The Ultimate Guide to Amazon's Future Engineer Scholarship
In the pursuit of a STEM education, high school students are always in need of a competitive advantage since attending a university is a costly investment for many. Scholarships serve as a vital resource not only for those seeking financial support but also for those looking for academic enrichment opportunities, including mentorships and internships. Such experiences will help you in your future academic and career endeavors in STEM. Scholarships offer more than financial relief, opening doors to influential networks and learning experiences that are invaluable in the industry.
In this blog post, we will explore the Amazon Future Engineer (AFE) scholarship in detail, covering its eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and overall experience as an AFE scholar.
What is the Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship?
The Amazon Future Engineer program is dedicated to advancing computer science and STEM education among young individuals, aiming to empower them to reach their potential. The program provides a range of offerings, from internships and courses to a specific scholarship intended for high school students planning to pursue degrees in computer science or engineering. The scholarship offers up to $40,000 and a prestigious internship opportunity at Amazon, making it a significant stepping stone for those pursuing a STEM degree. It targets bright, financially needy STEM enthusiasts, helping level the playing field for education and career opportunities in technology.
Is the AFE Scholarship prestigious?
With Amazon being one of the largest and most recognized tech companies globally, and the scholarship being limited to around 400 recipients from over 4,000 applicants, the AFE scholarship is indeed prestigious. In 2023, Amazon received more than 8,000 applicants with an acceptance rate of 7% making it a highly sought-after scholarship program that attracts the best talents in the country.
The scholarship provides substantial financial support and an internship that not only pays but also adds significant value to your resume. Although the scholarship does not specifically highlight academic excellence, its focus on enabling STEM education for students with financial needs and offering them internship opportunities makes it prestigious in its right. The opportunity to intern at Amazon naturally brings its attendant distinction, strengthening your profile even further.
Who is eligible?
The AFE scholarship has broad and inclusive eligibility criteria designed to attract a diverse group of applicants:
You must be a U.S. high school senior currently enrolled in, or who has completed, a high school or college dual degree course in computer science, engineering, or robotics. (Amazon also provides an alternative assessment for those interested in the scholarship but who have not completed such a course).
You must plan to pursue a computer science or engineering degree at an accredited four-year college or a two-year college with intentions to transfer to a four-year institution. You can check the list of related majors that would be fit for the scholarship here.
Demonstrable financial need is a requirement.
A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.3 on a 4.0 scale is necessary, reflecting a serious commitment to academics.
Eligibility also extends to those authorized to work in the U.S. for at least two years, including holders of an Employment Authorization Document, Permanent Residents, or U.S. Citizens.
Who are AFE Scholars?
Alumni of the AFE Scholarship often attend top colleges such as Georgia Tech, Purdue, and UC Berkeley. The internship allows them to work directly on Amazon's cutting-edge technologies like Alexa, Amazon Web Services, and the retail platform, where many interns contribute to shipping production-level code by the end of their summer term. You can read about the experiences of some of the scholarship awardees here.
How do you apply and get selected for the AFE?
The application process is straightforward:
Submit your unofficial transcript.
Provide an online recommendation from a computer science, robotics, or hardware engineering teacher, or another teacher who knows you well.
Include the first two pages of your household’s most recent IRS 1040 form(s) for the Financial Information Page.
Applications in 2023 were accepted from October 2 to December 15, so 2024 is likely to be similar. Selections are based on:
Academic performance
Engineering experience
Work experience
Responses to short-answer questions
Level of financial need
Contributions to racial, ethnic, and gender diversity.
Decisions are announced by May 15 of the following year.
If you have any specific questions regarding the application process or whether your major would be fit for the scholarship, you can reach out to them at AmazonFutureEngineer@ScholarshipAmerica.org.
What does the AFE Scholarship comprise?
The AFE scholarship includes two main components:
The monetary award: The scholarship assesses your financial aid situation and covers unmet financial needs up to $10,000 per year, renewable for up to three years or until you earn a bachelor’s degree, whichever comes first.
The internship opportunity: All AFE awardees receive an internship offer at Amazon following their freshman year, working with either a software or hardware engineering team on projects that have direct implications for Amazon’s operations.
Our Review - Should you apply?
The Amazon Future Engineer (AFE) scholarship is a fantastic opportunity for high school students passionate about STEM but challenged by financial constraints. The application process is designed to be inclusive, focusing on fair representation of historically underrepresented groups. With over 400 spots available and a holistic selection process, this could be your chance for a life-changing educational and career opportunity.
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