How to Win Scholarships - WGSS...
Transcript of How to Win Scholarships - WGSS...
How to Win Scholarships
Grad Class 2020
Presentation by WGSS Counselling Department
Scholarship Application Workshop
Why apply?
What’s available?
How to get started?
Questions?
1.
2.
3.
4.
Student Fees
$300-1,000
Books
$800-2,000
Tuition(Public vs. Private)
(B.C. vs. out-of-Province)
•Tuition: $ 4,889• Live at homeKPU
•Tuition: $ 6,200
•Residence: $10,500 (includes Meal Plan)
UBC
•Tuition: $ 9,000
•Residence: $16,000 (includes Meal Plan)
McGill
•Tuition: $22,260
•Residence: $ 9,500TWU
•Tuition: $36,587 US
•Residence:$ 15,000 US
U of Washington
Why apply for scholarships?
• Average tuition in Canada for Canadian Student: $ 6,571
• Average tuition for International Students in Canada: $25,180
• Canadian comparison: goo.gl/H4jkhT
Domestic
Tuition
Comparison
Part-time Job vs. Applying for Scholarships?
$12.65/hr.• Minimum
Wage
15 hrs/week •Limit how much you are work in order to keep high marks and have time to volunteer
• Applying for scholarships is worthwhile
• If you win $500 and you put in 4 hours on your application that = $125/hr.
• If you win $20,000 and put in 4 hours on your application that = $5000/hr.
• If you win a $1,000 scholarship that = 79 hours of work
Types of Financial Aid
Scholarship
• Recognizes outstanding achievement, service or athletics
Bursary
• Need-based awards
•Family income primary consideration
Loan
• Repayment required unless
family income is limited
Award
• Contest•Recognition +
sometimes monetary reward
Merit vs. Need
Merit•Based on academic achievement, other talents, or contributions
Need•Based on your family’s financial circumstances
Domestic Student Example
International Student Example
What’s Available?
•BC Excellence ($5000) + Achievement ($1250)
•District Authority ($1250)
•Pathways (Future Teachers) ($5000), Trades ($1000)Provincial Government
•Automatic Entrance Award (based on academic entrance GPA)
•Application Entrance Scholarships (based on financial need or leadership)
•Aboriginal Scholarships + Bursaries (based on heritage)Entrance Awards
•“District” – “Open” to all students in SD35 – ($100 - $5000)
•Based on GPA, Service and specific criteria – see list in District Scholarship HandbookLangley District
•“Local” – Walnut Grove Awards – ($200 - $1000)
•Based on GPA, Service, and specific criteria – see list on WGSS Counselling WebsiteWGSS Awards
•Affiliation: e.g. Sports, Credit Union, Health, etc.
•Parents’/ Grandparents’ employer or involvement
•National / Nomination AwardsOther Awards
1. Ministry of EducationBC Excellence
• School nomination required (WGSS may submit one nominee)
• Note: in-school deadline earlier than award application deadline on website
• Criteria: Academics + Service
BC Achievement Scholarship
• Automatic, based on highest cumulative average
District/Authority
• For students who demonstrate excellence in one of 7 areas
• Indigenous languages and culture, fine arts, applied skills, community service, physical activity, International languages, technical and trades training
Pathways to Teacher Education
• For students pursuing teacher education in BC
Youth Work-in-Trades Award
• For students who have completed the Youth Work in Trades program
District Authority Award – BC Ministry of Education
Indigenous Languages and Culture
•Leadership at school or in community with First Nations
Fine Arts
•Visual Arts, Drama, Music, Dance
Applied Skills
•Business Ed., Computers, Home Ec.
Technical and Trades Training
•Carpentry, Automotive, Metalwork, Drafting, Cafeteria
Physical Activity
•National/Provincial Athlete + PE 11/12, Dance, Gymnastics
International Languages
•3 Languages on transcript, not including English
Community Service
•Exceptional volunteerism, including demonstration of local and global issues and awareness
$1250 for Exceptional Achievement in one of
the 7 categories
GPA calculated using Grade
11 & 12 academic courses
+ 3-4 specialized courses
Application Form available December 2, 2019;
due February 20, 2020
2. Langley School District Foundation
Over $40,000 scholarships available;
46 different awards
Based on GPA
+ criteria of the donor
Application form due:
February 20, 2020
Langley Service Clubs, Charities, Elementary Schools, Businesses,
Memorial funds
One Application
Form
2. Walnut Grove Awards
Over $28,000 scholarships available;
29 different awards
Based on GPA. Service,
+ criteria of the donor
Application form due:
February 20, 2020
Elementary Schools, Businesses, Memorial
Funds, Student Council, etc.
One Application
Form
3. Automatic Entrance Scholarships
Automatically considered when apply
Calculated on Gr. 12 courses =
academic GPA
Amount varies depending institution and on academic GPA
See: District Scholarship Handbook for additional information
Entrance Scholarships - Examples
Western Ontario Scholarships:
Admission Scholarship (continuing) 95+ $2,500/first year $10,000 over 4 yrs.
Western Scholarship of Excellence 90 – 94.9% $2,000/first year
Western Scholarship of Distinction 88 – 89.9% $1,000/first year
TWU Guaranteed Scholarships:
• President’s 90 - 100% $6,000 per year
• Provost’s 85 - 89.9% $4,000 per year
• Dean’s 73 - 84.9% $2,000 per year
4. Major Entrance Scholarships
Application Process
Criteria: Academics and/or Leadership and/or Service, and/or Financial Need
Deadlines: December to February
Check website
for more info.
Example: ($40,000)
UBC Centennial Scholars Entrance Award
Example: ($20,000)
Major Entrance Scholarship
5. Finding “Other” Scholarships
Da
tab
ase
s
*SD 35 Database
*Search Engines
* Scholarship Services (e.g. GrantMe)
Pu
blic
atio
ns
* Grad News
* Gator Gossip
So
cia
l Me
dia
Twitter:
@GatorFutures
@SkgScholarships
@UYFscholarships
Facebook:
* Seeking Scholarships
* Scholarships Canada
A few examples….
Parent’s Affiliations
e.g. Unions
Servicee.g. Leadership
Clubse.g. Scouts
Sportse.g. Soccer
Heritagee.g. Aboriginal
Healthe.g. Crohn’s
Financial Institutions
e.g. Credit Unions
Area of Studye.g. Sciences
Aboriginal Awards
Entrance Awards
Admission –reserved seats
Scholarships + Bursaries
Take special note
of the details for
each award you
researchCriteria
• Leadership
• Service
• Academics - GPA
• Area of Study
Documents
• Essay
• Transcript
• Letter of Reference
• Application Form
Deadline • October – August
Amount • $100 - $100,000
Where should you begin?
Describe where and what you will be studying
Explain why you are a better investment than all the other candidates
Research
institutions
Program
Cost
SD 35 Website Contents
• Searchable Database
• Scholarship Search Engines
Scholarships & Awards
• Sources of Financial Assistance
• Steps to Applying for Scholarships
• District - Open Award List
Scholarship Handbook
• Sample Spreadsheet
• Sample Comprehensive Resume
• Sample Essay
‘To Do’ Tools
SD 35 Website
www.sd35.bc.ca/students-parents/scholarship-information/
SD 35 Scholarship Database
Search Engines + Special Categories
Scholarship Handbook
Open Awards WGSS Awards
Getting Organized
Action Plan
• Comprehensive Resume
• Essay
• Reference(s)
Preparation
• Spreadsheet
• Binder
• Zip DriveOrganization
• Research opportunities
• Apply to the universities of your choice
• Ask your references Activation
Comprehensive Resume Samples
Academic Achievement
• Goal for Post-Secondary
• Courses taken
• Awards and Achievement
Extra Curricular
Involvement
• School Involvement
• Community Involvement
• Sports
• Work History
• Having this information in one place will
help you when you fill out application
forms
• Up-date this throughout the year
• Start a draft in Grade 11
Scholarship Essay
• Start Early – you should be writing about six drafts before you mail even one
• READ the question and criteria; ANSWER the question
• This is like a job interview….when the reader has finished reading your essay he/she should know about your character, personality, and goals
• “SHOW” – don’t tell. Tell a story to illustrate what you are saying.
• Get feedback from your parent(s)and a teacher
References
• Ask two teachers who know you very well
• These individuals need to be able to provide specific examples about what they know you have done
• Provide your referee with a copy of your Comprehensive Resume and “Request for Reference Letter Form” (on website)
• If you give them 2 or more weeks you will get a better letter
• Often students ask the same teacher for 2-6 letters; the teacher simply changes the content to match the scholarship criteria
Volunteer!
• This helps you discover what you might like to do in the future
Volunteer
• Leadership is rated higher than service and is often the deciding factor when other things like marks are similar
• Often applicants ‘tell stories’ about how their involvement has shaped them as a person
Service / Leadership
• Prestigious awards/universities are looking for a history of volunteerism and growth in leadership
Responsibility / Commitment
Volunteer Opportunities:http://wgsscareercentre.weebly.com/current-volunteer-opportunities.html
Find Out What’s Available
• Create a spreadsheet database of ALL available opportunities
• Talk to your parents about what unions, companies, service or organizations they are involved with; many offer scholarships
• Consult the SD 35 Scholarship Handbook
• Use the SD 35 Searchable Database
• Use other online databases to research scholarships
– Handbook contains list of useful databases
• NOTE: Beware deadlines for applications requiring school nomination (Set your deadline a month ahead).
Scholarship Spreadsheet
Don’t delete scholarships that you are ineligible for
Keep the website source here to help you find it online
Colour-coding makes it easier to track what
scholarships have upcoming deadlines
Sort by due date to make it easier to prioritize applications
Scholarship Binder and USB Drive
– Binder contains reference letters, checklists, application forms, transcripts, etc.
– Use page sleeves/protectors
– USB has file folders containing all the application forms you found online and your working copies of essays, cv, etc.… (basically your digital binder)
Contact your references + gather supporting documents
• Give your references lots of time – they will do a better job
• When you ask your reference to write a letter, provide:
– your plans
– where you are applying
– brief description of the criteria for award you are applying for
– a minimum of at least 1 week before the actual deadline
– your comprehensive resume
• Collect transcripts and other letters early on.
• The Counselling Centre needs at least 4 business days to prepare your transcript
Complete the application
• Answer the question they are asking!
• Pay attention to detail; edit, review, check grammar
• Spend time on your application! They are giving out thousands of dollars, so they expect you to put in due time and consideration
• Have others proofread and edit your work
• Copy everything you submit and keep it in your binder or on a USB drive
• Check due dates -> must arrive by ?? or be postmark by ?? Remember: Mailed applications need more travel!
Application Tips from Nic Ouellette
• Find a theme!
– Is your community service based on youth mentorship or helping others overcome adversity? Do you aim to help the environment, or promote fitness and sports programs?
– Think about what you do, what it means to you, and most importantly, how it impacts you and the community
– Do not just say what you do, say WHY you do it and HOW
– Find a connection between the things you do
• Research the award criteria, and the foundation’s background/history --> What are they looking for in the application?
• Start early….don’t wait until a few days before the deadline
Repeat
• Continuously update your database, re-prioritize, and update your essays
• Scholarships are always available, it’s up to you to find them and apply
• Remember to send a thank you letter when you are awarded a scholarship
Further Learning Opportunities + Info.
•WGSS – location t.b.a.
•Thursday, September 19 @ Flex
National/Nomination Scholarship Presentation
•WGSS – location t.b.a.
•Thursday, September 26 @ FLEX
How to Write A Scholarship Essay (TWU Presenter)
•WGSS Library
•Thursday, November 28 @ Flex
Local/District Scholarship Presentation
•Available: Monday, December 2 @ 9:00 a.m.
•Due: Thursday, February 20, 2020 @ noon
Local/District Application
•Tuesday, June 2 @ 3:45 – WGSS Cafeteria
Scholarship Recognition Afternoon:
When are most of the applications due?
The large majority of scholarship deadlines are within the months of February-April
FEB
MARCH
APRIL
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJune
JulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Example Deadlines from 2018-2019
Loran Oct. 10 (request nomination)U of Toronto Oct. 10 (request nomination)Horatio Alger Oct. 25 (financial need)Scotia Bank Nov. 2 (creativity/originality)TD Leaders Nov. 17 (community leadership)Schulich (STEM) Dec. 4 (request nomination)BC Excellence Jan. 9 (request nomination)Western U Jan. 16 (request nomination)Terry Fox Feb. 1 (humanitarian; 3 references)Future Aces Feb. 2 (volunteerism)Cmolik Feb. 13 (nomination; financial need)RBC Leaders Feb. 28 (community leadership)
National Awards