Review Criteria

SELECTION CRITERIA & CATEGORIES

Coca-Cola Scholars are service-minded, socially conscious leaders who emerge as effective change agents for good in their schools and communities. The ideal Coke Scholars are humble servant leaders committed to bettering, encouraging, and inspiring those around them through their leadership, service, and involvement.

 

Top Semifinalists:

  • see a challenge and tackle it;
  • see a problem and work to solve it;
  • see a need and address it; and
  • see an opportunity and take advantage of it (in a good way!).

They want to change the world for the better, and indeed already may be doing so.

 

We ask that your review team advance a ranked list of 30 Semifinalists who demonstrate excellence in the evaluation criteria. This can be seen in a Semifinalist who excels and makes an impact in a variety of areas or a Semifinalist who demonstrates the highest level of excellence achievable in a single area (e.g., National Youth Poet Laureate or Olympic medalist).

 

You will rate the candidates in four categories:

  • Leadership
  • Service
  • Personal Characteristics
  • Academic Achievement

Each category has an assigned maximum score as defined on the Scoring Guidelines page.

 

LEADERSHIP and SERVICE  (you may assign 0-4 points in each of these categories)

  • Initiates and leads action in school and in the community. They are creative and collaborate with peers.
  • Is dedicated, persistent, committed and motivated; evidence of increasing levels of responsibility and accomplishment.
  • Demonstrates integrity.
  • Presents evidence of significant sustained impact.
  • Is authentic, well-rounded, community-minded and socially conscious. 
  • Is selfless, demonstrating an awareness of the needs of others and not simply out to bolster their own status or ego.
  • Not simply a participant. An applicant with few (or no) leadership roles or articulated leadership experiences is likely not a Coke Scholar.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS  (you may assign 0-4 points in this category)

  • Demonstrates an awareness of what is happening in their community and broader society.
  • Evidence of kindness, humility, focus on others as they lead and serve.
  • Takes advantage of opportunities made available, creates opportunities for self and others.
  • Explains how a tough challenge was addressed or a difficult (and perhaps unpopular but correct) decision was made.
  • Displays evidence of persistence or overcoming barriers.
  • Has achieved or is working toward achieving a clear goal they identify as important.
  • Makes a difference within their context.
  • Utilizes their position to lead, serve, and succeed; overcomes barriers to lead, serve, and succeed.
  • Demonstrates dedication, commitment, perseverance, motivation.
  • Demonstrated impact of special skills and talents.

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT  (you may assign 0-2 points in this category)

  • Grades indicate an ability to succeed in college (Bs are OK!)
  • Evidence of academic honors and awards.
  • Evidence of pursuing a demanding curriculum as available at their school.
  • NOTE: You should spend the least time assessing this category, given that they have been assessed to be successful in college.
    • A score of "1" here should be considered a default score.
    • A score of "2" could reflect the highest grades in all of the highest rigor courses offered by their school.
    • A score of "0" reflects a missing transcript or grades are much lower in the transcript than they should be at this stage.

DISCRETIONARY POINTS  (you may assign 0-2 points in this category)

These points may be used for:

  • Responses that are unique, clear, organized, and/or present a compelling, focused idea.
  • Exceptional writing ability; applicants who indicate English as a second or non-primary home language should not be penalized for grammar, etc.
  • Exploring unique or compelling ideas with insight, reasoning, persuasion, maturity, or evident concern for society.
  • Evidence of persistence, determination, or overcoming barriers.
  • Evidence of setting and achieving goals they identify as important to them.
  • Evidence of significant impact across multiple areas or depth of exceptional accomplishment in a single area.

In reviewing the applications, use only the information provided in the application. Please do not infer or presume any characteristics that are not presented in the submitted materials. There is also no need to seek out additional information through internet searches; applicants have been instructed to explain programs or acronyms not commonly known or obvious.

 

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