The winner
- At least $1,000, paid directly to you. No strings attached: use it however you want.
- The Practical Drug Dose Guide
- STAT: The ER Pocket Guide (when it's released)
How it works
Three steps.
- One video to answer the scholarship prompt; 3 minutes max. Editing is not required or judged.
- Post it with a public link. YouTube (unlisted), Google Drive, Vimeo, Loom or Dropbox. Anyone should be able to open it without signing in.
- Paste the link in the form below. That's it. Closes Thursday, December 31 at 11:59 PM ET.
Want an example? Here's the video I made as a student that won the $25,000 Taco Bell Live Más Scholarship. Heads up: that one asked about my passion. Yours is about what you're working on beyond vet med.
The scholarship video prompt
What are you working on beyond the white coat?
The white coat makes you a doctor. What you work on beyond it makes you overqualified. It doesn't have to be huge or finished. It has to be real, it has to be yours, and you have to be putting in the work.
- Research you chase on your own time
- A business or side project, or your plan for financial freedom
- A sport, an art or an adventure you train for
- Your community or your family: who you show up for
- Giving back in a way nobody around you is
In your video, cover three things
- Who you areWhat lights you up, in vet med and outside it.
- What you're working onWhat it is, the work you're putting in, and where you're taking it next.
- Who it's forWho is better off because of it: your family, your community, the profession, the animals.
Editing, followers and GPA aren't scored.
Who's giving this
Scholarships bet on me. Now I'm betting on one of you.
I'm Dr. Julia Carlin. I applied to hundreds of scholarships, from high school to undergrad and all the way through vet school. They added up to more than $125,000, and I graduated vet school with zero debt. The ones that changed my life never asked about my GPA. They asked what I was working on, and they got me thinking about where I'd end up. For me, that's beyond the white coat.
Here at The Overqualified, we believethe white coat is the floor,
not the ceiling.
2014–2015High school
2015–2019Undergrad · University of Central Florida
2019–2023Vet school · NC State
2023–nowDoctor, and everything else
Covered by
ABC11 · Orlando Sentinel · ScienceDaily · IFLScience · EarthSky · ZME Science · Technology Networks · The Wildlife Society · Audubon Florida · UCF Today · Taco Bell Foundation · Palm Beach Illustrated
None of this happened all at once. Every small thing I started was a step toward becoming who I was meant to be and the impact I was meant to leave. I can't wait to see what you're working on, and how overqualified you already are.
— Julia
What you can win
One winner, and something for everyone who applies.
Everyone who applies
10% off
Your first 3 months of The Overqualified 1:1 mentorship if you join by August 31, 2027. Win or not.
Who can apply
2026 vet grads, vet students and pre-vets, 18 and up, in the U.S.
- DVMs and VMDs who graduated in 2026
- DVM and VMD students at any U.S. college of veterinary medicine
- Undergraduates at an accredited U.S. college who plan to apply to vet school
Proof of eligibility is required. You must be able to prove you're a 2026 DVM/VMD graduate or a current student. Finalists send an enrollment certificate, diploma or license number before a winner is chosen (see Proof of status).
You must be 18 or older and a legal resident of the 50 states or D.C.
How it's judged
Scored by a committee, not one person.
Every eligible video is judged by a committee led by Dr. Carlin on three things:
- Who you areYour passion, your story, what makes you you.
- What you're working onReal action, effort and follow-through.
- Who it's forThe difference it makes for someone besides you.
Never scored
- GPA, grades or test scores
- Editing, music or how polished the video looks
- Your follower count or how many people liked it
- Whether you've bought anything from The Overqualified
Finalists
The top 5 are contacted by mid-to-late January 2027 and asked for proof of status. The committee then picks the winner.
The must-dos
Follow every rule, or your video won't be judged.
- 3 minutes maximum.Strictly enforced
Aim for 2 to 3 minutes. Anything over 3:00 won't be judged. No exceptions. - It's you, in your own words. You must appear in the video. No AI-generated video, voice or likeness.
- Anyone with the link can watch it. Upload to YouTube (unlisted), Google Drive, Vimeo, Loom or Dropbox, set so anyone with the link can view without signing in, and keep it up until the winner is paid.
- One application per person. Only your first complete application is judged.
- No private patient or client information. No names, records or anything that identifies a client, and only footage and music you have the right to use.
- Submitted by Thursday, December 31, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET. Late applications aren't accepted.
- You must prove you're a 2026 graduate or a current student. If you're a finalist, you'll be contacted. Finalists send proof within 1 week of being contacted (see what counts as proof). If you can't, an alternate is chosen.
Proof of status
Only finalists send proof.
You don't upload anything when you apply. If you're one of the top 5, you'll be contacted in mid-to-late January and asked to send proof of status, within 7 days, in one of the following ways:
Pre-vets and vet students
Any one document showing you're enrolled this school year: a recent transcript, an enrollment verification certificate (most schools let you print one free through the National Student Clearinghouse) or a letter from your registrar. Feel free to black out your grades.
2026 vet grads
Any one proof of your graduation year: your DVM or VMD diploma, a transcript showing your degree, or your state veterinary license number.
We never ask your school for your records, and never ask for your Social Security number, grades or financial information. Finalists' documents are deleted after the winner is paid. The winner also completes an IRS Form W-9 before payment.
Key dates
Applications close Thursday, December 31.
- Applications open
- Applications close
- Mid-to-late January 2027Top 5 finalists contacted
- After finalists are verifiedWinner announced by email and on Instagram at @drjuliacarlin
- Within 30 days of verificationScholarship paid
Apply
Your application
Upload your video (3 minutes max), paste the link below and you're done. Free to apply; no purchase necessary.
We email you about the scholarship (your application, your perk and the results). Joining the wider email list is optional; see the last box below.
The form opens Tuesday, November 10 at 7 PM ET.
Start filming now. Aim for 2 to 3 minutes; the hard limit is 3:00.
Thank you for applying!
Your application is in. You'll get scholarship updates by email, and your applicant perk is locked in: 10% off your first 3 months of mentorship if you join by August 31, 2027.
Finalists are contacted by mid-to-late January 2027. Follow along on Instagram for scholarship updates and the winner announcement.
Follow @drjuliacarlinKnow a pre-vet or vet student who's way too overqualified? Send them this page.
Preview only, so nothing was sent. On theoverqualified.net this form submits to Netlify Forms.
Questions
Before you apply
Do I need to have done something huge?
No. What you're working on can be a family you show up for, a community you serve, a skill you're learning or a project that's just getting started. We're looking for real effort and real heart, not the most impressive résumé.
Does my GPA matter?
No. Grades and test scores are never scored. You're judged only on your video, using the three categories above.
Can I send an essay instead?
Not this year. The scholarship is video only, up to 3 minutes.
What if my video is 3:05?
It won't be judged. The 3:00 limit is strictly enforced so every applicant is judged the same way. Check the length before you submit.
Do I have to edit my video?
No. One take on your phone can win. Editing and production quality are never scored.
Do I have to buy anything?
No. Applying is free, and buying anything from The Overqualified doesn't change your chances.
Who judges?
A judging committee led by Dr. Carlin scores every eligible video. The top 5 finalists send proof of status before the committee picks the winner.
How is the money paid?
Directly to the winner, within 30 days after they're verified. The winner fills out an IRS Form W-9 first and receives a Form 1099.
Is the money tied to mentorship or anything else?
No. The winner gets at least $1,000, paid directly to them, to use however they want. No strings attached. The 10% mentorship discount is a separate thank-you for applying, and you never have to use it.
I'm a vet tech or graduated before 2026. Can I apply?
Not this year. This scholarship is for 2026 DVM/VMD grads, current DVM/VMD students and pre-vets. The mentorship is open to vet techs, vet assistants and vets at every stage.
Can I apply from outside the U.S.?
Not this year. You need to be 18 or older and a legal resident of the 50 states or D.C. The mentorship is open to vets and vet students outside the U.S.
Can I apply again next year?
Yes. The scholarship runs every year, and you can apply again as long as you're eligible.
I have another question.
Email drjuliacarlin@gmail.com or DM @drjuliacarlin on Instagram.
Official Rules
The Overqualified Scholarship, Year 1 (2026). Free to apply. No purchase necessary. The winner is chosen by judges on merit, never by chance.
1. Sponsor
Julia Carlin DVM PLLC, a North Carolina professional limited liability company doing business as The Overqualified (theoverqualified.net) ("Sponsor"). Questions: drjuliacarlin@gmail.com. The scholarship is a cash award paid by Sponsor. Sponsor is not a 501(c)(3) charity and does not accept contributions to the scholarship fund.
2. Dates
Applications open November 10, 2026 at 7:00 PM Eastern Time and close December 31, 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. The time recorded by Sponsor's application form is the official time. Late applications are not accepted.
3. Who can apply
When you apply, you must be: 18 or older; a legal resident of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia; and one of the following: (a) an undergraduate at an accredited U.S. college or university who plans to apply to veterinary school; (b) a student currently enrolled in a DVM or VMD program at any U.S. college of veterinary medicine that is accredited or provisionally accredited by the AVMA Council on Education, or has a letter of reasonable assurance from it; or (c) a person who earned a DVM or VMD degree from such a program in 2026. Sponsor's employees and contractors, the judges, and their immediate family and household members cannot apply. Void where prohibited.
4. How to apply
Complete the form at theoverqualified.net/scholarship before the deadline, including a link to your video. One application per person; if you submit more than one, only your first complete application is judged. Applying is free. Buying anything from Sponsor does not improve your chances. When you apply, you certify that you are eligible, that the person in the video is you, and that the video is your own work. Applications that do not follow these rules are not judged.
5. Your video
- Length: no longer than 3:00. This is strictly enforced; videos over 3:00 are not judged. A length of 2 to 3 minutes is recommended.
- Prompt: "What are you working on beyond the white coat?" You appear on camera, in your own words and any creative style, and cover who you are, what you're working on and who it's for.
- Shared as a link anyone can open without signing in (for example YouTube unlisted, Google Drive, Vimeo, Loom or Dropbox), and kept open until the winner is paid.
- Your original work: no AI-generated video, voice or likeness; no music or footage you don't have the rights to; no private client or patient information.
6. Judging
Each eligible video is scored out of 100 by a judging committee led by Dr. Carlin: Who you are 30, What you're working on 40, Who it's for 30. Grades, test scores, follower counts and production quality are not scored. A tie goes to the higher "What you're working on" score. The committee's decisions are final.
7. Finalists and proof of eligibility
Up to five finalists are contacted by mid-to-late January 2027. Each finalist must, within 7 days, send one document showing their status. Pre-vets and vet students: any one document showing current enrollment for the 2026–2027 school year, such as a recent transcript (grades may be blacked out), an enrollment verification certificate (for example from the National Student Clearinghouse) or a letter from the school's registrar. Graduates: any one proof of a DVM or VMD degree conferred in 2026, such as a diploma, a transcript showing the degree conferred, or a state veterinary license number Sponsor can check on the state board's public lookup. By sending the document, the finalist consents to Sponsor using it only to confirm eligibility. Sponsor never asks schools for a student's records and never asks for Social Security numbers, grades or financial information. Sponsor deletes finalists' documents after the winner is paid. A finalist who doesn't complete these steps in time may be replaced by an alternate.
8. The award
One winner receives a cash scholarship of at least $1,000, paid directly to the winner with no restrictions on how it is used; free access to The Practical Drug Dose Guide; and free access to STAT: The ER Pocket Guide when it is released. Sponsor may add prizes from partner brands during the contest. Prizes can't be transferred or exchanged. Sponsor awards the scholarship as long as at least one eligible application is received. The award is paid within 30 days after the winner is verified.
9. Applicant perk
Everyone who submits a complete, eligible application with a video that meets Section 5 receives 10% off the first 3 months of The Overqualified 1:1 mentorship if they join by August 31, 2027. The perk is personal and can't be transferred, doesn't combine with other mentorship discounts (you get the larger one), and follows the program's standard membership terms.
10. Winner notification and announcement
Sponsor emails the winner before any public announcement. The winner must reply within 72 hours with proof of eligibility and payment details, or an alternate may be chosen. The winner is announced by email, on Instagram (@drjuliacarlin) and on theoverqualified.net.
11. False information
Anyone who gives false information, or whose video isn't their own, is disqualified. Any award paid on false information must be returned to Sponsor, and Sponsor may choose an alternate.
12. Your video and your name
You keep ownership of your video. By applying, you let Sponsor and the judges watch it to judge the scholarship. Sponsor shares clips publicly only if you tick the optional sharing box; ticking it or not has no effect on judging. By accepting the award, the winner agrees that Sponsor may announce their name and school; any clip of the winner is shared only with their OK.
13. Taxes
Before the award is paid, the winner must give Sponsor a completed IRS Form W-9. Sponsor will report the award to the IRS and send the winner a Form 1099 as required by law. The winner is responsible for any taxes on the award.
14. Your information
Sponsor uses what you submit to run the scholarship and to email you about it, including your application, your perk and the results. Sponsor adds you to The Overqualified's wider email list only if you tick the optional box on the form; you can unsubscribe anytime, and ticking it or not has no effect on judging. Sponsor does not sell your information. See the Privacy Policy.
15. Everything else
Sponsor may disqualify anyone who breaks these rules or interferes with the process. If fraud or a technical failure keeps the scholarship from running fairly, Sponsor may change or cancel it and judge the eligible applications received before then. North Carolina law governs these rules. This scholarship is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram, Meta, the AVMA, SAVMA or any college or university. By applying, you agree to these rules.