I wish I had known the importance of applying for scholarships before starting university, and even during my upper years. If you’ve excelled in your academics or have been involved in extracurriculars, you may be an ideal candidate for a scholarship!! I’m here to provide you with more information on why you should apply. 

Scholarships are free money given to students that usually helps them pay for their school tuition. Scholarship funds can be awarded to students by their schools, the government, or organizations that offer funding opportunities. 

Why you should apply for scholarships 

Scholarships are a great source to alleviate any potential financial pressures. Attending university can bring financial stress, especially for individuals who lack the means or family support to pay for their education. 

Rather than taking on more loans, take advantage of what you have to offer as a student! The grades and skills you’ve acquired over the years can help showcase your diligence, dedication and strength as a student, all great qualities that scholarship committees like to reward. 

Here are some factors to consider before applying for scholarships: 

Document your extracurriculars and academic achievements 

I always encourage students to have an Excel spreadsheet of all their involvements. This makes writing your applications less time-consuming. You already have those tangible experiences right in front of you, making it so much easier to apply for scholarships. So be sure to note down any meaningful experiences, grades, or opportunities you’ve gotten during your undergrad.

Avoid using AI to write your applications 

Most scholarship committees can tell a genuine voice apart from one that isn't! So I highly recommend you generate your own work when applying for scholarships. Especially for scholarships where you’re required to complete essays, they already often specify in their application requirements that AI use is prohibited. 

Don’t just go for the big scholarships, apply for the little ones too!

Bigger, more well-known scholarships mean greater competition. Although I still encourage you to apply to those ones, the smaller ones often go unclaimed due to a lack of exposure. That might mean it’ll take more time for you to find those types of scholarships, so that’s why you need to dedicate time to searching for them. 

Apply for scholarships year-round

Don’t just apply for scholarships during the summer; scholarships can continue through the school year, so getting that extra money can be super helpful even after your tuition is paid. This can help cover any future expenses or emergencies you may have. Or, it can be a great way to prepare for the upcoming school year and cover any expenses you'll need to pay. 

Scholarship websites to look into

Some external scholarship websites I’ve looked at and found scholarships through are Scholarship Canada and Scholar Tree! The Student Awards and Financial Aid website also covers both internal and external scholarship opportunities that I like to check out, too. 

This might come as a surprise, but I also like to look out for scholarships on social media! Many organizations post scholarship opportunities on Instagram to encourage students to apply. The more I think about it, the more it makes sense that they would consider it, given that it is a platform commonly used by university students!

Good luck to those of you applying for scholarships! Although it may feel time-consuming and uncertain, it will eventually pay off!