Are you filled with endless narratives and plot lines so wild that you can’t wait to put pen to paper (or rapidly click keys)? If so, this list is for you! Below, you’ll find five great opportunities to use your writing skills to win free money for college. The scholarship search can often be shrouded in seriousness, but it doesn’t have to be. The committees reviewing your applications want to get a sense of your personality and creative aptitude. If that means including silly jokes or rambling about an obscure topic—do it! Scholarship sponsors want to see authenticity rather than what you think they want to see. With that said, open up a new document, get cozy, and check out these incredible writing-based scholarship opportunities.
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
To start off strong, this site is jam-packed with scholarship opportunities for creatives of all ages. High school seniors can win a $12,500 scholarship by submitting a collection of six works to the Portfolio Scholarship. This one is broken down into two categories just for artists and writers; however, applicants of either category are expected to submit a personal statement of no more than 500 words to supplement their work. And it’s never too soon to start making summer plans—the same organization offers The Scholastic Awards Summer Scholarship Program for teens in seventh to 11th grade. Students who excel at writing and art have a chance to win a full-tuition scholarship to attend programs based on their interest area. Get started by creating your applicant portal here.
Related: 4 Great Scholarship Opportunities for Younger Students
Go On Girl! Book Club Scholarships
Go On Girl! Book Club (GOG), the nation's largest reading group for women of color, provides a $2,000 Aspiring Writer Scholarship for full-time students attending any Historically Black College or University in the United States. To be considered, candidates must submit a 500–1,000-word essay based on one of the organization's selected prompts. The book club also sponsors the Unpublished Writers Award, which allows up-and-coming writers to be published and featured in several print and online publications, including the GOG website. Be sure to bookmark these pages and check in periodically for annual opportunities!
Make Me Laugh Scholarship
Everybody likes a good joke now and then—especially this scholarship committee. To cut through the seriousness of applications, Unigo funds the Make Me Laugh Scholarship to allow applicants to share funny stories that will undoubtedly make the committee wheeze in amusement. The recipient with the best comedic chops will be awarded $1,500 toward their college education. Students must be residents of the United States and at least 14 years old to apply. Be sure to log in or create your Unigo account before the annual August 31 deadline.
Related: The Ultimate List of Easy Scholarships to Apply for Now
Once Upon a #BookTok Scholarship
From none other than Bold.org comes the Once Upon a #BookTok Scholarship. Taking inspiration from BookTok—a community for literary novices on TikTok—this award wants applicants to discuss how the outlet has impacted their literary taste. Compose a full bookshelf of your absolute favorites and share your passion with the committee. You could write about specific books that resonate with you, character arcs that make you giddy, or a creative pitch to meld two novels together. Whatever you do, make sure you have fun with it within 400–600 words. This scholarship operates on a rolling monthly deadline (the first day of each month) with the winners announced in August, so be sure to apply early to increase your chances of consideration.
Jane Austen Society of North America Essay Contest
If you’re a lover of 18th-century classics or a current or former AP Literature student, then you are more than familiar with the works of Jane Austen. Given that background or even a newfound appreciation, you should definitely apply to the Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA) Annual Essay Contest. The organization is dedicated to ensuring that individuals of all ages from all over the world have exposure to Austen’s novels and access to all things related to the author. Students worldwide are welcome to compete for the scholarship, which allows for numerous winners based on three educational divisions: High School, College/University, and Graduate School. First place in each division will earn $1,000, $500 for second, and $250 for third, plus JASNA-associated perks. Next year’s topic will be released in February, so in the meantime, review the archive of winning essays to get your creative juices flowing.
Related: 5 of the Best College Classes for Students Who Love to Write
There you have it—more than five unique opportunities that will allow you to flex your writing skills and hopefully win money for it. Even if you don’t consider yourself a “strong” writer, take a chance and apply because you never know if your work may resonate with the judges. You can even reuse essays and creative writing pieces from class, as many scholarship prompts likely involve something you’ve written about before. As you go through the scholarship process, be kind to yourself and work smarter, not harder!
Looking for even more scholarships to apply for? Check out our monthly scholarship listings to win free money for college throughout the year!
