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Category: Scholarships

  • University = Show Me The Money?

    University = Show Me The Money?

    During your first year of post-secondary education, you might feel like you have a chorus of administrators telling you to SHOW ME THE MONEY! This is probably the least awesome part of your university/college experience, but don’t lose hope! You can pay for your education and still have some dough left over if you manage your money.

    There are some great resources for student loans and scholarships that you can check out, but for now I’m going to share the best money-managing tip that’s saved me some moolah over four years of university.

    Some students may want to work during their first year, while some might prefer having more time to focus on their studies and soak up the university/college atmosphere. Either way, you’re going to want to have some extra cash handy to buy food, clothes, video games, hovercrafts, etc. The best way to make sure you’re not broke by October 1st is to…

    MAKE A BUDGET
    …and follow it! You could aim for a monthly budget, a weekly budget, or something in between. The disadvantage of the monthly budget is that you might get to the end of the second week and realize you don’t have enough coffee coins to last until the 31st. However, the monthly budget is advantageous if you KNOW you are responsible with your money and your self-discipline is strong enough to withstand the barrage of media which daily tells us that we need more stuff.

    Since I am personally quite fond of stuff, I went the way of the weekly budget and it worked fairly well. The disadvantage of the weekly budget is that it could be Monday and you’ve spotted a pair of jeans that you simply MUST have, or the new Halo game just came out and you’re not sure you can live without it. In cases like these, you might be tempted to dip into next week’s budget or blow a month of your carefully pinched pennies. Borrowing from one week’s budget to pay the expenses of another week is acceptable as long as it doesn’t happen too often and you’ve got legitimate reasons. Sometimes you might have to talk yourself out of that cute new top (everyone else is going to buy it anyways) or the pair of nunchucks you thought you just HAD to have (what are you ACTUALLY going to use them for?)

    If the personal pep talk doesn’t work and you decide you absolutely have to have something, just remember: you must eat (canned spaghetti for dinner every night does not count) and you must pay bills (interest rates are killer and cell phone companies are not as forgiving as their cute little mascots make them appear.)

    Here are some things to consider when making your budget:

    • The contents of your bank account!
    • Do you have a meal plan or will you be buying groceries?
    • Will you be working throughout the school year and how much will you make?
    • Do you have job plans for the summer?
    • How will you be paying for your next 2/3/4 years of university or college?
    • Are you eligible for or currently receiving financial aid? (Remember, loans must be paid back. Try saving a percentage of your money to put against your loan so that you don’t finish school and fall into a pit a debt.)

    Don’t be too generous with your budget or you’ll run out of money, but don’t be too strict either because you have to live on more than bread and water rations! Keeping the above six things in mind will help you to structure a budget that should work for you AND your bank account.

    Happy saving! (more…)

  • April Scholarships of the Month – Apply Now!

    April Scholarships of the Month – Apply Now!

    Now that April has arrived, you may have already decided what post-secondary institution you want to attend. You may have even already applied! NOW is the time to apply for your scholarships, too. Many colleges and universities have scholarships that only their students can receive. This month, we highlight some of those scholarships. Having free money to help you plan your budget for school will reduce any stress you may be feeling. So what are you waiting for? Check out some of the scholarships below and get applying!

    1. Ted Rogers School of Management Undergraduate Entrance Awards – For students entering the first year of the Business Management, Hospitality and Tourism Management, Information Technology Management or Retail Management program at Ryerson Unversity. Amount: $10,000. Deadline: April 16, 2013.

    2. Achievement Awards of Excellence – For students in any field entering their first year of study at McMaster University. Amount: $800. Deadline: April 15, 2013.

    3. Agnes L. Green Memorial Bursary – For students entering their first year of study in the field of Education at the University of New Brunswick – Fredericton. Amount: Varies dependent on need. Deadline: April 15, 2013.

    4. Alice Mary Goodfellow Scholarship – For students entering their first year of study in the field of Music at the University of Regina. Amount: $2500. Deadline: April 15, 2013.

    5. Alumni Association of Lakehead University Award – For students entering their first year of study in any program at Lakehead University – Thunder Bay. Amount: $1500. Deadline: April 15, 2013.

    6. Angelo and Frank Agro Undergraduate Scholarship – For students entering their first year of study in any program at the University of Guelph. Amount: $1750. Deadline: April 15, 2013.

    7. Anne Marie Campbell Award for Excellence in Creative Writing – For students entering their first year of study in English Creative Writing at Cape Breton University. Amount: $200. Deadline: April 15, 2013.

    8. B.C. Sugar Achievement Award – For students in any field of study at Simon Fraser University. Amount: $4500. Deadline: April 15, 2013.

    9. Cara/Micheal Syron Scholarship for the encouragement of entrepreneurial excellence (OSOTF) – For students entering their first year of study in the field of Law at the University of Ottawa. Amount: $2000. Deadline: April 15, 2013.

    10. Custody and Caring Scholarship in Forensic Nursing – For students enrolled in the field of Nursing at the University of Saskatchewan. Amount: $1000. Deadline: April 15, 2013.

  • Student Debt: Your New BFF

    Student Debt: Your New BFF

    Debt is a four letter word that should not be feared.

    Students who learn how to manage debt during university are paying themselves a great investment. You may be hearing horror stories of friends of friends who are paying off student loans years after graduation. Even the media pitches in and tells tales of students with debt so large that it seems unlikely they will ever pay off.

    No one wants to start out in life saddled with debt, but this could really be the best thing you do for yourself.

    Good Debt vs. Bad Debt
    A $1000 handbag or watch from your favourite designer is bad debt. $1000 towards books and supplies is good debt. Debt that goes towards something that will benefit you in the future is fine. Using borrowed money to earn your degree will only guarantee yourself a chance to earn much more than someone without a degree or diploma.

    Dr. Richard Settersten and Barbara E. Ray’s book Not Quite Adults highlights this fact – Taking on a little debt for a bigger payoff down the road is smart. Settersten and Ray also shared Nobel Laureate Milton Friedman’s advice: people should borrow the most early on when their earnings are the smallest, save a lot when they are in their highest earning years in mid-life and then start spending all those savings after they retire.

    Be Realistic
    BMO Financial Group surveyed students across Canada and found that half believe that they will graduate with zero or less than $10,000 debt. This doesn’t quite match up with the findings from Statistics Canada, which states the average student graduates with $18,800 in debt. Be realistic when you’re borrowing money and always know how much you’ve taken out and how much you’re spending.

    Be Strategic
    Arthur Chan, who took out Canada Student Loans for fives years at Carleton University to complete his engineering degree, graduated with a debt of $21,000. He wasn’t able to find a job in his field until 8 months after graduation. Now, 2 years into in a full-time position with the Government of Canada, that massive loan is all but a distant memory. How did he do it?

    Just because you’re able to borrow a large amount of money doesn’t mean you have to spend all of it. Arthur lived at home during university and took public transportation everyday to keep costs low. He also worked part-time retail jobs during summer vacations. When he wasn’t able to find a job right away, he applied for interest relief on his student loans. Once he was able to secure a job, he used his earnings to get rid of the debt as quickly as possible. The key is to learn how to save as much as you’re able to borrow.

    With tuition costs rising across Canada, sometimes adding everything up really discourages prospective students. Don’t let debt deter you from getting the education you want.

    Remember: education is a right, not a privilege.

  • Covering Post-Secondary Education Costs

    Covering Post-Secondary Education Costs

    University tuition is a huge expense that leaves many students deep in debt by the time they graduate – especially if they choose to live on their own, either in residence or near campus. Income from summer jobs is difficult to stretch out through the school year. That’s why many students work part-time on or near campus to offset the costs of school.

    But even before you begin to peruse employment options, don’t forget to apply for as many scholarships and bursaries you can find for which you are eligible. Search your school’s website for scholarship and bursary information and ask someone at the finance offices for advice. There is often more money available to students through these awards than there are students who apply for them. So don’t let competition dissuade you from applying. You have nothing to lose and money to gain! (Remember that the most important thing to do with any application for scholarships and bursaries is to have someone edit your work before you submit it).

    On-campus jobs provide another fantastic source of income to help you pay for the school year. There are a lot more options for work than you might think! Some students with disabilities, for instance, require extra assistance reading journal articles or writing down their thoughts. Look for a resource centre on your campus and ask if you could be hired to help out. The work, which is government-funded, pays relatively well. Check out your university’s administration offices to see what else may be available and ask all of your professors what they recommend.

    Off-campus jobs are another alternative means to acquire income as you go to school, but there are things to consider before you apply:

    1. How long will it take me to get to and from the job?
    2. Will my boss allow flexibility so that I can prioritize my schoolwork?
    3. Does what I learn at the job compliment my degree?
    4. Can I get something from the job for free that I would otherwise have to pay for, like a gym membership, food or clothes?
    5. Will I be able to manage my time effectively enough to juggle a job and school?

    It may be a good idea to settle into your classes and develop a homework and study routine before you seek employment. Prioritize your goals and decide how much time you need to commit to your education compared how much time you need to spend earning money.

  • March Scholarships of the Month – Apply Now!

    March Scholarships of the Month – Apply Now!

    Welcome to the March list of scholarships on JobsPeopleDo.com! As you are well aware, spring is shortly popping up on the calendar – as are deadlines for many scholarship and bursary applications! No matter what your university or college of choice is, there is a scholarship out there for you. The sooner you can get your post-secondary financial situation sorted out, the less stress you will feel. So what are you waiting for? Go out there and get that free money!

    1. Maytree Scholarship Program for Protected Persons and Permanent Residents who were Protected Persons – for students entering first year university or college in Toronto. Amount: $16,000. Deadline: March 22, 2013

    2. Anthem Essay Contest – for students in Grades 8, 9 or 10 across Canada. First prize: $2000 (many secondary prizes to be awarded – check website for more information). Deadline: March 20, 2013.

    3. 35 Lions Club of Regina Scholarship – for students entering first year studies at the University of Regina. Amount: $1000. Deadline: March 15, 2013.

    4. Alexander College Entrance Scholarship – for students entering first year studies at Alexander College in British Columbia. Amount: $7980. Deadline: March 15, 2013.

    5. Barbara Roberts Memorial Award – open to current undergraduate students at Athabasca University in Alberta. Amount: $250. Deadline: March 15, 2013.

    6. The Bissett Scholarship – for students entering first year undergraduate studies at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia. Amount: $6000. Deadline: March 15, 2013.

    7. Canadian Cancer Society Gertrude and LeRoy Rellinger Youth Volunteer Scholarship – for youth volunteers at the Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Division. Amount: $5000. Deadline: March 15, 2013.

    8. Community Entrance Awards – for students entering first year undergraduate studies at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia. Amount: $2000. Deadline: March 15, 2013.

    9. The Elaine Laurin Award – for students across Canada entering a Nursing program at any college/university. Amount: $1000. Deadline: March 15, 2013.

    10. Frank Ney Memorial Entrance Award – for students entering first year undergraduate studies at Vancouver Island University in British Columbia. Amount: $500. Deadline: March 15, 2013.

  • The Cost of Education

    The Cost of Education

    Don’t let college and university be a costly mistake.

    Avoid the lure of a big paycheck for a diploma or degree that you really don’t love.

    It’s hard to make a decision at the tender ages of 16 and 17 regarding the career you’ll have for the next 30 years. Yet this is what parents, teachers and guidance counselors are hoping you would do when it’s time to apply for post-secondary. A Gallup and Sallie Mae survey titled How America Pays for College found that more than half of high school seniors spent more time planning for prom than thinking about university.

    CBC reports that the average cost of tuition in Ontario rose 207% from 1990 to 2007 – it would now cost Ontario students $5,160 a year. It’s the cheapest in Newfoundland and Labrador at only $2,606, and the most expensive tuition fee goes to Nova Scotia where students fork over $6,571.

    With tuition fees on a meteoric rise, pressure is placed on the students and often for the wrong reasons. Parents who are weathering the recession and stock market crisis may advise their son or daughter about choosing professions that offer stability and a large paycheck. Accountant? Programmer? Nurse? Sure, they all sound interesting – why not give it a try?

    Valentina (not her real name) started off going to university to pursue a Bachelor in Public Administration. It became evident that this really wasn’t for her. She then tried switching into Pharmaceutical Studies, only to finally graduate in Sociology. A year after receiving that degree, she enrolled in college for Event Management. Still unhappy, she is now halfway through an Optician program. She feels confident that she has found her true career and even landed a student optician position during her studies.

    College and university can be very expensive, especially if you’re still unsure of what you would like to do. Not everyone can afford to switch around majors like Valentina did. It’s worse still if you stay in a program that you know you’re not suited for. Erica Cervini’s recent article for The Age found that, “If students don’t feel they belong to their university, the odds are high that they will drop out”. The greatest price to pay for education is an incomplete one.

    It’s okay to take your time and not rush into university or college when you’re not sure of what you would like to do. Volunteer during high school, talk to other adults, explore sites like JobsPeopleDo.com or even consider taking a gap year to think about what would you be happy to do. Treat your future career like finding your soul mate. If you meet a big shot executive who makes loads of cash, would you be with him/her if your heart just isn’t into it?

  • The Strange History of Money

    The Strange History of Money

    We all use money every day. It is essential because if we want to buy some food, clothes or services we have to pay money for them. Money is recognized as banknotes and coins. However, many years ago people couldn’t just go to the shop and buy what they wanted. They had to exchange some merchandise or services in order to receive other goods or services. This process is called barter trade. It was a really difficult procedure – the barter often depends on a coincidence of wants. Giving an illustration, the seller of grain has to find a buyer who wants to buy grain and who also could offer something the seller wants to buy. The solution is to trade the wheat indirectly through a third, “intermediate” commodity. An intermediate commodity has to be imperishable and attractive in demand. For example, it could be cattle, salt, shells, wine and so on. Intermediate commodities had their disadvantages; for example cattle, fur and precious stones couldn’t be cut into smaller pieces and it was uncomfortable to keep and transport.

    Due to the disadvantages of intermediate commodities, people had to invent a simpler way to continue trading. This is where monetary or specie commodities come in. At first, specie was in the shape of metal bars, wires, rings or powder. This money was uncomfortable because it was necessary to weigh and to hallmark it. Soon, the weight and hallmark of specie were embossed on the money directly.

    The earliest known coins in the western world came from Lydia in about 650 B.C. They were made of electrum, a natural alloy of gold and silver found locally. Greek cities, The Great Persian Empire and the Roman Empire quickly adopted the new useful technique of metal currency. By the end of the 6th century, coinage was common throughout the regions. However, coins also had many disadvantages. For instance, coins quickly show wear and they usually have small value. This makes it difficult to count lavish sums of coins. Because of these reasons, people invented paper money.

    At first, paper money was used in China in about 650 A.D. In Europe, paper money was first produced in the Netherlands in the 16th century and in the USA in the 17th century. Interestingly, paper money doesn’t have any value in and of itself. It is worthless and essentially just symbolic. In other words, paper money is just a note. It has a purchasing power because the government announces it as money and citizens accept it universally. Nowadays, we often don’t see real money (banknotes and coins) because we use credit cards and debit cards exclusively. Our money is placed into electronic space and it circulates just because of our imagination.

  • Writing A Scholarship Application Essay

    Writing A Scholarship Application Essay

    Getting a scholarship at any leading college or university requires immense preparation for students. One of the most challenging jobs is to submit a well articulated scholarship essay. Admission officers consider this as an integral part of the scholarship grant process. However, things have changed for the better with many websites being launched which publish numerous sample essays which can be used as a baseline for students who are applying for scholarships. Let us quickly see what these websites have to offer and how we can use the services to come out with world class scholarship essay.

    For starters, these websites ask students to create their profile. After the profile is created, students can submit any number of essays that they want. At any given point, website visitors vote for the essays after which the best five essays are shortlisted. The best among the five essays get a prize of varying amounts depending upon the website’s policies.

    Students are diligently using the services of these websites. They can read essays which they feel are closely related to their requirements and use these as a baseline to write their own original scholarship essay. Some of the websites have video tips which help the students to get better ideas of how to write a scholarship essay. Many sites also have message boards where students can come together to provide tips to each other.

    The essays which are submitted to the site are stored in the database for future reference. The concept is new and, as a result, finding lots of acceptance among students. Most of these websites have different sections which highlight the recently submitted essays and also the most popular sample scholarship essays. As we move forward we will see that there will be many more websites which will offer essay scholarships. Students are expressing their happiness at the launch of these sites. Different sections of the education fraternity have also expressed their support for many of the leading websites.

  • February Scholarships of the Month – Apply Now!

    February Scholarships of the Month – Apply Now!

    Welcome to our list of ten new scholarships for February! Remember – it’s never too early to plan your finances for post-secondary education. The sooner you start, the greater your chances of success! Take a look at all of the scholarships below and apply for as many as you can! Go out and get that free money!

    1. The Colonel Douglas H. Gunter Award – Open to all students across Canada. Amount: 5 @ $1000. Deadline: April 13, 2013

    2. Douglas McRorie Memorial Scholarship – For students majoring in agricultural business, economics, finance or trade. Amount: $3000-$5000. Deadline: February 22, 2013

    3. Aborginal Traditional Arts Project Grant – For Aboriginal students stuyding Arts in Alberta. Amount: $15,000. Deadline: February 15, 2013.

    4. 2013 Toyota Earth Day Scholarship – Open to all students entering post-secondary education in 2013/2014. Amount: $5000. Deadline: February 15, 2013.

    5. Anne Latimer Memorial Bursary – Open to female students enrolled in Women’s Studies at Langara College, Vancouver. Amount: Dependent on need. Deadline: February 14, 2013. **Many more Langara College bursaries at the link – check them out!**

    6. Canadian Institute for Nordic Studies Undergraduate Summer Bursaries – for Canadian students planning to study abroad at a Nordic university. Amount: $1500. Deadline: February 15, 2013.

    7. Saskatchewan Chancellor’s Scholarship – For all students entering post-secondary education at the University of Saskatchewan. Amount: $5000. Deadline: February 15, 2013.

    8. Don Moore Scholarship Award – For all students entering post-secondary education in Alberta. Amount: $1500. Deadline: February 15, 2013.

    9. John Brooks Foundation Scholarship – For all students entering post-secondary education at Queens University in Kingston, ON. Amount: $1300. Deadline: February 15, 2013.

    10. University of Ontario Institute of Technology Chancellor’s Scholarship – For students entering their first year of studies at UOIT. Amount: $28,000. Deadline: February 22, 2013.

  • Can Anyone Get a Scholarship?

    Can Anyone Get a Scholarship?

    Sometimes when we are thinking about who does and doesn’t get a scholarship, we begin to hypothesize that it is only “brainiacs” who get them. We start thinking that you have to be a genius and exceptional in some way in order to get your hands on one of these monetary gifts. This is entirely false! You don’t actually have to be exceptional in any capacity to get a scholarship. In fact, the most important things are to be dedicated, persistent and organized. If you set goals at the beginning of the year, and put in consistent effort to achieve these goals, there is no reason why you shouldn’t be able to land yourself a scholarship. In this situation, we must refer ourselves to the SMART goals formula. We want to set Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timed goals. By setting goals before the time starts to perform, we are able to really get down to work without getting distracted or forgetting what it is that we are doing.

    An example of a SMART goal related to getting yourself a scholarship is to fulfill all the requirements by the end of the year. This is a smart goal because it specifies exactly how many of the requirements you want to fulfill – all of them. It is measurable because you are specifying how many requirements you want to fulfill – you can count them. It is achievable and realistic because you have read through the requirements and know that you are able to do what is asked. Finally, it is timed because you want to fulfill all of the requirements by the end of the year. When we set goals in advance, we are better able to tackle the requirements ahead of us. We know what we want and we can work steadily towards attaining that end.

    An important thing to keep in mind with goals and getting scholarships is that there will always be setbacks whenever we are attempting to achieve anything. If you think that it will be easy and a piece of cake, you are probably kidding yourself. There will be times when you will want to give up, and it is at these times that you need to remember to persist and, if necessary, make some changes. There will also be setbacks which can come in the form of failures and/or losses. This is a natural part of the process and the important thing is to keep on going, stay committed to your goals and try for the best outcome.

    Getting a scholarship is like playing soccer. Think of yourself as the lead forward; You are trying to score as many points as is possible. You may set a goal to get 8 goals, and you will try as hard as you possibly can to get 8, but if you end up with 6 or 7 you will still have done a great job. The important thing to remember is that setting goals before we begin a task will help enormously to secure a positive outcome. Good luck!