Education can be expensive in this time and age especially for students looking forward to studying abroad. The cost of relocating to a new country and also the expenses of tuition and other fees needed to be paid can be daunting and can also make one give up on their educational dream. This is the reason why several international bodies have put together these scholarships ranging from full funding to partial funding to help both international and indigenous students access quality education at little to no cost.
Apart from easing financial burden, these scholarships also help in recognizing the hard work and potential of successful applicants. Many students miss out on scholarship opportunities today not just because they do not qualify for them, but because of salient mistakes that could have been easily avoided during the application process if they knew how to avoid them. In this article, we have listed 6 of such mistakes students make when applying for scholarships and how you can avoid them.
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1. Not paying attention to eligibility requirements.
The eligibility requirements are one of the main things to look at when considering applying for a scholarship. But unfortunately, a lot of applicants do not pay close attention to this. Sometimes, they assume eligibility based on previous applications or based on that of other scholarships. This makes them miss important details, hence submitting an incomplete or void application.
For example, a scholarship may have an age mark of 30 as part of its eligibility requirements. If you do not find this out and you have passed this age your application will not be considered. To ensure you meet the eligibility requirements:
- Read the scholarship details multiple times
- You may also enquire further by sending an email to the admissions office to find out if there are any other details or information regarding the scholarship.
2. Using one application for multiple scholarship submissions
Yes, it is understandable that you want to submit multiple scholarship applications to increase your chances of securing one. The submission process might also be a rigorous one, compiling documents and all, which might compel you to use just one scholarship application. By using just one scholarship application, you will miss the opportunity of tailoring your scholarship application to meet specific details and requirements which may be part of the vetting process by the scholarship body. Instead of using just one scholarship application for multiple scholarships, you can do the following listed below:
- Pay attention to what each scholarship application entails and focus on submitting one scholarship at a time. It is not about the number of scholarships you have submitted but about the quality of your application. Note that it is the quality of your application that increases your chances of getting one.
- Plan ahead even before the application opens. Most scholarship bodies rarely change application details and eligibility requirements, and even if they do, it is still related. This gives you the opportunity to plan ahead of a scholarship opening and easily tweak your application to suit any necessary changes if there are any.
3. Poorly written essays
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Your essay is one of the most important factors of your scholarship application success, because it is through your essay the scholarship body will get to find out the reason you need a scholarship and also why you are choosing them. Your essay will most likely be among the hundreds or thousands that will be received by the scholarship body, and so you do not want to represent yourself poorly. You want to ensure your spellings are correct, your use of English is accurate, and you have properly conveyed your information. In addition, you can also get essays used by successful applicants and write yours according to theirs. This is one way to succeed. We have put together essays of successful applicants that you can use and win a scholarship. You can find it here.
4. Lying or exaggerating in your application
We know you want to put your best foot forward and present yourself as the best candidate for the scholarship, but you do not need to lie or exaggerate to achieve this. Do not add any information that may require you to later provide evidence. The best thing to do is to properly present yourself and your information in the most positive manner. No need to say what you are not in order to impress the scholarship body.
5. Failing to follow submission guidelines
It is important to take note of the scholarship application submission process and guidelines when reading through a call for scholarship application. For example, if you have been given a specific number of words for the essay, you have to stick to it. You also have to take note of the format of the document they have requested.
Overlooking smaller scholarships
Most times, applicants are so focused on the big scholarships that they miss out on the small and less competitive ones. Smaller scholarships may not offer you full funding or cover your living expenses, but they may also help you achieve your education dreams if you are serious. Instead of focusing only on the popular fully funded scholarships, also look at other smaller scholarships that cover tuition fees and other expenses, if not everything.
Conclusion
In this article, we have talked about six mistakes applicants make when applying for scholarships. These are not all, but as you continue to submit more applications, you will become better. The most important thing is to ensure you follow the guidelines given by the scholarship body and you meet all eligibility criteria.
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