Your Ultimate Guide to a Successful Scholarship Application

Maximize your chances of securing funding for your graduate studies with these essential tips and strategies.

A graduate degree doesn't only cost you time and effort, but let's face it, it can be very pricey too! That's why landing a scholarship can save the day and make life easier, and make focusing on your degree more achievable. But getting a scholarship as a graduate student isn't a walk in the park; it can be tricky and even a bit intimidating sometimes. In this short article, I will list the most important steps to achieve that goal.

1-   Beat the clock

A theme not only limited to scholarships but to many aspects of graduate school is "Get ahead of the game." How many times have you seen an opportunity, and, oops, the deadline has just passed? So, for that reason, do your homework and look for possible funding opportunities. Do you know that there are many scholarships that you can apply to, even before starting your graduate studies? More importantly, for ones you come across and applications that haven't started yet, take notes of their deadlines.

2-   Find your perfect (relevant) match

If you type the word "scholarship for…" you will find lasting results, but not all of them will be the right fit for you. Prioritize the ones that fall within your keywords and profile. Your background, plans, and research/study program are crucial in finding the right target. Would that mean you shouldn't try ones slightly far from that criteria? Absolutely, Not. You never know.

3-   Stay on top of your game

I said that's a theme of many parts of graduate school; here you go. You found the relevant matches and even the second priorities. It's time to adult and be organized. Make a calendar with all those crucial deadlines and requirements so you never miss a beat if you haven't already. Don't just stick to the bare minimum and go the extra mile, so include the required documents per application. Trust me, many applications are wasted just because you forgot that you would need to get a new transcript, and it takes a week, and you got only an hour on hand.

4-   Make your application stand out

Now you're working on an application. Before anything, READ the scholarship announcement/document/guide very well. You have to read between the tea leaves because your chance stands there. Highlight keywords, objectives, guidelines etc. That's step one for standing out within hundreds of applications. Step two is to ditch copy-paste approach and put some personality into your scholarship applications tailored to fit each scholarship's specific requirements and goals.

5-   Write a compelling personal statement

Your personal statement is your key to nailing this application. A well-crafted personal statement should be engaging, authentic, and concise. This is your chance to let the committee know who you are? What do you think? Let them know your story. Remember to include the following points: A) the relation between your background and current goals. B) impact of the scholarship personally and beyond. C) show your mental strengths and how did you overcome past challenges.

6-   Some overlooked secret sauces

Before hitting submit, make sure your application gets the proper extra check. Typos, grammar slip-ups, missing documents, format requirements, go over and over again through those checks. A good practice is getting a fresh eye to double-check it for you. Score valuable feedback. Please don't underestimate the power of solid feedback that someone who can step into the jury's shoes and give you their honest take.

7- Don't give up

We have all been there. Unfortunately, sometimes things don't work out. That doesn't mean you should stop, but actually, be persistent. Opportunities are always competitive and require time. A good piece of advice is to learn from your failures. If you can get feedback or a committee review, that would turn any loss into a complete success. Continue applying and learning from your mistakes.

To sum things up, stick to the plan, do your homework, strategize like a pro and write your application like a boss. The process is there to follow and to increase the odds of you getting that competitive scholarship.

Mostafa Saad is a Ph.D. researcher and Public Scholar in building engineering at gina cody school of engineering, Concordia University.