The Coolidge Scholarship is an annually awarded, full-ride, presidential scholarship that covers a student’s tuition, room, board, and expenses for four years of undergraduate study. The Coolidge may be used by recipients at any accredited American college or university. Anyone of any background, pursuing any academic discipline of study, may apply to this non-partisan, need-blind, program.
Students apply for the Coolidge Scholarship during their junior year of high school. Finalists are flown in for a finalist weekend at the Coolidge Historic Site in Plymouth Notch, Vermont where they interview with the Coolidge Scholars Finalist Jury, chaired by Dr. Bruce Cole, former chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Recipients of the Coolidge Scholarship are notified of their award late in their junior year, before college application (note: current high school seniors are not eligible to apply). Finalists who are not named Coolidge Scholars are eligible to receive a smaller, one-time, college scholarship.
Calvin Coolidge worked hard in academics; the young New Englander’s only sport was public speaking, often on public policy. The main criterion that distinguishes Coolidge Scholars therefore is academic excellence. Secondary criteria include: demonstrated interest in public policy; an appreciation for the values Coolidge championed; as well as humility and service.
The summer before their senior year of high school, newly-selected Coolidge Scholars spend several orientation days at the picturesque birthplace of the President, Plymouth Notch, Vt. There scholars get to know Coolidge and his world, and help the Coolidge Foundation oversee its formidable debate programs. Scholars return to Plymouth Notch for a week in each of the next three summers.
GUIDELINES
- Please include the first and last name of the applicant in the first paragraph of your letter.
- Please include your full name at the end of the letter.
- Please state how you know the applicant, for how long you’ve known the applicant, and in what capacity.
- Your letter should be as specific as possible, providing relevant examples and other information that will be helpful to demonstrate to the Coolidge Scholars Program why the applicant is a worthy candidate. Please refer to coolidgescholars.org for more information about the Coolidge Scholarship and the selection criteria that will be considered when evaluating applicants.
- Your letter should be no longer than 1,200 words in length.
- Your letter may be submitted as either a PDF file or a Microsoft Word file.
SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
To submit your letter of recommendation please follow these steps:
- When you receive an automated email from the Coolidge Scholarship, indicating that a student has listed your as a reference, click on the link given in the email.
- Complete the subsequent form and upload your letter into the form.
- To upload your letter, first save it on your computer as a Microsoft Word of PDF file. Then, click the “+Select a file” button towards the bottom of the form. This will bring up a pop-up window that allows you to select the file to upload from your computer.
- Complete the rest of the form and click the “Submit” button.
