15 Weird College Scholarships You Can Actually Apply for Right Now
Most scholarships tend to blend together with the same GPA rules and repetitive essays. Yet some break the mold completely. Across the internet, you can find scholarships that celebrate creativity, odd talents, or just plain individuality. Every one listed here is real, open for applications, and in some cases, unexpectedly generous.
Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship
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If you’ve ever mapped out how you’d survive a zombie outbreak, now’s your time to shine. This scholarship asks applicants to describe their survival plan in an essay for a chance to win $2,000. It sounds silly, but it’s real, and since fewer people apply to offbeat awards like this, your odds might actually be better than average.
Minecraft Scholarship
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Years of building digital worlds could help you earn $2,000 for college. The Minecraft Scholarship asks students to share how the game has shaped their education, creativity, or career interests. With over 166 million players worldwide, Minecraft has become more than a pastime, teaching design, problem-solving, and persistence along the way.
Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship
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Here’s a rare one since it doesn’t ask for a long essay. The Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship gives $10,000 to the student who designs the best original greeting card. Thousands of people submit their artwork each year, and turn something as simple as a card into a real opportunity.
Flavor of the Month Scholarship
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“If you were an ice cream flavor, which would you be and why?” That’s all they need to know. The award is $1,500, and the best essays are usually the most honest ones. You don’t need to sound perfect. You just need to sound real. The question might be lighthearted, but it’s really about self-reflection and gauges how well you understand who you are.
Superpower Scholarship
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This one awards $2,500 to a lucky person who has ever imagined having superpowers. Applicants must say which superhero or villain they’d switch places with for a day and what they’d do. It’s fun to write, but it also reveals how you see courage, justice, and ambition, and use this ability to take a break from stress.
“You Can’t Label People” Scholarship
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This $3,000 scholarship asks you to create a product label that ties into an essay about stereotypes or identity. A 2024 Deloitte survey found that 86% of Gen Z workers want purpose or social impact in their careers and this award channels that same spirit.
John Kitt Memorial Scholarship
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Ever dreamed of working with chocolate? The John Kitt Memorial Scholarship supports students studying confectionery science with a $2,500 award. This includes the chemistry and technology involved in creating sweets. Past winners have gone on to work for companies like Mars and Hershey.
Potato LEAF Scholarship
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Potatoes might not sound exciting, but the industry behind them is worth billions. This $10,000 scholarship supports graduate students researching agriculture, sustainability, or crop improvement. If you care about food systems and sustainability, this one’s both practical and grounded.
Mycological Society of America Scholarships
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Mushrooms are everywhere in food, medicine, and environmental science. It supports students who study fungi, a field that’s growing fast as scientists explore their role in health and sustainability. The Mycological Society of America offers scholarships of up to $10,000.
Sheep Heritage Foundation Memorial Scholarship
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Graduate students researching genetics, wool production, or other areas that strengthen the U.S. sheep industry can apply for this scholarship worth $3,000. It’s a niche field that rarely gets attention, yet the work has big implications for sustainability, textiles, and food systems. What sounds like an unusual topic is actually vital to the future of agriculture.
College Beef Advocacy Program
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Students in this program create campaigns that promote the beef industry through topics like sustainability, economics, and food education. The goal is to strengthen public understanding of agriculture while building real communication skills. With awards of up to $2,000, it gives students both financial support and a platform to share their voices.
UNIMA-USA Puppetry Scholarship
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Here’s one for the storytellers. The UNIMA-USA Puppetry Scholarship helps American puppeteers study abroad and keep this traditional art alive. Fifty awards worth $1,500 each are up for grabs. Puppetry remains one of the most human forms of performance. It’s not a career many think about, but it’s a rare chance to learn a timeless art.
Bird Dog Foundation Youth Art Contest
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For high school artists, this contest celebrates outdoor life through art. Participants create original works inspired by bird dogs, hunting, and nature. It’s a small, local opportunity, but it blends creativity with community. It could be a reminder that inspiration doesn’t always come from screens. This one offers $2000 awards to several students.
Two Ten Footwear Foundation Scholarship
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If you or your parent works in the footwear industry, this program could make a real difference. The Two Ten Footwear Foundation offers up to $4,000 per year, renewable for four years. Since 1969, the foundation has helped thousands of families afford education.
Shout It Out Scholarship
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This one’s simple but powerful: “If you could say one thing to the world, what would it be?” Applicants write 250 words for a chance to win $1,500. There’s no trick, no format, and no GPA requirement. Just say something that matters. Sometimes, a few honest lines speak louder than the longest essays.