Microsoft Women Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Microsoft

Quick summary
This scholarship, run by the Women at Microsoft Inclusion Network in partnership with The Seattle Foundation, supports graduating high school seniors who plan to study technology-, engineering-, math-, or computer science–related fields at an accredited U.S. two- or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical school.

Who can apply
- You must be a graduating high school senior.
- You must plan to enroll full time for the upcoming academic year in a technology, engineering, math, or computer science–related undergraduate program at an accredited U.S. two- or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical school.
- Minimum GPA: 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent).
- International students are eligible if they will enroll at a U.S. college or university.
- Microsoft employees and their children are not eligible.

Award details
- Amount: $5,000 per recipient.
- Number of awards: up to 16.
- Awards are one-time only (past recipients may not reapply).
- Awards apply to undergraduate study only.

How recipients are selected
Selection considers multiple factors:
- Academic performance
- Leadership and participation in school and community activities
- Work experience
- A statement of educational and career goals/objectives
- Unusual personal or family circumstances
- An online recommendation

Financial need, as determined by Scholarship America, must be demonstrated for a student to receive an award. Scholarship America selects finalists; Microsoft selects the final recipients. Decisions are final.

Notifications and payment
- All applicants will be notified in June. Notifications are sent by email — use a personal email address you will keep access to (avoid school or work addresses).
- Scholarship America processes payments for The Seattle Foundation. Payments are mailed to the school (made payable to the school) in early August.

A few practical tips (from a teacher)
- Make sure your personal email is active and that you’ll still have access to it next year.
- Prepare a clear, concise statement of goals that ties your experiences to your intended field.
- Ask for the online recommendation early and give your recommender context (resume, activities, deadlines).
- Keep documentation of financial need ready in case Scholarship America requests it.

If you want, I can help edit your statement of goals or draft a message to a recommender.