1210212.us16.myftpupload.com Managed WordPress Site

Category: Scholarships

  • Tips for Scholarship Applications

    Tips for Scholarship Applications

    The following tips, originally posted at the Studentawards Forum, were contributed by a student in our membership.

    1) Don’t stretch things too far – honour roll is good and all, but chances are everyone in your program was on honour roll too. It doesn’t make you a God. If you volunteered and ran a fundraiser benefiting impoverished children in Africa, and raised $5000, end it there. You didn’t solve world hunger. It’s great what you did, but you’re no Mother Theresa.

    2) Tangible results – this applies to work experience, volunteerism and extra curriculars more. It’s cool that you worked at McDonald’s and were “a dedicated, reliable employee” and provided “excellent customer satisfaction”, but it is better to say “improved efficiency of drive-thru by 22%” (note this is a crappy example and might not work totally well with McDonald’s)

    3) Relate – what are you applying for? Try and relate your accomplishment to what you are applying for. This isn’t always possible (e.g. if you just have to list your awards) but if there is a spot to explain or if it is an interview, then do it. If you are applying for a job as a landscaper, and you are a top-ranked triathlete, you could say that you have great endurance, are able to work well in heat, are physically fit, and work very hard. But if you merely say you are a triathlete … the interviewer is going to have to make those connections on their own. You don’t want to rely on them doing so.

    4) Size of competition – this lends to the general importance of the accomplishment. This could work for you and against you, so be careful when you include it. If you are the top scorer on the Euclid Contest, you might want to say that you were first of however many thousand competitors. But if you just won an award for having the highest mark in some class, let’s say Business Leadership, and there [were] only 16 people in your class, it might be better to leave that out (unless they ask for it, then be honest)

    5) Be Honest – don’t lie about things. There could be severe consequences if you lie about your ECs (stories of people getting kicked out of university, for example). Going along with # 1 as well, don’t say you were the top in your school if you were recognized as being top 5% or something. Unless you were actually awarded it, don’t claim it.

    Posted by: g93

  • Alternatives to Essay-Based Scholarships

    Alternatives to Essay-Based Scholarships

    Does it ever feel like your life is spent writing essay after essay, filling out application after application? Applying for scholarships can be frustrating and time-consuming, and may not seem worth it when you don’t see results. It’s true that many scholarships require quite a bit of effort—worth it if you have the time and energy to apply, but certainly not everyone’s cup of tea. Luckily, studentawards.com can help you find many alternatives to essay-based scholarships.

    There are tons of opportunities for students to win money for school through contests and draws. These are easy to apply for, and don’t usually have strict eligibility criteria. The downside is that because they require a minimal amount of effort for a big reward, lots of people enter to win. But even if the odds of winning are low, there’s really no downside to applying. It barely takes any time or effort; usually all you have to do is register to be entered into the draw. And someone’s always going to be the lucky winner, so why couldn’t it be you? Studentawards.com enters students into draws for registering with the site, for filling out surveys, and for participating in different contests throughout the year. You can also find other student contests by visiting your mailbox to see your personalized list of awards.

    Another alternative is to look for any awards that you might be eligible for simply by belonging to a certain group. You may have a part-time job with a company that offers scholarships for employees, or you may be eligible for an award through your parents’ jobs. There may be awards for members of your church, your community group, your bank or a club that you or your parents belong to. There’s usually a lot less competition for these awards, because they have quite narrow eligibility criteria. Make sure to apply for these awards when you see them in your studentawards.com mailbox.

    But with all that having been said, essay-based scholarships are still a good option. Given all the great opportunities, you should only apply for an award if you actually have an interest in the subject matter. Your passion or disinterest will be reflected in your writing. All too often students think that they’ll have a chance of winning simply by writing a few sentences without really answering the question. Your odds of winning will be much better if you do your best to answer one scholarship’s questions well than if you apply to ten scholarships without making an effort.

    You’re the best person to decide what kind of award you should apply for. You know your strengths, how much time you have to put into applications, and how much effort you’re willing to make. Whatever kind of awards you decide to apply for, studentawards.com wishes you the best of luck!

  • Are Scholarships Just for Brainiacs?

    Are Scholarships Just for Brainiacs?

    You often hear about all of the scholarships received by the students who are at the top of the class or all-stars on their team. Entrance scholarships, academic excellence scholarships, and Dean’s list/Honour Roll Awards are prevalent in conversations surrounding student awards. What many post-secondary applicants do not know is that there are a numerous awards available for the average student. There are awards that recognize skills and accomplishments beyond athletics and academics. Examples of these include scholarships based on financial need, volunteer work or extra-curricular activities. Just because you do not consider yourself a “brainiac” does not mean there are not grants and scholarships out there for you!

    You should always start your scholarship search with the college or university you plan on attending. The financial aid office or the school’s Awards and Financial Aid website are good places to start looking for internal scholarships. While you are searching for scholarships, consider looking into bursary opportunities as well. Applying for many of these scholarships and bursaries is as simple as filling out an application form and submitting it to your financial aid office (in-person or online). However, some applications require more time and thought. For example, some may ask you to provide references, a writing sample, or a letter explaining why you are a great candidate for this scholarship/bursary. Many students are not willing to put in the extra effort to apply to these scholarships, but if you are willing to put in the time it could greatly pay off.

    In addition to scholarships through your school, be sure to research scholarships within your community and/or through your parents’ or guardians’ workplaces. Many community organizations or clubs in your area may have scholarships that go unadvertised and you did not even know about. For example, 4-H Ontario has a webpage designated to grants and scholarships available for 4-H members and the general public, so check out your local associations’ websites or talk to someone you know within the club. Many workplaces also offer grants or scholarships to children of their employees. Just ask your parent or guardian to check their newsletter or their company’s website to see if there may be scholarships available to assist you with paying for your education. Every little bit helps!

    After you look at your internal school scholarships and community clubs and organizations, consider looking into more general scholarship websites. Some scholarship websites offer a wide variety of general scholarships from private donors looking to make a difference. Websites such as studentawards.com provide many different scholarship opportunities relevant to your interests, program or location. It is important to remember that the more time and effort you are willing to put into the application, the easier it will be for the donor to get to know you as a person – not just an applicant. There is a scholarship somewhere suited to you, even if you are not a brainiac. Talk to your guidance counsellor or financial aid office for more specific information about scholarships.