There are millions of dollars in scholarships offered to help Ontario students pay for their post-secondary education in their first year and beyond. Scholarship sponsoring organizations award money or paid tuition to the candidate(s) whom they feel best fit their criteria. Preparing to apply for scholarships can start long before you actually start filling out the applications; in fact, the choices you make all through high school can end up earning you free money for post-secondary.
It’s always a good idea to apply for any scholarships for which you might be qualified, and there are five things that you can do to improve your chances of succeeding in earning the funds. It’s helpful to think about what the sponsoring organizations may be looking for when choosing their prime candidates.
1. Community volunteerism
Many organizations that provide scholarships for students have goals and values for their own organization, such as respect, caring or integrity, which they often describe in a Mission Statement. As such, they are often very keen to give money to students who have a history of showing awareness, attention and compassion toward others, making a difference in other people’s lives – good character, in other words.
Do not expect those 40 required volunteer hours required for graduation to help you stand out from the crowds. Scholarships are more likely to go to students who have gone above and beyond in some way, such as taking on an important role with a small, local aid program or showing commitment to a large charitable organization. Find a way to be of service that makes you feel good about helping out wherever there is a need in your community. Your school guidance counsellor may be able to offer suggestions.
As an added bonus, those who are in the habit of volunteering are known to be happier and more satisfied with their own lives!
2. Leadership
Scholarship sponsors love to see young people taking on leadership roles. Even small examples of leadership send positive signals, showing promise not only for the student’s future but for the future of the whole community.
Taking on a leadership role can be intimidating, but taking just a small step can lead to much bigger things in the future: self-confidence, intellectual growth, distinction… and scholarship money.
Leadership opportunities are plentiful and varied. At school, for example, you might run for school council, help organize a club, captain or coach a team, or mentor younger students. All kinds of possibilities can be found outside of school as well. Again, your school counsellor can help you find them.
3. Entrepreneurial initiative
Many businesses and corporations offer post-secondary scholarships. Some of these scholarships opportunities favour those students who are business-minded. This does not mean that you have to have already established a prosperous business as a teen, though that would be optimal for some awards.
You can also show an industrious spirit and entrepreneurial mind without running an actual business or creating any profit, because innovation – finding a way to improve on the status quo – is the basis of entrepreneurship. Setting up a program that benefits or serves others, or producing a product that raises funds or that could be monetized, are examples of resourcefulness and a commercial spirit. These kinds of activities look good on scholarship applications that lean toward business goals.
4. Academics
There are some scholarships that are based solely on high grades and some that don’t consider grades at all, though many scholarships are awarded based on a combination of good (not necessarily great) grades and the other factors listed above.
Of course, the better your grades when you apply, the more scholarships you are likely to qualify for and receive. In addition to greater opportunity, this work that you put into your education throughout high school may earn you more scholarship money. Take your academics seriously, and do your work to the best of your ability.
5. Appropriate applications
Submitting an application that is incomplete, diverges from the submission format or fails to meet the criteria for the scholarship is simply a wasted effort. Put time and energy into finding and applying for your scholarships. You can think of the time spent on your applications as a part-time job – the more and better work you do, the greater the payout you will earn. Find all the scholarships that you can qualify for and do a great job of applying for them.
Application tips:
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- Research extensively for any scholarships that you might be able to get. Check out the big Canadian scholarship websites and filter their results to fit you. Local businesses, family connections and organizations related to your future career may also fund deserving students. Don’t limit your search!
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- Start your research even before grade twelve. Keep track of deadlines, and don’t wait until the last minute to apply. Some scholarships have very early deadlines! There are also many scholarships aimed at students in later years of their post-secondary programs; keep track of these as well, as you will probably want to apply for those funds later.
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- Financial need is sometimes a consideration in scholarship applications. Ask your parent to help you gather the necessary family financial information before applying for these scholarships.
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- Some applications require written responses, such as a short description of your post-secondary plans, your reasons for choosing that career, a response to a question, or even a whole essay on a specific topic. Typically, the greater the amount of work required results in a greater amount of scholarship money. Ask a parent or teacher to proofread and edit your submissions, and keep copies of everything you write.
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- Complete all the required information on the application forms and double-check it before sending it off.
Note that no legitimate scholarships will ask you for money to apply – that would be a scam. Scholarships don’t require you to “enter to win,” either – those are simply lotteries, with money or other gifts as prizes.
With some forethought, a positive attitude and time spent on applications, you can earn enough to put a big dent in your tuition fees. Then, when you are awarded a scholarship, be conscientious enough to send a note of thanks to those who have sponsored you and invested in your education.
You can find more detail on applying for scholarships in Ready to Launch: Navigating the Transition from High School to Post-Secondary Life – A Guide for Ontario Students and Parents.
Good luck to you!