COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS

Our College Scholarships are administered through a single application, so there is no need to apply to a specific named fund. All applicants are considered for every College Scholarship opportunity, and recipients are assigned to one of our named scholarship funds after selection.

College Scholarship applications are reviewed by We Are Moving The Needle’s scholarship committee, which is composed of leaders across the industry (from both the creative and business side) and mentors. Applications are evaluated using a qualitative and quantitative rubric that assess candidates’ preparation for success in their particular program, their articulation of career goals and commitment to production and engineering, and how this scholarship will meaningfully impact their stated goals. 

Successful applications vary program to program depending on the scholarship or grant call in question, however the following considerations might be considered to strengthen your overall application package: 

• Thorough and thoughtful written responses. Successful candidates make the fullest use of the suggested word counts, provide clear and compelling answers, and demonstrate an overall thoughtfulness to the written components of the application as well as the portfolio and supplemental materials. 

• Clear articulation of goals that include growing skills and leadership behind the board. We Are Moving The Needle drives equity for producers, engineers, and those working in technical roles in the recording industry. Many successful alumni are multi-faceted creators and also work as songwriters and artists, but they maintain a commitment to learning, growing, and leading behind the board as well as in front.   

• Clear understanding of their specific program. Successful applicants demonstrate a clear understanding of the scholarship or grant program and how it will help them advance their goals. Strong candidates show that they have carefully reviewed the details of their specific program and can articulate why it is particularly meaningful at this stage of their creative journey. They also convey a clear need for funding and explain how receiving support would meaningfully impact their path within the context of their program or professional goals.

• A comprehensive portfolio that clearly highlights skills behind the board. Applicants are evaluated based on the skills relevant to their specific program of study. For example, candidates applying to an audio engineering program should demonstrate the technical skills and strengths expected of an engineer at the appropriate level, while songwriting majors should show clear ability and potential as songwriters. Portfolios are also reviewed in the context of where you are in your academic journey, so a freshman’s portfolio will naturally look different from that of a graduate student.

• Successful applicants will provide a range of work samples demonstrating their experience and commitment to the technical side of music. School projects, independent work, and professional work are all acceptable. We recommend applicants provide a variety of work examples demonstrating their technical skills and experience, particularly projects they have produced or engineered, either for themselves or others. Acceptable work samples can include demo tracks, sound designs, original compositions, etc. School projects, independent work, and professional work are all acceptable.

• Acceptable formats include:

  • Spotify, SoundCloud, Bandcamp, etc.

  • Website (must have audio samples)

  • Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.

• Applicants are required to disclose the use of generative AI in their work samples, and, if used, provide a brief explanation on the use of this tool (i.e. how it was used, why this was used artistically, etc.). Applicants with work samples that make use of generative AI are highly encouraged to include secondary work samples without the use of AI as well. Please ensure all projects in your portfolio are clearly labeled to distinguish from one another.

Applicants should submit letters of recommendation from individuals who can speak to your skills, work ethic, and potential for success. These letters can be provided from teachers, employers, mentors, or advocates, as long as they know you well. Your recommender may also email your letter of recommendation to info@wearemovingtheneedle.org instead of submitting in the application form. In that case, please upload a document with your mentor’s name, email, and relationship to you. Your application will not be considered complete until your letter of recommendation has been confirmed as received by the We Are Moving The Needle Team.

• We Are Moving The Needle College Scholarships are intended to support direct educational expenses including:

  • Tuition and fees associated with degree or course enrollment; 

  • Course-related expenses including books, supplies, and equipment that are required by their department, program, or faculty for coursework. Please note: Per IRS guidelines, qualifying equipment and supplies must be clearly required for all students enrolled in the program or course.

• Scholarships are awarded directly to students for the purposes outlined and as such may not be considered taxable income, however, students should review IRS guidelines on receiving scholarships for final determinations on income reporting requirements for their particular financial status.