TIPS ON APPLYING FOR ADMISSION AND WINNING SCHOLARSHIPS

Applying for and winning a scholarship can be so tedious and time-consuming. Putting some of the following into consideration will compel an individual to try all he/she could in putting all the necessary requirements and applications together in such a way that this will result him or her winning the scholarship. The following can be considered when applying for admission and scholarship opportunities.

The God factor

As they always says, “The G factor”. This is the strong foundation on which you can build upon that will results to massive success and testimonies. It is very important in seeking God for directions in all you do as well as commuting everything into His hands so as to guide. You cannot do it on your own, you cannot win that scholarship because you are the best or graduated with the best results unless you call God for His supports. Bible says “O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusted in Him (Psalms 34:8). Another passage of the bible says “I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me” (Philippians 4:13). You can win that scholarship by your own strength or wisdom even if you have the best application ever. You need to put this “G” factor into play at every phase of your application so it will resulted to massive explosions of good news and testimonies.

Academic credentials

Before thinking of applying for admission scholarship, it is required of you in getting your academic certificates and transcripts as they will be requested during your applications. Do ensure that you have gotten all this ready before making any move for the applications so as to save time and stress.

CV/Resume 

When writing your cv/resume, like I have always said that everything matters when writing your cv/resume to submit for admission and possibly scholarship. Your cv/resume must be written in a convincing manner that also align with the set goal and objective of the programme or scholarship you are applying for. When writing your cv/resume, you can create sections and reflect the following;

• Personal details
• Capability or professional summary
• Education and qualification
• Professional work experience
• Internship experience
• Volunteering experience
• Laboratory experience
• Leadership experience
• Teaching experience
• Research experience
• Conferences and journal publications
• Conferences, trainings and workshops attended
• Certifications and professional development
• Professional associations
• Scholarships, awards and honors
• Presentations
• Hobbies, skills and interests 

Only put down what you know you have done in your cv/resume as this is one of the basis for your grading and you will be interviewed and questioned based on this cv/resume you are submitting for the admission or scholarship. Write your cv yourself to understand into detailed all what you are putting there, you can ask for assistance from people who can help with reviewing, correcting and little adjustment on your cv/resume if the need be.

Personal essays

Your personal essays must be well detailed and convincing enough as well as linking the essays to the priorities of the admission or scholarship you are trying to apply for. If you can link the essays to Sustainable Development Goals that align with your career aspirations, fine and good. When writing your essays, try and ensure to be original enough and avoid plagiarism as your essays you are submitting might be subjected to plagiarism check. Plagiarism is a great offence and can leads to disqualification of your applications. From this personal essays, you will be interviewed possibly after the submission of your application during the selection and screening of application process. Do endeavor writing it yourself so as to have a clear understanding of what you put together. This helps a lot as you will be writing and reading alongside when putting this essays together.

Recommendation letters

This is another integral part of your application for admission or scholarship. There are different types of recommendation letters.

• Academic recommendation letters: Letters you get from your schools from your teachers or lecturers or any other persons in your institution that can attest to your academic capabilities and capacities.
• Professional recommendation letters: Letters you get from where you worked, served or volunteer prior your applications. This type of recommendation letters attest to your professionalism in that your chosen career.
• Personal recommendation letters: Letter you get from your religious or community head. This can also attest to some other areas of your personalities. · 

Depending on what you are applying for, you can be asked to provide the aforementioned recommendation letters when filling in your applications for admission or scholarship. If you can get at least academic and professional recommendation letters from your recommenders for the purpose of admission or scholarship applications will boost your application and it will be proofing your academic and professional attributes.

International passport

This is also one of the important document you will need and be requested to submit during your application. Try and get this at your disposal before the commencement of your applications.

Proof of English language proficiency

You can get a letter for your school to attest to your proficiency in English so as to save you from the stress of writing IELTs or TOEFL. You can also attach you O’level Certificate to it if you have at least credit in English. Many countries like USA, Canada, UK, Australia, Europe, China, etc. do waive writing IELTs or TOEFL provided you provided this proof of English language proficiency and/or O’level result (WAEC or NECO). Before applying, you can try as much as possible to reach out to the schools and make inquiry too if they can accept that in lieu of IELTs or TOEFL. If you feel like writing any of this examinations so it can help you in boosting your chances of getting the scholarship, do endeavour to write it.

Other necessary documents 

If you are applying for admission and scholarship , additional documents you will be required to submit will depend on the type of schools, courses, countries and scholarships you are applying for. Try and do your thorough search before applying. You can ask from previous people that have applied for it before so they can guide you.

 

Online (MOOCs) courses

Doing several online courses with or without certificates will help you in gain broader concepts about your course. It will also introduce you to clues about that course you are trying to apply for. Building capacities in your respective field will help you throughout life. Developing yourself in your chosen career aspirations will give you depth of knowledge and skills needed in succeeding at any point or level you will find yourself now or future to come. If you want to apply for scholarship, I will advise you all to start doing some online courses.

Volunteering

This is also one aspect that will help you in building skills and knowledge in your career. Gaining hands-on experiences and skills will help in putting your theoretical aspects of all what you have learnt during your university days into practical uses. Volunteering will open you to several opportunities and broader knowledge. Instead of doing nothing, I will advise you to take up a volunteering roles (paid or un-paid). This helps in building your professional and leadership skills.

Publication of research

You can endeavour to publish your undergraduate or postgraduate research project that you are yet to publish on journals or conferences. Another thing you can also do is to get yourself involved in any research that will leads to publishing on journals or conferences. You can also conduct research on a specific topic or area in your chosen career and get it published on journals and if possible presented and published on conference proceedings. This will also boost your opportunity toward the admission and scholarships you are applying to.

Attending conferences, trainings or workshops

This is another way in which you can increases your depth of knowledge while building and expanding you professional networks. All this will help you in writing excellent cv/resume and personal essays. It count too when applying for scholarship.

I have noticed in many of the applications for admissions or scholarships, applications are graded on the basis of the following;

• Academic abilities
• Leadership abilities
• Professional abilities
• Additional abilities (Conferences, Trainings, Volunteering, MOOCs, etc.)
• Personal essays
• Recommendation letters     

My advice is this you can win that scholarship, you can be given that unconditional admission provided you put all the necessary measures and requirements into considerations when applying. 

You can give it a try......see you there, see you at the top

Remeber.....