Securing the Scholarships
Scholarship Tips + Opportunities
Scholarships are a great way to collect free money to support your tuition and living fees as a student. Although it may seem time consuming, the more scholarships you apply to, the easier it gets.
Here are 5 tips to make your application stand out:
Answer the questions being asked: It’s easy to get carried away and begin to run on a tangent. Make sure that you answer what is being asked of you, rather than a lengthy statement.
Leverage your experience: Include any- and all experiences that will make you stand out, no matter how big or small. If the experience was short in duration, explain the impact it had on the community, and what you learned from it.
Reference letters: When asking for reference letters, offer to create a template of the letter for your referees. This way, you can highlight the most important points and have an accurate recall of everything that you did!
Tell your story: Use your personal statement to tell the scholarship committee which past experiences have shaped who you are, and what you hope to do in the future. Include how this scholarship will help you achieve this goal, encompassing more than just financial stability.
Use your resources: Many universities and community agencies have career and academic counseling services! Don't be afraid to seek expert advice or reach out to people in your network!
Now that you’re equipped to write a scholarship, you may be wondering where to find scholarship opportunities. Rise in STEM has got your back! Sign up for our newsletter at https://www.riseinstem.com to get exclusive access to scholarship, employment and internship opportunities every month. Other areas to look for scholarships include:
Black community organizations offer their own annual scholarships and prioritize Black and underserved students. Some organizations to follow include: Black Business Professional Association, Jamaican Canadian Association, and BCFN Scholarships, which also has a directory of scholarships available for students
Google key words that may help you find scholarships. For example, “Scholarships for Black Canadian Students” may return a bunch of scholarships that you are eligible for!
Use LinkedIn to your advantage! Like Google, you can use the search function to find posts regarding scholarship opportunities.
Use your Network! Let people in your network know that you’re looking for scholarship opportunities and to keep you in find if they stumble across one. Being active on LinkedIn can also help to find relevant opportunities in your field.
Check in with your workplace and other financial companies. A lot of employers and unions offer scholarships for post-secondary students, including McDonalds, UFCW, TD Bank, Giant Tiger, etc.
Get in touch with the academic and financial services at your post-secondary institution. They may be familiar with internal and external scholarships that are perfect for you.
Although the hunt for scholarships may be difficult and finding it can be incredibly rewarding and help to reduce education-related debt. We know funding your education isn’t always easy, and so we hope these tips will help you moving forward.
Author: Sydney Hussett