Winning a scholarship can be very fascinating since it comes with financial benefits. It is a grant or financial aid given to students usually for their brilliant academic performances. The scholarship may be fully or partially funded depending on the sponsors.
If you’re trying to win a scholarship, you ought to know that it can be highly competitive since there may be many applicants competing for the slots.
Your chances of winning can be further limited if the others have an edge over you. Therefore, having good grades may not be enough but that does not mean most scholarships are not awarded based on academic brilliance.
However, this guide will explain how to win a scholarship with ease and will explore 7 ways you can use in boosting your chances of winning a scholarship.
What are my Chances of Winning a Scholarship?
Because of the competition, your chances of winning a scholarship program even after meeting all the set standards by the sponsors may only account for about 50% because thousands of students meet the standards just like you do.
The sponsors will consider everyone eligible for a scholarship scheme but only a few are selected. Understand that your academic record, ethnicity, and other factors that will be considered are not enough for you to rely on winning a scholarship.
The parties sponsoring the scholarship scheme will determine how many people will benefit from the initiative and also be responsible for setting the standards for accepting potential candidates.
You may be prompted to answer a series of questions during the process of filling out your application, all of these questions are set in place to check if you are a good match. You already have an advantage compared to other students if your answers match the requirements speculated, and you have documents to back your claims.
How To Avoid Being Scammed When Applying For Scholarship Programs
Thousands of students have been scammed while trying to win a scholarship program, anyone can fall victim to any of these scam programs but here are a few tips on how to avoid scams.
Some sponsors will require you to deposit a small amount of money while processing your scholarship application. To be safe, ensure you carry out research to know if other students also provide such fees.
Do not rely on the reviews written on the website, instead go online and find bonafide students of the school to authenticate the scholarship program.
Applicants must also check if they are using the correct school’s official website rather than a clone website designed to extort students of their money.
7 Proven Ways To Help Boost Your Chances Of Winning A Scholarship
1. Choose a partial scholarship
A partial scholarship program will not cover all your financial expenses, and may only be limited to rewarding you with a certain percentage of your tuition among other fees. This type of scholarship offer is often less competitive because most students will usually apply for fully funded scholarships that cover all the expenses.
Do remember that you are not the only qualified applicants for a fully funded scholarship program since thousands of students are just as qualified as you are. Choosing a part-funded package increases your chances of being selected.
2. Stay Informed
Having a good knowledge of the scholarship program also gives you an added advantage. Be aware of the application deadline and also do well to submit before the deadline.
Most people fail to realize that early birds may sometimes be prioritized during the process of selection. Ensure you set a reminder, alarm to keep track of the application start and end date, to avoid late submission.
3. Be Different
Do not elude the fact there are other qualified applicants just as you are, and you have to stand out among all of them to increase your chances of being selected.
Ensure you make references to the sponsor’s mission or vision statement when applying for a scholarship program as this will help boost your chances. Craft out a well-written story explaining you are the perfect candidate that can help them achieve their set goals.
For example, if a scholarship program is designed for mathematics students, you can explain to the sponsors how you’ve always loved mathematical equations since your childhood days, and how you’ve impacted many youths around you through your knowledge of the subject.
4. Be Honest
When filling out your scholarship application, you are expected to only provide honest answers, and should only write original essays when prompted. People who input false data while applying for a scholarship program stand a chance of losing their reward if the sponsors discover false claims.
Given a case where you are expected to write an essay about why you should be selected, ensure you state reasons for needing assistance and explain your expectations after the completion of your academic program.
5. Provide Documents To Back Up Your Claims
It’s easy for anyone to claim what they are not especially when applying online. Providing documents to match helps validate your claims, and it further gives you an added advantage compared to applicants with null or forged documents.
6. Review Your Application Before Submitting
The scholarship sponsors consider every piece of information important, and you are not expected to leave any part of your application blank if you want to increase your chances of winning a scholarship. It’s best to also cross-check if you provide the right information to avoid being disqualified by your backing documents.
7. Getting Recommendations
Getting recommendations from people may be a criterion for submitting your application. You should only allow people who know you to vouch for you. This may be your former teacher, a next-door neighbor, or any person close to you.
The sponsors will consider these types of recommendations more valid when compared with people who use prominent people who may not be able to provide some validities about them.
