August 4, 2026

Breaking Down the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation Scholarship with Dr. Jamie Williams

Is it worth it to apply to big scholarship competitions? What does the process of applying to the Coca-Cola Scholar Program Scholarship look like? What does the Coca-Cola Scholarship committee look for in it's applicants? Learn the answers to these questions and much more in this episode!

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About the episode

In this episode, Dr. Jamie Williams, Senior Director of Scholarships and Enrichment Programs at the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, pulls back the curtain on one of the most prestigious scholarship programs in the country and immediately challenges the assumptions students make about who gets in. Jamie explains what the Foundation is actually looking for: not the longest list of accolades or the most polished resume, but students who are genuinely others-oriented and who have found meaningful ways to serve and lead in their schools and communities, regardless of where they live or what resources they have access to.

Jamie then shares candid advice for students who are ready to apply or on the fence about it. He breaks down the two-phase application process, explains why a 3.0 GPA is the academic floor rather not the ceiling, and addresses the program’s AI policy directly. He closes by tackling imposter syndrome head-on and encouraging students to not count themselves out.

Mentioned in this episode

Coca-Cola Scholars Program Scholarship

Host

Will Geiger

Will Geiger is the co-founder of Scholarships360 and has a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. He is a former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Kenyon College where he personally reviewed 10,000 admissions applications and essays. Will also managed the Kenyon College merit scholarship program and served on the financial aid appeals committee. He has also worked as an Associate Director of College Counseling at a high school in New Haven, Connecticut.Will earned his master’s in education from the University of Pennsylvania and received his undergraduate degree in history from Wake Forest University.

Guest

Jamie Williams

With nearly 25 years of experience in scholarship administration, Dr. Jamie Williams has led efforts that awarded more than $55 million in scholarships to nearly 2,500 students. As a first-generation college student who benefited from multiple scholarships himself, he has dedicated his career to helping students secure funding while supporting their professional and leadership development. Jamie’s career has been spent working with students on several college campuses (Georgia State, Emory, Clemson) and most recently with the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation.