Grow with Google Scholarship
Back in October of 2017 I applied for a Grow with Google Scholarship advertised online (Facebook if I recall correctly). Around the same time I had been poking around on various online learning websites (Udemy, Udacity, Stackskills…) to learn JavaScript. I even purchased a few low cost programming bundles at some ridiculously low prices. Hooray for creepy useful targeted marketing. While applying for the Grow with Google Scholarship I figured I had nothing to lose, submitted my application…then promptly forgot about the scholarship.
Two months later I received an email from Udacity explaining that the scholarship deadline had been extended. This email sparked my memory (and interest) about the scholarship application submitted months prior and I reopened my application. I carefully reviewed and updated the scholarship information I submitted previously, then set a reminder to check back on January 10th.
Challenge course scholarship
On January 10th, 2018 I received an email from Udacity informing me that I had been accepted into the Grow with Google Scholarship Front-End Web Developer track. A 3 month challenge course to get the low down skinny on front end web development. I was so excited I got set up with the various communities for the program (slack & online forums) and started the course immediately.
Out of the 10,000+ that successfully completed the challenge program; 5,000 follow-up Grow with Google Nanodegree program scholarships were awarded. The Nanodegree is a 6 month program. Prior to completing the challenge I was just happy I got the challenge scholarship.
After completing the challenge course in late March 2018, I spent time connecting with fellow challenge program participants on LinkedIn. I’d pop in the community slack channels, at least once a week, to see what was going on. Honestly I was not giving too much thought on qualifying for the Nanodegree scholarship. Worse case scenario, chances were about 50/50 that I’d get it. However, I knew that a few hadn’t completed the challenge course so my chances were actually a bit higher.
Nanodegree Scholarship
On April 17th, 2018 I received an email with the subject “Congratulations! You’ve been selected for a Grow with Google Scholarship Nanodegree”
SO MUCH EXCITE!!!
Now I wait for the Front-End Web Developer Nanodegree program to start in a couple more days so I can continue on my learning to code journey over the next 6 months.