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Microsoft scholarships award students pursuing degrees in computer science and related STEM fields. STEM fields include science, technology, engineering, and math.
Who Can Win a Microsoft Scholarship?
Microsoft awards two different scholarships, the Microsoft Tuition Scholarship and the Blacks at Microsoft Scholarship.
Students pursuing STEM degrees may apply for both Microsoft scholarships. Microsoft looks for applicants who show leadership and passion.
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Check for scholarshipsMicrosoft Tuition Scholarship
The Microsoft Tuition Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship. It awards college students pursuing a major in a STEM field.
Applicants must be current full-time students. They must be pursuing a degree at a four-year college or university in the United States, Canada or Mexico. International students are also eligible to apply.
The scholarship awards applicants who show academic excellence. Applicants must maintain a 3.0 GPA out of a possible 4.0, or a 4.0 GPA out of a possible 5.0.
Microsoft especially encourages minority students to apply. They place a priority on female students, African-American, Hispanic and Native American students.
The scholarship covers up to 100% of a student’s tuition. Students may use scholarships for tuition only. Microsoft makes payments to a student’s school.
To apply, applicants must submit the following documents:
- Official transcript
- Personal response to the application’s essay question.
The application is open between October-January.
Blacks at Microsoft Scholarships
The Blacks at Microsoft Scholarships awards college scholarships to outstanding high school seniors.
To apply, students must be of African-American descent. They must plan to attend a four-year college or university in the fall. They also must plan to pursue a bachelor’s degree in a STEM-related field or select business programs.
Applicants must have a minimum 3.3 GPA and show financial need.
Three students win a $5,000 renewable scholarship. Up to 24 students with a financial need can win the runner-up prize of a one-time $2,500 stipend.
To apply, applicants must submit the following documents:
- Current academic transcript
- Resume with extracurricular activities, honors, awards received, and work experience.
- Two essays of less than 500 words each. In one essay, applicants must describe their career goals. In the second essay, they must address their financial need.
- Personal photograph
Tips for Winning a Microsoft Scholarship
Microsoft Scholarships are competitive. Put together an outstanding application to increase your chances of winning. Here are some tips to focus on while completing your application:
- Start working on your application early on. It takes time to put together a solid application.
- Get letters of recommendation from somebody who knows you well. The recommendation should come from a teacher or faculty member who can vouch for you. Set up a meeting with the person to discuss your accomplishments.
- Put together a personal response that has the WOW factor. You don’t have that much space to impress the scholarship committee. Focus on what sets you apart from other applicants. Why are you unique? Why do you deserve to win?
- Review and revise your application. Have family members check your application for grammar and spelling mistakes. When you have finished your application, check it once more the following day.
Final Thoughts
The high costs of a college degree can discourage students from going to college. Minority students may face even more financial struggles than other students. Research shows that students who go to college earn more than students without a degree.
Luckily, college doesn’t need to be so expensive. Students from minority backgrounds who dream of working as a coder or web developer can dream big thanks to Microsoft. Scholarships like both Microsoft Scholarships can help students afford their college aspirations.
