Microsoft scholarship offers undergraduate studies in computer science

A Microsoft scholarship provides a leg up so you can pursue undergraduate studies in computer science and related technical disciplines. You’ll join a community of scholarship recipients from the United States, Canada and Mexico who share your passion for technology and academic excellence. It all adds up to achieving your primary goal—making a real difference in the software industry.

Microsoft is offering four different types of technical scholarships for the 2011-2012 academic year to current undergraduate students: General Scholarships, Women's Scholarships, Minority Scholarships, and Scholarships for Students with Disabilities.

Requirements
Basics
If you’re interested in applying for the 2011-2012 academic year scholarships, make sure you postmark your application by February 1, 2011 in order for your application to be considered. Microsoft selects final candidates based on the following criteria:
    * Eligibility
    * Quality of application
    * Displayed interest in the software industry
    * Commitment to leadership
    * Financial need

We will be notifying all rewarded scholarship recipients on March 18, 2011. We will strive to contact all applicants about their status, however please note that due to the high number of scholarship applicants, we may only be able to contact candidates who were awarded scholarships.

Diversity at Microsoft
We encourage student populations currently underrepresented in the field of computer science to pursue technical degrees. All candidates who meet the criteria for eligibility described below may certainly apply, while we do award a large majority of our student scholarships to women, minorities, and the disabled. Minority applicants must belong to one of the following groups underrepresented in the software field: African-American, Hispanic, or Native American.

Eligibility
To be eligible, you must be enrolled full time in a Bachelor's degree program at a 4-year college or university in the United States, Canada, or Mexico at the time you submit the application. Plus, we’ll need to see that you’re making satisfactory progress toward an undergraduate degree in computer science, computer engineering, or a related technical discipline such as electrical engineering, math, or physics—and that you demonstrate an interest in computer science. Because the scholarship is merit based, you must maintain 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. For more detailed information regarding eligibility, please read our FAQ.

How to Apply
You must include the following five items in your application:
    * Resume
    * Transcript
    * Answers to essay questions
    * Letter of referral
    * Printed Confirmation Page from Online Application to the Microsoft Internship Program

That’s really all there is, and no extra forms to fill out. Don’t forget to include your name on each page of your application packet.

Please send your completed application to:
Microsoft Scholarship Program
Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052-8303