If you’ve spent any considerable time playing World of Warcraft, at some point you’ve probably been met with the question “when are you going to shut the computer down and focus on your future?”
Well, the time has come to prove them all wrong!
Turns out, your years of play time spent chasing achievements and grinding reputations might finally have a practical use—paying for college! The University of Silicon Valley has launched the Max Achievement Scholarship, a program rewarding demonstrated mastery in video games, including World of Warcraft!
The Max Achievement Scholarship
The scholarship recognises players who have shown “mastery” through difficult digital achievements, with awards reaching up to $15,000 per year depending on how impressive those achievements are. Here are the qualifying achievements needed to prove your worth:
USV also accepts achievements proven through various other games, including RuneScape, Final Fantasy XIV, and Minecraft. To check out the full list of games/achievements (and how many scholarships you’d qualify for) you can check out their Max Achievement Scholarship page.
The idea behind the scholarship is part of a growing recognition that games can involve complex skills beyond simply pressing buttons. Leading a guild, organising a raid, adapting strategies, and learning from failure are all great examples of these!
So, would your Azeroth addiction make you worthy of a scholarship, or do you have a few reputations and professions left to grind? Let us know!