying for the Coolidge Scholarship, along with many other scholarships, using ScholarshipOwl.
Scholarship winners are students who show academic excellence. Students must have an impressive academic record and show intellectual curiosity. They also must show an interest in public policy and an appreciation for President Coolidge’s values.
Scholarship winners also show a desire to help others. Community service was a value that Coolidge held near and dear to his heart. The scholarship awards students who want to make a difference in their communities.
We recommend getting to know President Coolidge’s values before filling out your application. Make sure to incorporate these values throughout your application.
What Is the Coolidge Scholarship Deadline?
The following is the timeline of the Coolidge Scholarship:
- October: application opens
- End of February: application deadline. You must submit your application, essays, and letters of recommendation by the deadline.
- Summer: applicants find out if they are finalists in the summer. You can check your status by logging into your application portal. Finalists receive notice by phone. They are invited to attend the finalist interview weekend in the summer.
Is the Coolidge Scholarship Worth It?
If you can show academic excellence, this is a scholarship worth applying to. It is a very competitive and prestigious scholarship. Even if you don’t become a Coolidge Scholar, you can still become a finalist and win a very generous one-time award. You can also become a Coolidge Senator which is a big honor in itself. Applying for scholarships takes time and effort but the payoff, if you win, is worth every minute of it.
