scholarships

3 Things to Do to Increase your chances of getting a scholarship

Nancy Jaiswal
Nancy Jaiswal
Posted on 10 Dec 2022
14:13 PM

ADVERTISEMENT
Summary
Scholarships not only assist students in covering part of their tuition fees, but also help to make a good impression with admissions faculty as well as future employers
Being awarded a scholarship already tells admission officers, faculty or future employers that you have those qualities or achievements that make you stand out from the crowd

If you are wondering how the scholarship helps to create a good impression - students often find themselves struck in jam packed lines when applying for a scholarship and the competition ensures that only the best students get it. Hence, being awarded a scholarship already tells admission officers, faculty or future employers that you have those qualities or achievements that make you stand out from the crowd. Read on to find out 3 things you can do to greatly improve your chances of getting noticed by scholarships selection committees, as well as some expert advice as a bonus!

  • Have leadership abilities:

Often the top notch universities of the world gauge students on an overall basis. This includes looking at their academic scores along with their other participation certificates. One of the best ways a students can level up their chances of getting a scholarship is by actively participating in different competitions, community services, and other extra- and co-curricular activities.

ADVERTISEMENT

Adding details as to how you’ve mentored at or managed different events, organisations or even your school and college function not only makes your scholarship application more persuasive but also helps you beat the competition. Academic performance is undoubtedly a crucial criteria, but it is the abilities and achievements like these can make you stand out as a student.

  • Start applying early:

Universities and scholarship awarding bodies have different application deadlines for the scholarships they offering. In most of the cases the deadlines for getting admission and applying for a scholarship do not always match. One of the frequently committed mistakes by students in this regard is that they apply for the scholarships at the same time as when they are enrolling for the course.

If you are someone who is making the same mistake, you will eventually also miss out on the application deadline for many crucial scholarship programmes. Hence, treat scholarship applications and college applications as separate projects, and put equal effort into both. Ensure you send your applications early by simply planning based on the calendar then applying on time. With the growth in the demand for scholarships, as the competition increases, so does the number of available scholarships. So complete your research with ample time on your hands and then put in the work required to submit an application that truly makes you stand out.

  • Add letters of recommendation

While you may write about your achievements in your application, a letter of recommendation(LOR) actually gives the selection committee an insight into how your academic advisors and teachers perceived you, while also validating your achievements. As a result, letters of recommendation, as part of a scholarship application are taken very seriously. Hence, as a student aspiring to secure a prestigious scholarship, it is always advisable to build up a track record that your teachers or professors are proud of and will be happy to talk about in your LOR. You should also make every effort to maintain contacts with the professor or teacher you consider to be the best to ask for a recommendation to include in your scholarship application.

 Dr. Ashok Daryani, President - International Relations at the Sharda group

Dr. Ashok Daryani, President - International Relations at the Sharda group Source: Dr. Ashok Daryani

Expert Speak

According to Dr. Ashok Daryani, President - International Relations at the Sharda group “In today’s world, education has become one of the most essential and expensive assets. Scholarships are financial support that free up students' minds from monetary concerns so they may focus on their careers. Otherwise, unfortunately, the exorbitant cost of living and education expenses puts extra burden on their financial sources. Due to this, students are compelled to focus their efforts on finding part-time or full-time employment in order to support themselves. As a result, their academic performance suffers, endangering their prospects for a better career.

The benefits are several including the following:

  • Saves the student from debt: a scholarship comes as free money and allows students to follow their dreams. It helps in empowering their academic and career goals by removing the financial barrier.
  • Improves performance: Getting a scholarship takes away financial concerns. Thus, it gives students more time to study, gain knowledge and secure better grades.
  • Gives them a career advantage: Earning a scholarship is prestigious. Since students get a scholarship on merit, getting one will leave a good impact on their future employers.

On the other hand, scholarships for international students coming to any country are definitely enhancing a country's image globally and work towards internationalisation of education making the ‘world as one family’”.

If you are someone who is interested in getting a scholarship and studying in your dream university, the aforementioned ideas can highly level up your chances of getting one. Additionally, as a young student, you can also look forward to strengthening your claim by bolstering up your CV to include a wide variety of experiences and accomplishments. Getting a scholarship may seem like a process of a few months - but considering the long term benefits, the preparation to get one should also be long term. So what are you waiting for - start your preparation today!

Last updated on 10 Dec 2022
14:13 PM
ADVERTISEMENT
Read Next