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I Have a Dream Scholarship 2027 - $1,500 Unigo

Deadline

January 31, 2027, 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time

110 days left

$1,500

One annual winner

Age 14+

College or trade school

Jan 31, 2027

Pacific Time deadline

50 states + DC

Legal U.S. residents

How to apply Am I eligible? Official website

Hosted by Unigo Published September 17, 2026

The Unigo I Have a Dream Scholarship asks you to share what you dream about in 250 words or less. One legal U.S. resident wins $1,500 paid as a check to an accredited college, university, or trade school after proof of enrollment. You must be at least 14 and enrolled now or no later than fall 2027. Eligibility covers residents of all fifty states and the District of Columbia. The current cycle accepts applications through January 31, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time. One entry per person is allowed, and Unigo judges weigh writing ability, creativity, originality, and overall excellence at 25 percent each.

What is the Unigo I Have a Dream Scholarship?

Unigo built the I Have a Dream Scholarship around a question that fits almost anyone: what do you dream about? You might write about a weird nightmare, a recurring image from sleep, or the future you are working toward. You get 250 words, and one winner earns $1,500 toward accredited postsecondary study. Unigo sends the money as a check to your school after you prove enrollment, not as spending cash in your pocket.

Residency rules list all fifty states plus the District of Columbia, so the contest is nationwide. You still need to be a legal U.S. resident, at least fourteen, and on track for college, university, or trade school by fall 2027. CareerOneStop and other directories sometimes tag Unigo awards with a D.C. filter because the rules text names the district alongside the states, but eligibility is the same whether you live in Portland or Philadelphia.

Treat the word cap and one-entry limit seriously. Unigo will not swap in a revised essay after you submit, and off-topic or obscene responses are disqualified. Past Unigo contests reward voice and specific detail over generic answers. Read the ownership language in the official rules before you enter, because Unigo retains publishing rights to winning submissions. When your draft is ready, file once through the official Unigo page before 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on January 31, 2027.

Who can apply

Eligibility

Your progress 0 / 6

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Legal U.S. resident age 14 or older

You must be at least 14 on the day you apply and a legal resident of the United States per Unigo official rules.
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Resident of a state or the District of Columbia

Eligibility covers legal residents of all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The award is national, not limited to one region.
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Enrolled or enrolling by fall 2027

You must be enrolled in an accredited college, university, or trade school now, or enroll no later than fall 2027 according to the published rules.
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One application per person

Unigo accepts only one application per individual. You cannot submit corrected drafts after the original entry.
✓

Original English response within 250 words

Answer what you dream about in a previously unpublished essay in English with correct spelling and grammar. The response must not exceed 250 words.
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Not a Unigo employee or immediate family

Employees, officers, directors, and agents of Unigo and related companies, their immediate families, and household members are ineligible.

What you get

Benefits

Scholarship amount $1,500
Payment method Check payable to your accredited school
Selection criteria Writing, creativity, originality, excellence
Application fee Free Unigo form
Cash paid directly to student Institutional check only
Renewable annual award Single non-renewable prize

What to prepare

Document checklist

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Online Unigo I Have a Dream application

Complete the form at unigo.com/our-scholarships with name, contact information, background details, and academic details.
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250-word dreams essay

Respond to the prompt about what you dream about, whether a recent sleep dream or your hopes for the future. Stay within the word cap.
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Accurate school and contact data

Enter enrollment information exactly as requested so Unigo can verify the winner and mail the institutional check.
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Proof of enrollment after winning

Winners must submit proof of enrollment to Unigo by the deadline stated in the official rules before the $1,500 check is sent to the school.
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No separate transcript upload required

Unigo does not list GPA minimums or mandatory transcripts for this creative writing contest on the scholarship page.
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Parent or guardian forms if under 18

Minors who win may need parental signatures on affidavits and releases described in the full Unigo rules.

Step by step

How to apply

1

Open the Unigo I Have a Dream Scholarship page

Start at unigo.com/scholarships/our-scholarships/i-have-a-dream-scholarship and confirm you are on the dreams prompt, not another Unigo contest.
2

Read the official rules block

Scroll to Unigo eligibility and judging language so you understand residency, word limits, essay ownership, and tax reporting if you win.
3

Draft your dream story offline

Pick a vivid sleep dream or a forward-looking hope and explain why it matters. Trim the piece to 250 words with clean grammar before you paste it into the form.
4

Create or sign into your Unigo account

Log in so your application saves correctly and Unigo can contact you if you win.
5

Submit once before the Pacific Time deadline

File the application by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on January 31, 2027. Late or duplicate entries are not accepted.
6

Watch for winner notification

Unigo notifies the winner by email or phone after the deadline and may publish results on the scholarship winners page.

When

Deadline and timeline

Application deadline

January 31, 2027, 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time

110 days left

2026

Application window for the current cycle is open on Unigo through January 31, 2027.

Fall 2026

Draft and polish your 250-word essay before the January close.

31 Jan 2027

All applications due by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.

Feb - Apr 2027

Unigo panel scores entries on writing, creativity, originality, and excellence.

Spring 2027

Potential winner notified by email or phone per the scholarship listing.

After enrollment

Winner provides proof of enrollment so Unigo can issue the $1,500 check to the accredited school.

Questions

FAQ

What is the Unigo I Have a Dream Scholarship essay prompt?

You share what you dream about, whether a bizarre dream from last week or your hopes for the future. The response must be original, in English, and 250 words or less.

How much is the I Have a Dream Scholarship?

Unigo awards one winner $1,500 per cycle. The prize is paid as a check to the accredited postsecondary institution after the winner verifies enrollment.

Is the I Have a Dream Scholarship only for students in one state?

No. Official rules cover legal residents of all 50 states and the District of Columbia who meet age and enrollment requirements.

When is the I Have a Dream Scholarship deadline?

Applications close at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on January 31, 2027 for the current cycle listed on unigo.com.

Does the I Have a Dream Scholarship require a GPA?

Unigo does not publish a GPA minimum for this contest. Judges score your short written response rather than your transcript.

Can high school students apply for the I Have a Dream Scholarship?

Yes, if you are at least 14, a legal U.S. resident, and enrolled or planning to enroll in accredited postsecondary study by fall 2027.

How does Unigo pick the I Have a Dream Scholarship winner?

A qualified panel rates writing ability, creativity, originality, and overall excellence at 25 percent each. Ties break on the overall excellence score.