2 minute read
How to snaga scholarship
Adam Goldwater knows all about scholarships.A careers evening at school opened his eyes to the numberofscholarships out there for the taking. An aspiring horticulture student, he discovereda cluster of horticulture scholarships available on Massey University’s website.
He applied, and was successful in securing the Zespri and Horticulture New Zealand scholarships in his first year at university. The following year he won threemore scholarships, each helping to relieve some of the financial burden of university study.
“I didn’t havea part-time job during mydegree, onlyduring the summer,” said Adam. “When going to uni, you have topay quite high fees, but it means you can come out prettymuch debt-free if you work hard and keep getting scholarships.”
5stepstoscholarshipsuccess Step 1:Know what’s on offer Most libraries provide free access to the givME database. Get to knowthe full range of scholarships available to you so you don’t miss out on anything. Step 2:Make sureyou qualify Read through the scholarship information carefully to make sure you meet the criteria. Makea list of the scholarships you arequalified to apply for.
Step 3:Gather your information To apply for a scholarship, you will most likely need to fill out forms and supply documents to support your application. You need to collect, make copies of, and certify all the necessary documents to support your application. You may also be asked to attend an interview with the selection panel.
Step4:Makea good impression A sloppy, lateorincomplete application might cause the selection panel to think that the scholarship is not important to youor thatyouare not really interested. Allow yourself plenty of time to put care and effort into your application. Try to do everything you can to show that you are deserving of the award. Be tidy, be thorough and be timely. Step 5:Doa final check Check, check, and recheck. Use this checklist to make sure you are ready to submit your application: • Fill in the application forms carefully. • Check for spelling mistakes. • Provide all the necessary supporting documents. • Get copies of documents certified. • Meet the closing date. • Make copies of every application sent. • Provide current contact details. • Get someone to check over your application– they might pick up something you’ve missed.
