Top 7 video scholarships overall
We’ve hand-picked the following scholarships based on the strong reputation of their organizations, the value of the awards, and being open to a wide number of students. Apply with confidence to these 5 top scholarships for Black students:
- Ocean Awareness Scholarship – For students aged 11-18 who submit writing, artwork, a video, or a dance piece about the importance of conserving the ocean. Worth $1,500
- The Paradigm Challenge – For students aged 4 to 18 who create a project that helps solve a real-world issue. Worth between $200 and $100,000
- Breakthrough Junior Challenge – For students aged 13 to 18 who create a video to explain a scientific or mathematical concept. Worth $250,000
- Dr. Pepper Tuition Giveaway – For high school, college, or grad students who create a ~60-second video about their academic goals, professional aspirations, or even personal dreams. Worth up to $2,500
- Science Ambassador Scholarship – For HS seniors and college undergrads who identify as female and submit a 3-minute educational video about a STEM topic they care about. Worth full tuition
- 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
- Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award – For musicians between 8 and 18 who submit an audio or video sample of their work. Worth $10,000
Tips for making a winning video
- Practice and perfect your script thoroughly before you even think about shooting. Practice giving your speech to friends and family member so you have a natural repertoire worked up before you even get in front of the camera
- Memorize your script well enough that you are not relying too heavily on reading when you shoot your video
- Try to make sure you have good lighting when shooting your video. Even though the scholarship may not be entirely decided based on shooting quality, it can help keep the judges interested and show that you put effort into it
- Make sure to read the rules thoroughly. They often will state if they prefer a webcam-shot video or one shot by a friend or family member. They often also include length requirements, and potentially a format requirement for submission
- Put effort into your editing. If the rules allow for it, make a nice title card and show that you’ve created a polished product
Frequently asked questions about video scholarships
Can you get a scholarship for videography?
Yes, you can! While this list is primarily aimed towards scholarships for any subject that involve a video component, there are also film scholarships. These are aimed towards students who intend to study film and videography. Our list of film scholarships is a great place to start when looking into this.
Do I need to major in film to get a video scholarship?
You don’t! There are video scholarships out there for any subject. This list contains video scholarships for students majoring in journalism, visual arts, and many that are open to studnets of any major. The only thing that makes a video scholarship is that your application will include a video.
How should I dress for a scholarship video?
The answer to this question can vary slightly based on the specific scholarship and the impression you want to give. However, a safe bet is usually dressing business casual. You can always dress more formal than this if you like, but usually, you shouldn’t be less formal. Remember that how you dress can help you stand out to the scholarship reviewers. If you have any formal clothes with an especially noticeable flair, you may consider wearing them to leave a strong impression, as long as they are appropriate.
Will I be penalized if I don’t have a good camera for video scholarships?
Most video scholarships will not outwardly penalize you for bad camera quality. They are more interested in the message you are getting across than how polished it is. That being said, the presentation will probably have an unconscious effect on the reviewers, and anything you can do to ensure its clarity can be a good idea. This can be as easy as finding a visually appealing background and good lighting. You might also try to borrow a camera or use one at your high school, if possible.
Explore these other scholarship categories
- Top film scholarships
- Top scholarships for high school seniors
- Easy scholarships to apply to
- No essay scholarships
- Top scholarships for art majors
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