Scholarship opportunities are always available to both domestic and foreign students in any country. Every year, a minimum of 1,000 students get a fully funded scholarship to study abroad.
Students would come across various scholarship programs in their country of residence or abroad. After choosing a scholarship offer, the next step is for you to know how to prepare your scholarship application.
Students who are interested in scholarship benefits are expected to start gathering all necessary documents such as their birth certificate, academic transcript, and many others. These documents should be readily available at least 2 weeks before their chosen scholarship program opens their application portal.
How To Write A Scholarship Letter
A scholarship letter may be a part of the criterion needed to select an awardee for a scholarship scheme, where the written content can be used to qualify or disqualify applicants. Applicants are expected to demonstrate their need for funding, their strengths and weaknesses alongside their career goals after completion of their studies.
If you’re struggling with writing your application letter or essay, you can follow the outline guide below;
Understand Your Sponsor’s Requirements
Before setting out to craft your application letter, you should carry out research to know who your sponsors consider eligible, and what qualities they seek in each candidate. For example, an organization may be looking to fully sponsor Hispanic Americans with a 3.0 GPA, this means people who fall below a 3.0 GPA are not eligible.
Criteria may differ depending on the scholarship sponsor, and knowing the standard set for eligible students should give you a headstart.
Introduction Is Important
During the process of crafting your scholarship application letter, you are expected to first tell the scholarship review committee a bit about you since they know nothing about you.
However, ensure you make references to your current academic status, and your connection with the scholarship aims and objectives. This means you should express your understanding of the organization’s standards, and how you are a perfect match for achieving their set goals.
You need to be able to convince the scholarship review committee about being passionate about your desired course of study, and should also add your achievements and challenges during the process of reaching your current academic level.
Express Your Needs For Funding
This involves showing the review committee how passionate you are about your academic field of study, and your intentions after completion of your study program. Take time to think deeply about where you see yourself and the career opportunities you hope to pursue after your academic program.
Insert Your Contact Details
Most applicants make the mistake of not adding their contact information such as their address, phone number, etc. If your sponsors find your application letter convincing enough, it will be impossible for them to reach out to you to congratulate you, or for them to ask you further questions.
Ensure you add every necessary information such as your full name, phone number, postal and email address, at the top or bottom of your application.
Tell Them Something Special About You
The scholarship review committee often has its eyes set on people who stand out among other applicants. In this regard, your current academic status or achievements are not enough, you can also make references to your skills.
Expressing your other skills not only makes you stand out among other applicants but also lets them know more about your personality.
Conclusion
Your conclusion should enclose your vote of thanks to the scholarship committee for the time taken to read your letter, you should also express your eagerness to hear a response from them through any of your provided contact details.
Scholarship Application Tips
1. Be Dynamic
Do not limit yourself by applying for 1 to 3 scholarship programs, this is because there are may be many students with similar traits like you aiming for the same scholarship program.
The more programs you apply for, the more your chances of being selected for at least one scholarship foundation. However, do note that most scholarship founders restrict students from benefiting from dual scholarships.
2. Know The Deadline
Most students are accustomed to submitting their applications a few days before the scholarship application deadline.
Students are advised to apply early as most scholarships give out funds based on a first come first serve basis. you may reduce your chances if you fail to prepare and submit your scholarship application earlier or before the set deadline.
3. Don’t Be Discouraged
Most students get disqualified at the early stage, or mid-stage of a scholarship application, this may be due to a lot of factors.
However, do not be discouraged when more than two scholarship review committees reject your application, instead let it motivate you to apply for more scholarship programs on time.
4. Review Yourself
Another way of preparing your scholarship application is by reviewing yourself to check if you are ready, that is if you have all certifications and necessary documents within your reach.
Once that is done, the next step is to remove any negative data about you across the internet. For example, you can delete bad pictures of you drinking, smoking, engaging in fights or riots, etc from all your social media pages as this may be used as a basis of acceptance when reviewing your application.
In conclusion, preparing your scholarship application starts by carrying out research to learn a few things about the scholarship organizers, then be prepared to apply and back up your application with every necessary document when prompted.
Tendering your application before the set deadline also gives you an advantage compared to other students who submit their application 2-3 days before the deadline.
