How to Win Scholarships Grad Class 2018 Presentation May 2017 Joseph Chang + Ms. Kifiak
Things we ll talk about today 1. Why apply? 2. What s available? 3. How to get started? 4. Questions?
Why apply for scholarships? KPU UBC McGill TWU U of Washington Tuition: $ 4,089 Live at home Tuition: $ 6,200 Residence: $10,500 (includes Meal Plan) Tuition: $ 9,000 Residence: $16,000 (includes Meal Plan) Tuition: $22,000 Residence: $ 7,960 Tuition: Residence: $33,000USD $16,000USD Tuition $4,000- $25,00 (Public vs. Private) (B.C. vs. out-of-province) Books $800-2,000 Student Fees $300-1,000 Average tuition in Canada: $ 6,373 Average tuition in Ontario: $ 8,114 Canadian comparison: http://bit.ly/2qlzdvd
Part-time Job vs. Applying for Scholarships? $10.85/hr. Minimum Wage 15 hrs/week Limit how much you are work in order to keep earn high marks and have time to volunteer Taking time to apply for scholarships is worthwhile If you win $500 and you put in 8-10 hours on your application that = $53/hr. If you win $20,000 and put in 20-25 hours on your application that = $870/hr. If you win a $1,000 scholarship that = 46 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
What s Available? Provincial Government BC Excellence ($5000) + Achievement ($1250) District Authority ($1250) Pathways (Future Teachers) ($5000), Youth Work-in-Trades ($1000) Langley District Local Walnut Grove Awards ($100 - $1000) District Open to all students in SD35 ($100 - $4000) Entrance Awards Automatic Entrance Award (based on academic entrance GPA) Application Entrance Scholarships (based on financial need or leadership) Aboriginal Scholarships + Bursaries (based on heritage) Other Awards Parents / Grandparents employer or involvement Affiliation: e.g. Sports, Credit Union, Health, etc. National / Nomination Awards
1. Ministry of Education BC Excellence School nomination required (WGSS gets one nominee) Note: in-school deadline earlier than award application deadline on website Service based 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 Scholarships For students in a 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., Computes, Home Ec. Technical and Trades Training Carpentry, Automotive, Metalwork, Drafting, Cafeteria not Youth-in Trades Training 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 + 4 specialized courses Application Form available before Christmas in Gr. 12 due before the end of February
2. Langley School District Foundation Over $40,200 available; 37 different awards Based on GPA + criteria of the donor One Application Form Application form due: February 22, 2018 Langley Service Clubs, Charities, Elementary Schools, Businesses, Memorial funds
2. Walnut Grove Awards Over $41,000 available; 35 different awards Based on GPA. Service, + criteria of the donor One Application Form Application form due: February 22, 2018 Elementary Schools, Businesses, Memorial Funds
3. Automatic Entrance Scholarships Automatically considered when apply Calculated on Gr. 12 courses = academic GPA Amount varies depending institution and on academic GPA See: Scholarship Handbook Post-Secondary 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 Example: UBC Centennial Scholars Entrance Award Check website for more info.
Databases Publications 5. Finding Other Scholarships *SD 35 *Search Engines *Category Search * Grad News * Gator Gossip @GatorFutures @SkgScholarships @UYFscholarships Facebook: * Seeking Scholarships * Scholarships Canada Social MediaTwitter:
Parent s Affiliations e.g. unions Foundations e.g. service/leadership Clubs e.g. Scouts Sports Heritage Health A few examples. e.g. soccer e.g. Aboriginal e.g. Crohn s Financial Institutions e.g. Credit Unions Area of Study e.g. Sciences
Take special note of the details for each award you research Criteria: Leadership, Service, Academics, Area of Study Deadline: October- August Amount: $100 - $80,000 Documents required: Essay, Transcript, Letter of Reference
Where should you begin?
Research the Institution(s) + Programs you are considering You cannot apply for scholarships. until you can clearly describe what you will be using the money for
SD 35 Website https://www.sd35.bc.ca/studentsparents/scholarship-information/
SD 35 Website Contents Scholarships & Awards Searchable Database Scholarship Search Engines Scholarship Handbook Sources of Financial Assistance Steps to Applying for Scholarships District - Open Award List To Do Tools Sample Spreadsheet Sample Comprehensive Resume Sample Essay
SD 35 Scholarship Database
Search Engines + Special Categories
Scholarship Handbook
Open Awards WGSS Awards
Getting Organized
Action Plan Preparation Comprehensive Resume Essay Reference(s) Organization Spreadsheet Binder Zip Drive Activation Research opportunities Apply to the universities of your choice Ask your references
Comprehensive Resume Samples Academic Achievement Extra Curricular Involvement Goal for Post-Secondary Courses taken Awards and Achievement 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 6 drafts before you mail even one SHOW don t tell. Tell a story so the reader gets to know you Avoid listing your accomplishments or activities that will be highlighted on your CV The tone of your essay needs to reflect formal language Answer the question you have been asked This is like a job interview.when the reader has finished reading your essay they should know about your character, personality, and goals Get feedback from your parent(s)and a teacher
References Ask two teachers who know you really well These individuals need to be able to tell a story or two about you Provide them with a copy of your Comprehensive Resume and Request for Reference Letter Form 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 Help you to discover what you might like to do in the future Service / Leadership Volunteer! Often is the deciding factor when other things like marks are similar Often applicants tell stories about how their involvement has shaped them as a person Responsibility / Commitment Prestigious awards/universities are looking for a history of volunteerism and growth in leadership 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 + WGSS Post-Secondary Handbook (on the WGSS Counselling Website) 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 Sort by due date to make it easier to prioritize applications Keep the website source here to help you find it online Colour-coding makes it easier to track what scholarships have upcoming deadlines
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 mail takes time to travel!
Application Tips from Joseph Chang Start your research now you don t realize how expensive postsecondary studies truly will be Use the Resume feature in MyBluePrint Don t believe the myth that I m not smart enough or I don t have enough time summer job for 2 weeks = one scholarship Be willing to share family income information Set up Word document: Due Date Possible Scholarship Paste in all the Info Required Documents (e.g. Application, Essay, Reference, Transcript)
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
Scholars Seminar SFU Burnaby Saturday May 13, 7:00 UBC Advice on 1 st year from WGSS Grades WGSS, Library Annex Tuesday, May 16, Flex Unlock Your Future Further Learning Opportunities Langley Secondary School, Tuesday, May, 16, 6:30, $5.00 National/Nomination Scholarship Presentation WGSS Library Annex Tuesday, Sept. 26, Flex Local/District Scholarship Presentation WGSS Library Annex Thursday, Nov. 30, Flex
National Awards Example Deadlines from 2016-2017 Loran Oct. 4 (request nomination) Horatio Alger Oct. 25 (financial need) U of Toronto Nov. 4 (request nomination) Scotia Bank Nov. 6 (creativity/originality) TD Leaders Nov. 28 (community leadership) Schulich (STEM) Dec. 2 (request nomination) BC Excellence Jan. 13 (request nomination) Terry Fox Feb. 1 (humanitarian; need) Future Aces Feb. 2 (volunteerism) RBC Leaders Feb. 23 (community leadership) Cmolik Feb. 24 (financial need)