Any UC colleges offer scholarships for esports?

I'm a high school student interested in esports and was wondering if any UC colleges have scholarships specifically for it. Are there particular eligibility criteria or programs I should be aware of?

Yes, some University of California campuses do offer scholarships for esports. Here are two examples:

1. UC Irvine has a robust esports program and offers scholarships to members of their varsity teams. They also have a comprehensive path-to-pro program intended to cultivate student gaming talent and assist in their participation in the professional ecosystem. They field teams for games such as League of Legends, Overwatch, and Super Smash Bros, among others.

2. UC Berkeley, although it does not provide scholarships directly, has an esports community and club teams that are sponsored by various tech and gaming companies. Despite not offering scholarships, they do provide access to a dedicated esports community, coaching, and support.

Each program will have its specific eligibility criteria. Usually, to be considered for the varsity esports team and therefore eligible for a scholarship, students must be enrolled in the university first. They typically also need to demonstrate a high skill level in their specific game, which is typically evaluated through tryouts.

Remember that esports at the college level is more than just playing games. It involves practice, strategy, teamwork, and even elements of physical fitness. It's not just about being good at a particular game, but also how well you can work within a team environment, how strategically you think, and how well you manage your time among classes, practices, and matches.

In your case, if you'd like to play esports in college, it'd be good to start reaching out to the respective esports coordinators at the schools you're interested in. They can provide valuable insight into the program and how selections are made.

Remember, while esports scholarships are a great bonus, your academic qualifications should also align with the university admissions standards and course offerings should be a good fit for your interests and career ambitions.