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