Microsoft College scholarships are designed to encourage students to pursue studies in computer science and related technical disciplines. Students will be awarded scholarships in recognition of their passion for software, academic excellence, and ability to make a difference in the software industry.

What are the provisions of the award?

Scholarships are awarded, full or partial amounts, to recipients for the 2011-2012 academic year. Full tuition scholarships will cover tuition for the 2011-2012 academic year as posted by the financial aid office at your college or university. Microsoft will make payments to the designated school, and they’re not transferable to other academic institutions. Funds are to be used for tuition only and may not be used for other costs on the recipient’s bursar bill. All recipients of the scholarship will be required to apply for, and complete if offered, a salaried summer internship of 12 weeks or more at Microsoft Corporation in Redmond, Washington. Microsoft reserves the right not to offer a position to the scholarship winner if an appropriate match cannot be found.

What are the criteria for scholarship eligibility?

Students must be enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program at a 4-year college or university in the United States, Canada, or Mexico at the time the application is submitted. Students must be enrolled full-time and making satisfactory progress toward an undergraduate degree in computer science, computer engineering, or a related technical discipline, such as math or physics, with a demonstrated interest in computer science. The student must have a 3.0 cumulative grade point average out of a possible 4.0, or a 4.0 cumulative grade point average out of a possible 5.0.

What is required to apply?
A completed application includes five items: your résumé, transcript, essay questions, letter of referral, and confirmation of your online application to the Microsoft Summer Internship program. An application is considered ineligible if all parts are not received. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all pieces are received by Microsoft by the deadline.

1. Résumé – Enclose a copy of your résumé that includes your e-mail address, campus address and phone number, student ID number, permanent address and phone number, major and expected graduation date.
2. Transcript – Enclose a copy of your current academic transcript.
3. Essay Questions – Use one page to answer all four of the following essay questions (not one page per question).
• Describe how you demonstrate your passion for technology outside the classroom.
• Describe the toughest technical problem you’ve worked on, how you addressed the problem, your role in reaching the outcome, if it was
team-based, and the final outcome.
• Describe a situation which demonstrates initiative and your willingness to go above and beyond.
• Describe how you are currently funding your college education.
4. Letter of referral – Enclose a letter of referral from a faculty member or an academic advisor who knows your work.
5. Confirmation of Online Application to the Microsoft Internship Program – Apply online at http://www.microsoft.com/university for a summer internship and print out a confirmation page showing you have done so. This printed confirmation must be included in your mailed application materials.
6. Gender/Ethnicity/Disability (optional) – Please note your gender, ethnicity or disability on the page with your essay questions if you would like that information to be considered with your application.

Scholarship Application Deadline: 1 February 2011

Further Scholarship Information and Application