Scholarships are quite significant for students who wish to study abroad. However, the entire process, from searching, sorting, applying, and finally getting selected, is lengthy and cumbersome. Scholarship applications require high focus, accuracy, and precise information. Here we’ll give you a few tips that will help you streamline the whole task. We have used these tips ourselves during our academic lives, and now it’s time to share them with you. So let’s dive in!

The Five Most Important Tips for Any Scholarship Application

The following are the top five suggestions to make sure your application procedure is successful:

1.      Sort and Select the Best-Matched Scholarship Applications

It is significant to search for relevant scholarship programs and shortlist their requirements. Before applying to any application, arrange or gather all the required information in one easy-to-access place. Keep a calendar with you that includes deadlines for submitting applications. After that, sort the most relevant ones and read their requirements and other instructions carefully. Following these instructions ensures that the scholarship application process becomes easy and systematic, leading to less stress and more confidence.

2.      Copy of ID/passport

ID cards of students are essential not only for the security and safety of students themselves but also for the staff. The ID or passport can be used for identification and access control later on. Therefore, a valid ID is necessary for your proper identification. Make sure that your passport or ID has a validity date of at least six months after the departure date of your application.

If the expiration date of your ID or passport is nearby, make sure to replace it with a new one. It is also necessary to comprehend that most of the time, only the main page copy with the prospect’s picture and information is sufficient for many scholarship applications. So, avoid attaching irrelevant details of ID/Passports.

3.      Academic Documents

Academic documents are of core importance in academic scholarships. So, you must keep all credentials, such as transcripts, certificates, and diplomas, in an easy-to-access place. Ensure all papers have an official stamp and signature from your academic institutions.

Some scholarships have specific requirements, such as the Erasmus scholarship program, where two semesters of the specific study program are required before applying. For instance, for Spanish study, you will need a DELE diploma, for English courses, IELTS, TOEFL, and Cambridge are essential, and for French, a DALF or DELF test is required. So, prepare and arrange your credentials accordingly.

4.      Letter of Motivation/Statement of Purpose

The letter of motivation is one of the most decisive parts of the scholarship application selection process. It should be on one page with 400 words at maximum. The statement shows the candidates’ capabilities to express their interests and career goals precisely.

Most institutions’ members scan letters of motivation to gauge prospects’ strengths, aptitudes, honesty, and other qualities, along with whether they would be a perfect fit for the selected degree programs. Thus, jot down your statement of purpose candidly and succinctly for a higher probability of success. Be honest with your purpose in applying for the scholarship. Moreover, make sure the objectives you state in your application align with the program’s objectives.

5.      Letter of recommendation

Most scholarship applications require one letter of recommendation. However, in some cases, there is a requirement for two letters of recommendation. These letters will only be provided by authorized people like teachers/lecturers or employers/supervisors that led prospects’ work, including volunteer work.

Letters of recommendation are significant because they provide the scholarship provider with more information about the candidate’s skills, qualities, and intellect. Therefore, acquire a letter of recommendation immediately from your institution/organization to avoid long delays.

10 Add-Ons to Make The Odds in Your Favor!

We all know that scholarships are highly in-demand opportunities that every prospect wants to avail themselves of early on. So, to win any scholarship, you should prepare in all possible ways. Here are some add-on tips to ace your application:

• Standardized tests such as the ACT, SAT, GRE, etc. are supplemental for scholarships and one of the crucial factors in the selection of awarding candidates.
• Almost every scholarship application requires personal essays that include applicants’ achievements, personal goals, and aspirations. So, ensure precise writing of essays with pertinent arguments.
• Register at authentic online educational portals like WooStudy. It matches students to their best-matched universities with a few clicks. Such portals are great ed-tech platforms for international students to access global academic institutions.
• It is necessary for arts and design students to add a portfolio of their artistic or design work. Therefore, create and maintain an attractive portfolio on any online platform.
• Also, before sending your scholarship applications, proofread personal essays, and letters of motivation twice to avoid spelling or grammar errors, as this application is your first impression, and no one wants to break it.
• Keep a strict check on your word limit, as preciseness is the most noteworthy aspect of scholarship applications.
• Read the instructions carefully, only submit the required credentials and Never Attach Extra Documents.
• It is recommended to keep a full copy of your completed scholarship application as you will need to review it after your selection.
• Keep a strict check on deadlines and try to submit your application as early as possible.
• Once you win the scholarship, you will be required to attach a health evaluation certificate with the other prerequisites. So, make copies of all your vaccination certificates and other health reports to make your onboarding hassle-free.

Final Thoughts

These scholarship application tips will assist you by saving your time and energy. These ensure that your application process is error-free and has a higher chance of being accepted. Last but not least, keep in mind that each year, far more brilliant ideas are submitted by students. They may be preferred for selection and their ideas may be funded. So, in case you get rejected, there’s no need to take it to heart. You’ll have better luck next time.

Author Bio:

Maliha Safiullah is a Former Correspondent for 60 Minutes, Channel Nine Australia and is a published writer having worked as a Feature Writer for Dawn News, Pakistan.