7 Tips for Getting a Scholarship, Straight from the Winners!
Who better to give advice on how to apply for a scholarship than a student who has already done it successfully? With this in mind, we asked some of this year’s QS Scholarship winners for their best advice on how to find scholarships and apply for them. What they said was…
1. Apply as soon as you can.
You’ve probably already heard this piece of advice a million times, but our scholarship winners say it was important to their success. Alexis Csizmazia, who won a scholarship this year, says, “Schools only have so much money to give out, so if you apply early, you will get more money and it will be easier to get a scholarship.
2. Look Into university websites for opportunities.
If you know which schools you want to go to, the websites of those schools are a good place to start looking for scholarships. Doris Fang, who won the 2015 QS Connect Masters 1-2-1 Scholarship, says, I think you should look at the university’s website before you apply. Most of the time, the university’s website will have a lot of information about scholarships, financial aid, and other ways to pay for school.
3. Look for other places that give out scholarships.
Our scholarship winners also show how important it is to look for scholarships from places other than universities, like the QS Scholarships scheme. Thuy Phamova Thanh, who got one of the QS-Manchester Business School Scholarships, says that research is the key. Obtain information from others and explore funding options utilizing a variety of resources, including books, the Internet, and libraries.
4. Study the application essay topic.
Once you’ve found scholarships you want to apply for, the next step is to make sure that each application you write is well-suited to the specific opportunity. “Take the time to think about the topic of the application essay,” says Salimatou Balde, who also won a QS-IE University Scholarship. Find all the keywords, give them some thought, and when you respond, stay on topic.
5. Have someone read your application.
Constructive comments can help you spot typos and recognize your talents and accomplishments. “My scholarship applications have always been greatly improved after I’ve gotten someone to pass a critical eye over them,” says 2015 QS Academic Excellence Scholarship recipient Stephen Jarvis. Someone who understands your perspective may frequently come up with ideas that you hadn’t thought of, as well as help you tighten up the language and check your grammar..
6. Be efficient.
Multiple scholarship applications require time management. Make a calendar of dates and give yourself enough time to complete each application and submit all relevant documents. Valentina Sandulova, the QS EDHEC-Business School Scholarship winner this year, worked full-time while applying. Be patient, keep applying, and organize your time effectively so you fulfill all the deadlines, she recommends.
7. Apply,
Lastly, our scholarship winners’ last and most common piece of advice is simple: stop doubting yourself and start applying. Lee MacPherson, who won the QS Leadership Scholarship, says, “At first, I wasn’t sure if I should apply for this and other scholarships because they are so competitive.” “But working hard was one of the best choices I’ve ever made.”
In fact, all of our scholarship winners say that they were turned down many times before they were accepted, which shows that it’s important and worth it to keep applying. You never know which application for a scholarship will be chosen. Someone who shares your viewpoint with you might frequently suggest concepts that you hadn’t considered, as well as aid you polish your language and verify your grammar.