Tips to Help You Find and Win Scholarships

Study abroad scholarships are without a doubt the best type of financial aid. They are free funds for college! If you’re discouraged from applying, you’re not alone. Many scholarship competitions are extremely competitive because only one or a few applicants can win… But who says you can’t be one of them? We are confident that you can! There are several things you may do to improve your chances of winning. And we’ll show you how in this post about applying for scholarships! Read to know the top tips to help you find and win scholarships.

Who is Eligible for Scholarships?

Scholarships are available to you and the majority (if not all) of your classmates! This is due to the fact that scholarships are available for almost every type of student.

We’ll have more to say about that later. For the time being, we just want you to know that you don’t have to be a straight-A student, captain of your high school football team, or anything else to get scholarships.

However, you must know how to find the best scholarships for you. And you must understand how to put together a scholarship application that will give you a real chance of winning. So, let’s get to our expert advice!

Must Read: Study Abroad: 10 Tips to Secure an International Scholarship

15 Tips to Help You Find and Win Scholarships

Funding your education abroad is easier if you can get a scholarship. So, here are the top tips to help you find and win scholarships and make your study abroad dream come true!

1. Coordinate with the School Counsellor

Academic advisers and school counsellors frequently have information about scholarships that you won’t discover elsewhere. Depending on your specific abilities, extracurricular activities, ethnicity, or athleticism, they might be able to recommend special scholarships.

2. Ask the College or University

Sometimes, the best tip to find a scholarship is to simply reach out. Check with advisers in the financial aid offices of the colleges you’re applying to or have been admitted to, much like you would with your school counsellor. The majority of colleges provide scholarship options, search advice, outside connections, and frequently asked questions on their websites. Contact someone in the office personally if there is something that isn’t featured on the website.

3. Pay Attention to the Deadlines

Nothing compares to losing money due to a deadline violation. Due to the volume of applications, they may receive, most scholarship applications have strict deadlines. Add deadlines to a calendar and set reminders as an excellent method to stay on top of them. The best time for high school students to apply is over the summer before their senior year and then during their whole senior year. Scholarships may often be found year-round by college students on their institution’s website and in the financial assistance office.

4. Apply, Apply, Apply

When it comes to scholarships. Every scholarship you are qualified for should be applied for, and neither a little nor a large award should discourage you from doing so. No tip will help you find and win scholarships if you are not submitting applications.

5. Apply to Scholarships With Smaller Awards

The more money up for grabs, the more fierce the competition, and the harder it is to get that scholarship. It’s not impossible; it’s simply challenging. Your prospects of winning any award at all are decreased by concentrating solely on the major accolades.

Making the effort to apply for lesser scholarships is worthwhile. They are simpler to win, and the money will add up if you win several. Even if you don’t win enough money to pay your tuition, winning lesser sums that may go toward your living bills, textbooks, and other college or dorm-related expenditures might gradually add up to big savings.

6. Get Someone Else to Read Your Application

Not only may constructive criticism help you find mistakes or other issues, but it can also help you become more aware of your own relevant successes and traits. Someone who understands where you’re coming from may frequently think of things that you hadn’t, as well as assist you to tighten up the language and check your grammar.

You may distinguish yourself from other scholarship applicants by diversifying your scholarship applications, being involved in your community, and being engaged in your classes.

7. Check the Eligbility

Examine the eligibility conditions thoroughly. Many programmes have age restrictions, and nationality restrictions, or are only for certain academic subjects. If you are not eligible, your application will most likely be ignored and discarded by the scholarship administration. This is not only a waste of your time, but also of the time of your colleagues who write letters of recommendation for you.

Must Read: Tips on Writing a Strong Scholarship Application

8. Know Your Audience

Make your application relevant to the scholarship organization’s interests. Check that the goals you mention in your application correspond to the goals of the scholarship programme. Your essays should be able to communicate with the selection committee.

If you apply for a scholarship for a specific academic topic, such as botany or anthropology, the selection committee will be comprised of experts in that field. You must dazzle them with your extensive understanding of the subject.

Don’t write about stuff that experts already know. If the scholarship covers a wide range of subjects, such as conservation, public health, and engineering, the screening committee is unlikely to include experts in your field. Through your essays, you must demonstrate to the committee why your field is so vital.

9. Know your Competitors

Your competition consists of all persons who meet the eligibility requirements for the scholarship to which you are applying. Are you competing against people from your own country or from several countries? Do you have to compete with people from different fields or academic disciplines? To differentiate yourself from the competition, you must adapt your responses to questions that demonstrate how you are different and better than your competitors.

10. Check your Budget

If you’re asked to submit a budget for your scholarship, be sure it’s reasonable – don’t want too much or too little. Only request monies for products covered by the scholarship, and do not request more than the maximum amount allowed by the scholarship. If you get grants from your university or other scholarships, make sure you include this information in your application. Check your maths to ensure that your budget line items are accurately added. Poor mathematical skills can work against you, hence this is one of the most crucial tips to help you find and win scholarships.

Must Read: SOP for Scholarship: Sample PDF, Examples, Tips & Tricks

11. Check out Local Organizations and Nonprofits

Students do not necessarily have to seek far for a fantastic college scholarship. Scholarships may be offered by organisations and organisations in a student’s hometown, such as his or her church, synagogue, or faith group. According to experts, local scholarships are frequently less competitive than national scholarships, giving students a better chance of winning the rewards.

12. Go for Scholarships Based on Majors

Scholarships are provided for students pursuing certain college majors ranging from education and biology to engineering. For example, students pursuing a career in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) can apply for a variety of awards, such as the Generation Google Scholarship, which offers $10,000 to U.S. undergraduate and graduate students studying computer science, computer engineering, or a closely related technical field.

13. Watch out for Scholarship Scams

Any time spent applying for a bogus award is time not spent applying for legitimate scholarship funds. As a result, knowing to avoid scammers is an important part of a savvy scholarship quest. You may be confident that every scholarship posted on reliable scholarship platforms is genuine. On other websites, double-check the source, the type of information requested, and whether or not payment is required. There should be no fees associated with scholarship applications. If it does, avoid it.

Must Read: Scholarships: How do I know if it’s worth it to apply?

14. Ace the Scholarship Interview

As part of the application process for more competitive scholarships, you may be asked to schedule an interview. Even if you haven’t been asked to do so, it’s never a terrible thing to plan ahead of time. Find a list of common scholarship interview questions online and plan your responses. When you believe you have a decent answer, write it down. They don’t have to be perfect, but knowing what you want to say will help you perform well under pressure. When you’re ready, have a trusted friend or teacher conduct a practice interview with you.

15. Write Thank You Notes

Whether it’s a teacher, a coach, or a friend who proofreads your work, make sure to thank them with a meaningful note. This can be accomplished via email, but a handwritten card is preferable. If you’re applying for a scholarship that requires an interview, you should thank your interviewer for their time after the meeting. This will give the impression that you are professional, humble, and mature.

[Bonus] Top Scholarships Around the World

Now that you’ve got all the major tips to help you find and win scholarships to study abroad, here are the top 10 Scholarships to apply for. Since these are the top 10 scholarships around the world, winning them would be hard. But hey, you can always try!

• Chevening Scholarship (UK)
• Fulbright Scholarships (USA)
• Endeavour Postgraduate Awards (Australia)
• Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Programme (France)
• GREAT Scholarships (UK)
• Revolving Establishment Worldwide Review Awards (Worldwide)
• Australia Awards Scholarship (Australia)
• Commonwealth Scholarships
• Rotary Foundation Global Study Grants
• Joint Japan World Bank Scholarships

Must Read: Avoid These Scholarship Mistakes for a Flawless Application

Conclusion

Scholarships are the best type of financial aid when it comes to paying for college. It’s essentially free money! Furthermore, almost everyone is qualified for at least one scholarship! But you must know how to locate the appropriate ones for you, the ones with a real chance of winning. These tips to help you find and win scholarships will surely help you in locating the scholarship which is appropriate for you.

FAQs

We hope you found these tips to help you find and win scholarships helpful. In case you need any assistance through your study abroad journey, you will love talking to our counsellors. Contact our Leverage Edu specialists at 1800 57 2000 for a free 30-minute counselling consultation.