Good grades will help you get a scholarship in British Columbia.
There are many scholarships available to students at universities in British Columbia. Some of these scholarships are provided by British Columbia schools, while others are provided by provincial and national organizations. There are scholarships in British Columbia for students possessing any of these and other qualifications: high academic achievement, volunteer experience and demographic under-representation. To determine which scholarships you are eligible for, you must review your resume and transcript for accomplishments that will make you stand out to scholarship committees.
Instructions
1. Determine your grade point average. Log on to your student self-service account and click on "Grades" or "Term Grades" in the academic information menu. If your grade point average is listed there, write it down. If it is not listed, add up the total quality points you received from each of your courses and divide this number by the number of courses.
2. Look up scholarship databases. Your school's scholarship information can be found on your school's website, generally under the heading for "Student Financial Aid." Visit the StudentAid BC and BC Scholarships websites for scholarships specifically for students from British Columbia. Visit the Canada scholarships website for information on national scholarships. Note the scholarships that have acceptance criteria that match your qualifications.
3. Prepare resumes and cover letters for each scholarship you want to apply for. Your cover letter should be different for each scholarship, as it must refer to the institution and/or committee head by name. Most of your resumes can be identical; however, they will have to be modified for scholarship committees that request information beyond what is normally required.
4. Contact four to five people and ask them for permission to include them on your reference list. Your references should be people who know you well and who have dealt with you in an academic or professional context. Good references include professors, supervisors and volunteer coordinators.
5. Write a personal essays for scholarship committees that request them. Write a different essay for each scholarship, as your personal essay must mention the qualities you have that align with each scholarship's stated ideals. A scholarship essay should be 500-800 words in length, with an introduction, several paragraphs and a conclusion. Keep in mind that British Columbia schools are known to be progressive in character, placing a high emphasis on creativity and social awareness.
6. Fill out the scholarship application form. Most scholarship-granting organizations in British Columbia allow you to fill out the form online. If you are unsure whether it is safe to give out personal information over the Internet to the organization, check the StudentAid BC website. If the organization is listed, it is legitimate. Information such as your social insurance number and mailing address likely will be required on the form.
7. Send your information -- resume, cover letter, transcript and essay -- to the scholarship committees before their stated deadlines. If you are allowed to apply online, upload the information to the scholarship website or email it to the committee as an attachment. If you have to send your application in the mail, send it a month before the deadline in a large envelope.
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