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portrait of a cheerful girl covering her eye with dollar bills and showing thumb up - concept for easy $500 scholarships
When applying for scholarships, most students tend to aim for high payouts. They search for award amounts of no less than $1,000. However, the top dollar awards generally require a greater deal of effort with long and complex essay topics. Meanwhile, smaller award amounts are generally easier to apply for. This means that the typical essay requirement is either a video, photo, a 500-word essay, or no requirement at all. And since fewer students are applying for them, they are potentially easier to win. We’ve gone ahead and compiled a list of easy $500 scholarships for students.

Video/Photo Scholarships

The following scholarships require a video essay or image requirement.

NTSMHF Scholarship 

Create a 2-minute video, touching the following topics:

●  Which is your favorite building (explain about your favorite building or piece of architecture).
●  How do you think this technology has impacted people in this industry, and how do you expect it to affect them in the future?
●  What is the most appealing feature of this creation?

Also, please include proof of acceptance by your educational institution or proof of the fact that you are currently attending.

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Deadline: March 15, 2018
Apply: Here 

Celebrity Scholarship

Take a picture or video of yourself impersonating a celebrity. Feel free to use makeup, funky clothing and a smart caption. Be creative, in a manner that would objectively be seen as a positive or favorable imitation intended to compliment such Celebrity.

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Deadline: June 30, 2018 (This is a renewable scholarship)
Apply: Here

CJ Pony Parts Scholarship Video Contest

Create a short video, under 3 minutes long, on one of these topics:

●  What is your first memory of a Mustang?
●  How does a Mustang relate to your field of study? (get creative!)
●  With the recent development of autonomous/self-driving vehicles, how do you see that changing the automotive industry?
●  CJ Pony Parts has been around for over 30 years; where do you see yourself 30 years from now?
●  As Lee Iacocca was the lead influencer for the debut of the Ford Mustang in April 1964, who is most influential in your life and why?

You can be inspirational, funny, serious, educational, or even musical!

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Deadline: April 15, 2018
Apply: Here

Webpop Design Scholarship

Create a 2-5 minutes video explaining your thoughts on why education is the key to a better future and how new ideas can help shape the world around us. Explain your ideas and motivations and also what you have done to help our society go on a positive direction.

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Deadline: April 30, 2018
Apply: Here

Vegetarian Video Scholarship

Create an original video relating to what you want to tell others about vegetarianism and/or veganism. Some possible topics: food, nutrition, your feelings about veganism and/or vegetarianism, water usage and vegetarianism, vegetarianism and animal rights, or other vegetarian topics which appeal to you.

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Deadline: July 15, 2018
Apply: Here

Cogniizant Young Entrepreneur Scholarship

Create a maximum 5 minute long video explaining how entrepreneurs can help the society as a whole. Please also submit a photo of yourself as well as proof of enrollment/acceptance.

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Deadline: August 17, 2018
Apply: Here

Essays: 500-Word Max

The following scholarships require an essay with a maximum of 500 words or less.

Courage to Grow Scholarship

Please explain in 250 words or less why you believe that you should be awarded this scholarship.

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Deadline: March 31, 2018 (This is a renewable scholarship)
Apply: Here

Nutrition & Internet Scholarship

Research and write an article and answer the following research question: “How social media are playing a major role in influencing our eating habits?”

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Deadline: July 1, 2018
Apply: Here

GloFX College Scholarship

Write a 500-word small project on the following topic: “How do you feel that technology is impacting the growth of music & art, either positively, negatively, or both.” Essay should outline and depict your point of view. Be creative and original. Also, attach documentation to support your enrollment in the University.

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Deadline: July 31, 2018
Apply: Here

How Do YOU Make College Cheaper Scholarship

How Do YOU Make College Cheaper? Here are a few examples to get you thinking:

● Lots and lots of Ramen Noodles
●  Submit the FAFSA each and every year
●  Applying for outside scholarships
●  Doing laundry at mom and dad’s

There is no word limit. Keep it short and simple.

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Deadline: August 15, 2018 (This is a renewable scholarship)
Apply: Here

HIV Testing Scholarship

Write a 500-word essay on the following topic: “How to maintain a good Work-Life balance?” Please include proof of enrollment in an undergraduate or postgraduate degree course.

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Deadline: August 31, 2018
Apply: Here

Essays: 500-Word Min

The following scholarships require an essay with a minimum of 500 words.

OTZIshirts.com Scholarship

Write a 500+ words essay describing why lifelong learning is important to you and what online platforms/resources you use to further your education.

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Deadline: April 25, 2018
Apply: Here

SlideHeroes Scholarship

Submit business presentation written to convince someone to invest in your education. Your presentation will be judged on structure, logic, clarity & design. Please also attach a copy of your CV and a photocopy of your student ID card.

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Deadline: May 31, 2018
Apply: Here

Home Cleaning & Organizing Scholarship

Please write a 500-1000 word essay on the subject: “DIY Home Cleaning and Organizing Ideas in 2017” Respond to the following questions:

● Why do you believe that home cleaning and organizing is important?
●  Why do you think your idea is best?

The words of your content must be able to convince anyone that you know what you’re doing and you are correct.

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Deadline: May 31, 2018
Apply: Here

Adept Golf Scholarship

Write an article of a minimum of 500 words. The topic is open for you to decide but it has to be golf related. The content that you create must be creative and unique. The words must be convincing to the reader and be factually correct as we won’t consider work that hasn’t been fact checked correctly. If you have a website, you should also be sure to include it. Please also attach a document to prove you’re a student.

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Deadline: June 11, 2018
Apply: Here

BigSun Athletics Scholarship

Write a 500-1,000 word essay answering the following questions:

● How did your participation in sports during your high school years influence you?
●  Has your participation influenced your career goals?
●  Has your participation influenced how you relate to your family?

Make sure your essay is original and unique.

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Deadline: June 19, 2018
Apply: Here

Band Together Scholarship

Write a 500-1,000 word essay explaining who has helped you throughout your life to get where you are today. We all have a special person in our lives who has always been there for us. Whether it’s a family member who has been influential or a teacher who helped pave the way. Whoever it may be, we want to know who in your life has been there for you at pivotal moments and has helped you get to where you are today. Each of us bands together with the important people in our lives to push through challenges and come out on top. Tell us how they’ve helped you and how you’ve helped them in return.

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Deadline: July 1, 2018
Apply: Here

TwoGolfGuys.com Grow the Game of Golf Scholarship

Please write a short essay (500-1,000 words) on one of the following topics:

● How will you help grow the game of golf?
●  What are the biggest challenges in encouraging youth to play golf and how can we solve them?
●  How has golf made you a better person?

Make sure your essay is original and unique.

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Deadline: July 31, 2018
Apply: Here

Share Your Talent Scholarship

Write an original short essay explaining your journey honing your talent and how others have encouraged you. Whether it’s playing an instrument, a physical talent, or any other special skill you have, discuss how its progressed throughout your life. Who has helped you grow your skills and encouraged you to keep working on your ability? How have you pushed yourself to get better and why? If you have images or videos that display your talent, they can make your submission stand out.

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Deadline: August 1, 2018
Apply: Here

PeerFinance101 Personal Finance Scholarship

Write a 500+ word essay about what your parents taught you about personal finance. Topics can include budgeting, starting investing, saving for retirement, paying bills, making money or anything your parents taught you about money.

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Deadline: August 1, 2018
Apply: Here

TopBabyGears Scholarship

Write an article of at least 500 words on the following topic: “What Do Babies Really Want?” Highlight the particular needs/ wants of babies, and describe specific baby gear products with features that cater to each type of need/ want. Article needs to be well-researched, creative and original, not previously published or submitted for publication anywhere else. It should have fluent grammar and presentable formatting. Please also include documentation to prove your enrollment in an accredited college/university.

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Deadline: August 29, 2018
Apply: Here

Camera Runner Photography Scholarship

Write an essay of 500 to 600 words on the following topic: “What do you like about photography?” Also, please include your favorite picture taken by yourself, and any document to prove that you are a student.

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Deadline: August 31, 2018
Apply: Here

Miscellaneous

The following scholarship does not require any type of essay.

Articles Teller Scholarship Program

Please sent a small letter of recommendation either from your teachers or your education institution. Also, submit any kind of evidence to prove that you are a student.

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Deadline: May 5, 2018
Apply: Here