Top 5 no essay scholarships
Our editors hand-picked the following 10 no essay scholarships with an eye for large awards, prestigious organizations, and scholarships that are open to a wide variety of students. Apply with confidence to the following no essay scholarships:
- Coca Cola Scholarship – $20,000 scholarship for college-bound high school seniors
- Dell Scholars Program – For Pell Grant-eligible high school seniors who participated in a college readiness program. Worth $20,000 with 500 scholarships awarded every year. Recipients also receive a free laptop, textbooks, and more
- Taco Bell Live Mas Scholarship – Video scholarship for students between 16 and 26 with a passion for the field they are pursuing. Worth up to $25,000
- Burger King Scholars – Scholarship for high school seniors worth up to $50,000
- Doodle for Google Scholarship – Scholarship for K-12 students who submit a Doodle to be featured on Google’s homepage. Worth up to $55,000
Tips for students applying to no essay scholarships
Look for competitions rather than randomized drawings
No essay scholarships are alluring because they do away with the pressure that comes with writing an essay for your application. Between your other academic responsibilities, extracurriculars, and other commitments, these essays can present a big roadblock for applicants.
However, you should bear in mind that you are not the only student with this idea. Many applicants are attracted to opportunities that are easy to apply to, and since many no essay scholarships are essentially scholarship sweepstakes, that means you have a very low chance of actually winning.
This is not to say that you should not apply to these opportunities, but that you should seek out scholarship opportunities that assess some materials submitted by applicants. Whether this is a video submission, a portfolio, or a photograph you took, it can help your chances greatly.
Be wary of scholarship scams
No essay scholarships are very popular with students because they typically don’t take much time to apply to. Unfortunately, this makes them all the more popular with scammers.
Before applying to any scholarship, and especially no essay scholarships, ensure that you are not giving away any personal information that could be used to steal your identity. Additionally, you should never pay a fee to enter a scholarship competition. For more information on how to avoid scholarship scams, check out our article on how to spot them.
If at first you don’t succeed…
Many no essay scholarships, especially the random drawings, select a winner each month and then reopen. To maximize your chances of winning, make sure to check back each month to throw your hat back in the ring.
Check out similar scholarship categories
If you are looking to apply for scholarships without putting too much time into essays, check out our lists of video scholarships and easy scholarships. While some of these may include short essays, they are generally much less of a commitment than typical scholarship applications.
Don’t over-rely on no essay scholarships
No essay scholarships can be a great no-effort way of applying for educational funding, but make sure that your overall scholarship strategy makes use of all potential funding sources. Make sure especially to seek out local scholarships through community organizations and your high school counselor.
Don’t forget financial aid
If you have demonstrable financial need, there is one source of free funds for your higher education that is even easier to get than no essay scholarships. This is federal financial aid, including the Pell Grant. Make sure to fill out the FAFSA on-time and send your results to your school in order to gain eligibility for federal, state, and institutional financial aid.
Apply to affordable schools
In addition to scholarships, it’s a good idea to ensure that you apply to some colleges that are known for offering an affordable education to their students. In-state public schools offer steep tuition discounts to their students, and tuition reciprocity agreements extend these benefits to some neighboring states as well. We also have a list of the best schools in the country for affordability. These schools are known for charging low tuition, offering generous financial aid, and offering a good value to their students.
Frequently asked questions about no essay scholarships
Are “no essay” scholarships legit?
However, students should always be on the lookout for scholarship scams when they are on the scholarship hunt. Never send personal information that could be used for identity theft, and never pay a fee to enter a scholarship competition. If you are unsure about an opportunity, check out our guide on how to avoid scholarship scams.
How can I increase my chances of winning a no essay scholarship?
- For scholarships with a creative or artistic element, make sure that you put all of your effort into your project! Remember, your application will be completely assessed on your creative project as there is no essay required.
- For scholarships that have minimal requirements, you should apply to them as often as possible to increase your odds. However, these types of scholarships should not be the only part of your application strategy.
Who can apply for no essay scholarships?
What qualifies as a no essay scholarship?
Are there GPA requirements for no essay scholarships?
Also see: How to write a scholarship resume
Explore these other scholarship categories:
- Top easy scholarships
- Scholarships for high school seniors
- Top scholarships for college students
- Top STEM scholarships
- Scholarships for women
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