Thinking of applying for a scholarship? There are heaps of reasons why you should – but how can you make sure your application is the one that stands out from the crowd? We have some tips for maximising your scholarship application.
Start early
Some scholarship applications can be quite involved and need a lot of information, so it’s best to ensure you give yourself enough time to get all your documents together and can craft a quality application. Plus, the earlier you start the less likely it is you’ll miss the closing date!
Use examples
There are lots of scholarships that will probably ask you to demonstrate your skills or experience – so think of situations you’ve been in and how they might specifically apply to the scholarship you’re applying for. A great way of doing this is by using the STAR method:
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Situation: Describe the situation and when it took place.
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Task: Explain the task, the goal and your role.
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Action: Provide details about the action you took.
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Result: Talk about the results of your actions, try and use concrete numbers or evidence if possible.
Read the criteria carefully
While it might seem like a good idea to cast a wide net, you should still make sure you’re eligible for any scholarships you apply for. At the end of the day, you’ll not only be wasting the assessor’s time but your own as well.
Do some research
If the scholarship is offered or sponsored by a donor, do some research on them. Think of ways you can tie your skills and experience together with the donor’s mission or goals, and use this to your advantage. It shows you’ve gone that one step further and can make your application stand out.
Make it personal
A lot of the time, institutions will want to know a bit more about you and your motivations. It’s important to answer any questions honestly and not just say what you think they’ll want to hear. And if your personality and interests tie in with the scholarship criteria, even better – use that as a way to show why you’re most deserving of the scholarship.
Keep it relevant
Building on the point above, it’s also important to make sure you don’t spend lots of time waffling on about things that aren’t relevant to the scholarship. Addressing any eligibility criteria in a way that’s both concise and relevant is a great way to maximise your application (plus a lot of applications will have word limits you need to stick to as well).
Don’t limit yourself
There are literally thousands of scholarships out there – so give yourself the best chance of winning one and apply for as many as you can. Lots of scholarships go unawarded every year simply because people don’t apply! Don’t forget to keep point three in mind though, and make sure you’re eligible before applying.
Interested in applying for a scholarship? Refer to this article for links to New Zealand scholarships.
Source: Study Work Grow
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