Weird Scholarships for High Schoo and College Students

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What Weird Scholarships Are Unique to Apply for?

Weird scholarships allow you to cash in on your unique personality quirks. Let’s face it, most scholarships reward merit and financial need. But weird scholarships tend to have more to do with your outside school interests. Things like a love of sci-fi, zombies, doodling or a zest for all things paranormal.

Like any scholarship, the weirdest scholarships come with rules about who is eligible. There are many set aside for high school and college students. So, age is a common criterion. Most scholarships want to know if you are a US citizen or permanent resident.

What Weird Scholarships Could Help Pay for College?

To find weird scholarships, you should “think outside the box”. These odd scholarships may come from scholarship sites, nonprofits, businesses, member groups and other sources.

Unique scholarships tend to ask you to fill out a simple form. So, you often need to populate certain fields with name, email and other data about yourself. Along with these details, you may need to submit a project. Some unique submissions can be an artwork, poem or video.

Whatever the task is to win a weird scholarship, follow the instructions to a T. Stick to the word count, get creative, spell check and edit before you submit too. To give you an idea of how to apply and win a weird scholarship, here are two examples.

Are you a “Walking Dead” fan? If so, why not apply for the Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship! If selected, the scholarship award is $2,000 and asks for a 250 word essay on a prompted question.

In a nutshell you imagine your school is overrun with zombies. Then you’ll have to come up with a plan to avoid the zombies. Read the full question, stick to the word count and try to survive.

If drawing is more your thing, there’s the Doodle for Google Scholarship. If you are selected, the scholarship award is $30,000 to a national winner. To apply you get to think big and redesign the Google homepage logo. Remember to be original while also keeping in mind, there is a theme to stick to.

Why You Should Apply for a Scholarship?

A weird scholarship may be useful if your goal is to earn a four year college degree. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, college might cost about $17,000 at a public college. It’s possibly higher if you study at a private school.

Since a scholarship is not a loan, you typically don’t have to worry about paying it back. So, the money could pay for tuition, fees, books and supplies, housing and food.

List of Weird Scholarships

Check out our list of weird scholarships below. We have 104 awards worth $512K.

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Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Scholarship Contest

This award is for U.S. high school seniors who are able to call ducks and willing to compete in the Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest in Stuttgart, Arkansas.

Total: $4250

Awards: 1

Deadline: November 29, 2020

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UNIMA-USA Scholarship

Since 1982 UNIMA-USA has offered over 50 scholarships to underwrite professional puppetry training abroad for American members of UNIMA-USA. Studying in different countries and experiencing different cultures encourages building bridges for international understanding between puppeteers from around the world, a major aim of all UNIMA Centers. The UNIMA-USA scholarship program is intended to help cover tuition fees for American puppeteers who wish to study puppetry outside the U.S. Applicants should be puppeteers who have some professional experience, who have a university degree in puppetry, or who can otherwise demonstrate a serious commitment to the art form. Candidates may use their scholarship at any time of the year, depending on when the courses are being offered. Puppetry training may be undertaken with either a recognized puppetry professional or a professional program outside the U.S. In some cases, an international puppet festival may be considered as a professional program.

Total: $1000

Awards: 10

Deadline: December 15, 2020

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‘Make It With Wool’ Contest

This award is available to high school and undergraduate students 24 years of age or younger who have an interest in sewing, knitting or fashion design. The applicant must live in or attend school in a state that has an American Sheep Industry Association.

Total: $5000

Awards: 4

Deadline: December 31, 2020

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A Voice for Cats Essay Contest

Applicants must be prepare to write about feline welfare and the humane treatment of cats. The winner will receive a $1,000 and an additional $1,000 will go to a rescue organization of their choice.

Total: $2000

Awards: 2

Deadline: December 31, 2020

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Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship

The Vegetarian Resource Group (VRG) awards $20,000 in scholarships to graduating U.S. high school students who have promoted vegetarianism in their schools and or communities. Vegetarians do not eat meat, fish, or fowl. Vegans are vegetarians who do not use other animal products such as dairy or eggs.

Total: $20000

Awards: 3

Deadline: February 20, 2021

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Doodle 4 Google

The Doodle 4 Google competition is offered annually for students in grades K-12. To apply, one must submit a sketch or image including the Google logo in the context of this year’s theme. All doodles must be sent no later than the March 20th deadline. Click here to learn more and apply today!

Total: $10000

Awards: 1

Deadline: March 20, 2021

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Flavor of the Month Scholarship

This award is open to all U.S. students who are 14 and older and who are currently enrolled (or enroll no later than fall of 2025) in an accredited postsecondary institution of higher education. One scholarship winner will receive a $1,500 scholarship.

Total: $1500

Awards: 1

Deadline: July 31, 2021

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Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship

This creative and fun scholarship program is open to all U.S. students who are 14 and older and who are currently enrolled (or enroll no later than fall of 2026) in an accredited postsecondary institution of higher education. One scholarship winner with an imaginative and well-written response to the scholarship question about the Zombie Apocalypse will receive a $2,000 scholarship.

Total: $2000

Awards: 1

Deadline: October 31, 2021

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Debt.com Scholarship For Aggressive Scholarship Applicants

This scholarship is open to U.S. and international high school and college/university students. Students must have applied for other scholarships and submit proof of applications.

Total: $500

Awards: 6

Deadline: December 31

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