Applying to University

Tips on Returning to a Graduate Program

Scholarship forms vary according to the awarding organization but in general, there are a few common sections to a scholarship form such as bio-data, contact details, schools attended, examinations taken, grades obtained, extracurricular activities you've participated in, and increasingly, an essay component. This might seem like any other application form you have filled in before but don’t rush into it. Stop and read the following tips below:

1. Read the scholarship applications. Read each of your applications at least once, so as to:
   • Ensure that you are eligible for funding, as many times the scholarships are meant for specific groups or populations. You can save yourself time by reading about the scholarships beforehand, making sure that you meet the minimum eligibility criteria.
   • Identify the requirements for filling each application, as each scholarship application is different.
   Find out what the different sections are and which documents you need to submit together with your form. Gather such documents beforehand, like passport photos, records, certificates, referee reports, and so on, to avoid searching for them frantically at the last minute. This is especially important for online forms where you cannot save your work for future changes. Take your time but start the process well before the deadline to avoid last minute rush.
2. Research into the background, history, and goals of the scholarship; doing so may aid you in completing the scholarship application in a way that will make you more likely to be granted funding.
3. Write legibly. Some forms are available online or in a soft-copy version. If so, use these forms and type in all the necessary information. This will save you the trouble of filling in endless pages of increasingly illegible scrawls. However, if this option is not available, then use a (preferably blue) ball-point pen to fill in the form. Use block letters rather than cursive script, so that your writing is clearly readable. Take a few minutes rest if you find yourself getting tired, or if your handwriting starts deteriorating. It will be really too much of a heart break if the reviewing officer could not inform you that you’ve been short-listed because he could not read your telephone number, or wrongly addressed your letters!
4. Don't leave any spaces blank. Fill out the entire scholarship application and write "not applicable" where appropriate.
5. Make sure your responses truly answer the questions. Focus on exactly what you are being asked, and keep your responses clear and concise. Back up your answers with specific examples. For instance, if the application asks you to describe your personality, don't just list personality traits; provide concrete examples that reveal your personality.
6. Detail your academic achievements where asked. Boast things like your GPA, any academic honors, and other scholarly accomplishments.
7. List your other hobbies, volunteer work, and relevant successes on your scholarship application. Good examples are experiences that are inline with the training that you're trying to get a scholarship for; such as volunteering at a medical center when applying for a nursing scholarship.
8. Practice writing your personal statement or the essay. Stay as close to the essay guidelines as possible. If minimum or maximum word counts are required, make sure your essay meets them. Read more on how to better write your personal statement / essay in the following section.
9. Be truthful and check for accuracy. Ensure that all your information is correct and up-to-date. It might be tempting to add interesting items like scuba-diving as a hobby, or that you won international writing competitions. The organizations will conduct background checks, and when they find that you have not been entirely honest, it will not help your case! Worse, should they ask you questions related to these ‘details’ during the interview, it will become very obvious that you’ve lied.
10. Make sure that there are no typos, grammatical or spelling mistakes on your scholarship application; ask a friend to proofread. Do not rely on computer spell check as it will miss mistakes like these: “My best fried in the word is form Indonesia.” Ask a friend, parent or teacher to help spot the errors. Mistakes can be seen as carelessness, bad writing or even worse, as a lack of motivation in applying for the scholarship.
11. Make a copy of all of your application pages and personal statement. If your application is lost in the mail, having an extra copy will come in handy; otherwise, you may have to rewrite everything.
12. Mail your scholarship applications long before they are due. If possible, add delivery confirmation to your shipping so you can verify when your application was received.

Writing the scholarship essay / personal statement

Increasingly, many application forms contain a short essay component. This is the one part of the form over which you have complete control, so seize this opportunity to stand out from the competition. Use the essay to explain your motivations for applying to the scholarship. You can also use it to highlight examples of your leadership ability or other achievements. Follow the tips below to make the best use of this section:

• Tell me about yourself

  The essay component is basically there for the organization to get to know you better. Therefore, take some time first to learn about yourself. Try to answer questions like these: What accomplishments are you most proud of? What motivates you? How would this scholarship help further your dreams? Create an outline first and don’t be afraid to do it all over again if one idea does not work out. The essay may very well lead to that crucial first interview, so it really needs to be well thought out.

• Be focused

  Do not repeat information that can be found elsewhere in the application form. Do not talk about too many things which will only dilute the message. “I took physics, chemistry and mathematics in junior college where I was president of the student council, a track-and-field athlete and I also volunteered for the SPCA.” All this information can be found elsewhere in the form so repeating them here is just a waste of space and it does not reveal anything more about you.

• Show them who you are

  Be original and avoid saying things you think they want to hear. The people reading the applications will probably have heard them all already and saying the same things will not persuade them to pick you. If you show them who you really are –what makes you tick and what you want to achieve – you will stand out from the hundreds and thousands of other applicants.

• Prove it

  Don’t just tell them, prove it. For example, instead of writing: “I love to work with children”, write this instead: “I volunteered to teach English to primary school children from low-income families”. It makes much more impact, because it shows that you took positive action and followed up on your own interests. This is a useful point to remember even in your interviews.

• Keep to the word limit

  Make full use of the word limit, but don’t exceed it either. Aim to communicate as much as possible without being long-winded. Remember, yours will not be the only essay that the reviewing officer will have to read – don’t make his job harder by telling him every mundane detail of your life story.

• Be creative

  The aim of the scholarship form is to get you short-listed for the interview. Therefore, try to express your uniqueness, your creativity and how you are the best fit for the organization that you’re applying to. Don’t be afraid to express your true self. That’s who they are looking for!