Eight things to know as a graduate student before you apply for scholarships

Applying for scholarships is a crucial way to reduce the amount of student debt you might owe. At Laurier, the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (FGPS) administers federally and provincially funded scholarship programs for eligible graduate programs. These tips are designed to help you prepare to apply for graduate-level scholarships.

Check Your Eligibility

Before applying for any scholarship, make sure you check your eligibility. Every scholarship has a different purpose and reason behind the funding and not all scholarships will be a perfect fit for you and your interests. Make sure you read the information about eligibility criteria and minimum academic requirements prior to applying.  

Know the Deadlines

After you have confirmed you are eligible to apply for a scholarship, get to know the deadlines. If you miss the deadline or apply after the deadline, your application will not be considered. It’s best to be on the safe side and submit your application a few days before the deadline.

Many students ask, “When can I start applying for scholarships?” The answer is any time!  Scholarship competitions have different deadlines that occur throughout the year. Keep an eye out for the deadline dates when checking eligibility requirements. You can find information about graduate funding on the FGPS website.

Plan Ahead

Once you know the key deadlines, you will need to ensure you give yourself plenty of time to complete all application requirements. Selection committees can tell when you’ve put something together at the last minute, so it’s best to take your time to get all of the application pieces in order.

Applying for a scholarship is not something you can do in one evening. You will need to order transcripts, ask for references, give your references time to write a recommendation, and put a proposal together. We suggest setting weekly goals or creating a work-back schedule to help you stay on top of the scholarship application process.

Read, Read, Read

We can’t stress this enough: Reading the website in its entirety and going through the full application is important. Most times, the information you are looking for is listed somewhere on the Graduate Funding and Awards website, in the application, or in an FAQ. Be sure to read through all of the information you are provided carefully before reaching out to ask questions.  

Connect with your Academic References

Asking professors to be one of your academic references shouldn’t be an intimidating process. Writing reference letters is something that professors expect to do and most find it rewarding to support students as a referee for scholarship applications or other academic opportunities.

Consider sending an email and introducing yourself, asking to set up a meeting to connect, reaching out about a course, or going to office hours now that in-person learning is taking place. It’s never too late to connect with those who may be able to provide you with a strong reference.

When you do ask for an academic reference, it’s best to ask several weeks in advance and provide your reference with all of the information they will need. This could include information about the application requirements, a resume, specific questions or points you would like them to speak to, and transcripts. The more you can help a reference, the easier and faster they can get their written reference completed. Learn more about tips for seeking academic references.

Use the Resources Available to you

There are a variety of resources that can assist you in writing an effective scholarship application.  The website of the funding agency you are applying to will have information about the application. Some even have training videos that walk you through how to fill out an application.

Ways you can effectively use the resources available to you include:

• Visit funding agency websites and click through all of the pages related to the scholarship you are applying for, not just the application page.
• Attend an ASPIRE workshop or book a one-on-one appointment with a writing advisor.
• Check for FAQ pages. Typically, the most common questions will be answered on these pages.
• Ask your graduate program coordinator for more information about the scholarship. They may have insight from previous years of experience with scholarship applications.
• Using the “control F” search function can help you find specific information you are searching for on a web page or in an electronic document.
• If you still have questions after reviewing available resources, contact a member of the FGPS team.
• Visit the Laurier Youtube page and watch the videos from the Laurier Graduate Student Life Playlist. 

Begin Framing Your Thinking

Almost all graduate-level scholarships have a proposal or statement of intent/interest section, which you are required to write. Typically, this section allows you to discuss your areas of interest and why your research is important.

When it comes to research proposals, new students often stress about having to “put in writing” what their research interests are because they have not yet finalized their research focus. When it comes to the research proposal, students who are in the earlier stages of their academic career often stress about having to submit a proposal when they have not yet fine-tuned their research interests. However, selection committees are focused on evaluating writing abilities, research timelines, and determining if you have a good understanding of what you are about to take on. Committees are interested in assessing your research potential, so it’s okay if the research you propose in a scholarship application changes or is tweaked once you are awarded a scholarship. A proposal should demonstrate that you understand what is feasible in your given degree timeline, that you are able to incorporate language from your discipline into your proposal where it makes sense to do so and, most importantly, that you have conveyed why your research matters and should be funded.

Get Someone Outside of the Field

Remember that one friend in undergrad who always proofread your essays before you handed them in? It’s important to have someone outside of the field willing to read your scholarship application prior to submission. Whether it’s a professor, friend, family member, or fellow graduate student, it’s important to find someone who can provide you with constructive criticism.

Often, members of a selection committee are not from your direct field of study. Your proposal needs to balance technical information with digestible, easy-to-understand content for those not from your field.

Summary

Applying for scholarships takes time and commitment, but is so rewarding when you are successful and receive funding. If you are planning to go straight from undergraduate studies to graduate school, it’s important that you start looking at scholarships early in your final year of undergrad.

If you would like to connect with a member of the FGPS team to discuss scholarships and funding, email fgps@wlu.ca. For more information about graduate scholarships and competition deadlines, visit the FGPS website.