Every year, thousands of dollars are presented to Canadian students in scholarships. With the rising cost of university, it makes little sense that 30% of scholarships go un-awarded. What is stopping you from applying?
Every year, thousands of dollars are presented to Canadian students in scholarships. With the rising cost of university, it makes little sense that 30% of scholarships go un-awarded. What is stopping you from applying?
When I was in grade 12 and applying to universities, I wanted to earn a university scholarship. I applied to ten awards and earned the TD Scholarship for Community Leadership and the Cheer Evolution Scholarship. The financial assistance and networking opportunities that came with winning a major award set me on a path of success in university. Now, having worked with over 100 students on university applications, guiding 15% of those students in their applications for major scholarships, I would like to share with my step-by-step guide on how to earn a university scholarship.
Scholarship applications can be time consuming. It is critical to prioritize the scholarships that you are most likely to receive. In my experience, it is more valuable to complete a handful of memorable applications than a large number of average applications.
You may also want to make adjustments in your personal life. In grade 12, I took on fewer hours at my part time job to focused on my grades and extra-curricular activities. This gave me the time to act as a House Head for my school’s Prefect Association, a DECA participant, a youth cheerleading coach, a competitive cheerleader, and the Chair of a non-profit organization I initiated called Minga. This gave me more to talk about in my scholarship applications. By working fewer hours, I also had more time for my schoolwork and attained a 93% overall average.
To earn a great scholarship, it will take a little bit of research. The search for scholarships can be overwhelming. which is why I found some helpful websites in my own research that provide due dates and links to thousands of scholarships. I recommend using websites like studentawards.com and scholarshipscanada.com, and this article on Canada’s Best Scholarships. Compile a list of scholarships you would like to apply to and select 8-10 to focus on.
I applied to 8 philanthropic scholarships because most of my extracurricular activities involved community outreach, including Mackenzie Insurance Top Teen Philanthropist, Terry Fox Humanitarian Award, Rotary Toronto Youth Civic Leadership Award, and the TD Scholarship for Community Leadership. I also applied to the Cheer Evolution Graduate scholarship, which awards cheerleading athletes for excellence in school and sport. Not many of my cheerleading teammates had even heard of this scholarship! Strategically, it can pay off to apply to smaller, unique awards.
Now that you have selected 10 scholarships, it is time to write your application essays! Here are my top 5 tips for writing:
I was awarded the TD Scholarship for Community Leadership and the Cheer Evolution scholarships. Once accepting the TD Scholarship, I would not have been able to accept any other scholarships exceeding $50,000. The Cheer Evolution Scholarship was an award of $1000.
For the TD Scholarship, the application deadline is at the beginning of December. I received an email in March informing me that I was a finalist and I was assigned a time for an interview in Toronto at the TD Tower. Two months later, I got the email that I had been selected to receive the TD Scholarship! The National Award Ceremony was held at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, and was followed by the 2nd annual TD Scholar Alumni Conference.
After the press release was announced, we were allowed to inform family and friends about being selected as TD Scholars. The TD Scholarship is valued at $70,000. It provides recipients with up to $10,000 towards tuition each year for 4 years, which is paid directly to the Canadian university or college. Each Scholar also receives a stipend of $7,500 per year to cover living expenses such as books, rent and food. In addition, summer employment is offered for 4 consecutive summers. There is no minimum average grade that TD Scholars must obtain, but scholars must be in good academic standing and pass all classes.
By prioritizing your time, conducting thorough research, and keeping your application as unique as you are, you will increase your chances at landing the scholarship of your dreams. Try to focus on structuring your essays well, staying creative, and reflecting on your accomplishments and why you deserve to receive the award.
