The Coca-Cola Scholarship is one of the most competitive merit-based scholarships in the U.S, focusing on leadership skills.

This guide focuses specifically on how to strengthen your application at each stage of the process, from the initial activities list to essays and interviews.

Make Sure You’re Eligible

Make sure you meet the program’s eligibility requirements. You can read the full eligibility requirements in our guide to the Coca-Cola Scholarship.

Stage One: Application Tips

The online application opens on August 1 each year, so you should begin thinking about your application a month or two in advance.

The first stage does not require essays, transcripts, or letters of recommendation. 

You will need your biographical and school information, extracurricular activities, past employment, courses and grades, and class rank. This information needs to be submitted carefully and strategically.

Activities

In your Coca-Cola Scholarship application, you can list up to 16 activities, with leadership involvement for four of them. 

Make sure to use these slots wisely. Even if you are no longer a leader in an activity, list it if it demonstrates sustained involvement or impact. For example, if you were a Math Club practice group leader in freshman year but stepped back to a participant role by senior year, you should still highlight your earlier leadership position.

You will also be asked for your position. If you were part of a group without a single president but served as one of several chairs, choose the title that most accurately reflects your level of responsibility and leadership.

This allows you to reflect your leadership involvement without letting modesty undersell your role. If you advance to stage two, you can explain your title in more detail, but at this stage you should be both honest and precise.

The scholarship places particular emphasis on:

• School activities

• Performing arts

• Speech, debate, or forensics

• Music

• Visual arts

• Athletics

• School-related clubs, organizations, or intramurals

Craft a well-rounded profile by recognizing awards and emphasizing service in ways that align with Coca-Cola Scholarship values.

Academics

If you hold a leadership role connected to academics, list it under Academic Activities. For example, leadership in a school newspaper or theater production should be included here.

If you have AP or elective classes, make sure to add them in the “other courses” section.

Paid Work

If you have paid work experience, include it by specifying your employment duration and weekly hours. 

Even if the role does not seem impactful at first glance, consider the skills you developed or the responsibility you held; these are often worth showcasing.

Service Hours

You will also be asked to report your total service hours. Consider these carefully, as service is central to winning the scholarship. If you tutor or coach for three hours a week but also spend time preparing materials, that preparation time should be included. For example, three weekly hours of tutoring may realistically total six hours when preparation is counted.

Be honest. Do not inflate your hours, you may be questioned about them later, but do not let modesty minimize your actual commitment.

Before You Submit

Read through your entire application carefully to ensure accuracy and clarity.

Then, ask someone else to review it and challenge your responses. This often prompts valuable self-reflection and strengthens your application.

Finally, save everything you submit in a separate document so you can reference it if you advance to stage two.

Stage Two: Essays & Recommendations

In stage two, you will submit essays, a transcript, and a letter of recommendation.

Essays

The three essay prompts vary, but they focus on personal impact, community involvement, leadership, and your goals.

Your essays should deepen the information you provided in stage one. Use them to explain why your activities mattered, what you learned from them, and how they shaped your values, goals, and sense of leadership.

Reviewers look closely for consistency between your essays and your activities list and will notice contradictions or vague claims. Make sure your application tells a clear, accurate, and cohesive story.

Our founder, Rishab, thinks his essay made all the difference in his Coca-Cola Scholarship Application.

Letter of Recommendation

Choose a recommender who knows you well, such as a teacher, coach, mentor, or employer.

The letter should highlight your leadership, service, character, and impact using specific examples, as the Coca-Cola Scholarship places a strong emphasis on service and leadership.

Review Your Coca-Cola Scholar Application

Before submitting your stage two application, ask someone else to read it. An external reviewer can help you assess whether your responses genuinely reflect who you are and can catch overlooked details. The deadline is in November, so make sure you do this well in advance.

You should also review it yourself and ask:

• Do my achievements align with my aspirations?

• Does my narrative reflect genuine passion and commitment?

• Have I used the full word count effectively?

• Does each activity demonstrate impact?

• Is my leadership clearly explained?

• Do my essays reinforce, rather than repeat, my activity list?

• Have I clearly shown my priorities and values?

A rushed review rarely leads to meaningful improvements. Allow time for reflection and revision so you can present the strongest possible version of your application.

Stage Three: Interview Tips

In the final stage, finalists are invited to an interview with Coca-Cola staff and alumni. 

Interview preparation is critical. Finalists are evaluated not only on what they have done, but on how clearly and thoughtfully they can explain it.

Practice explaining your achievements, challenges, and future goals both on your own and with others. 

Speaking out loud, even in front of a mirror, helps improve clarity and confidence. Then move on to mock interviews with trusted friends, mentors, or teachers. Because interviews may involve multiple interviewers at once, practicing in a small group can be especially helpful.

Ask your mock interviewers to read your application and create challenging, detail-focused questions. The tougher the questions, the better prepared you will be.

Interviews focus heavily on the details of your application. Expect follow-up questions about your activities, service hours, leadership roles, and essays. You should be able to clearly explain what you did, why it mattered, and what impact it had without exaggerating or being vague.

Get Help with Your Coca-Cola Scholarship

The Coca-Cola Scholarship evaluates leadership, service, essays, and interviews across multiple stages. Many students benefit from structured guidance to ensure their application tells a clear, consistent story at every step.

ScienceFair pairs students with experienced mentors who help refine activity lists, strengthen essays, and prepare for interviews through targeted feedback and mock interviews.

If you want personalized support through the Coca-Cola Scholarship process, book a consultation call to learn more.