Students should begin preparing early to make the scholarship application process as smooth as possible!

One key component of many scholarships is volunteering! Students wishing to apply for numerous awards should consider service in their school or community from grade 10 onward.

 

 

 

What You Need to Know About Scholarships with Janet MacDonald of mycampusGPS.ca.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvq3v_PUPyU&feature=youtu.be

My Blueprint recently hosted an online event with Education Consultant Janet McDonald of mycampusGPS. This one hour webinar can be viewed on the My Blueprint YouTube channel
 

Janet has also provided the following resource to schools at no cost:
Grade 11 Success Formula

 
Getting Started:

  1. Clean up your social media – Facebook, Instagram, etc. Your profile, posts, and even comments on other peoples posts should show universities and scholarship committees that you are someone they want to associate themselves with, so if you have any doubt, delete!
     

  2. Keep track of your volunteering, activities and awards. Be sure to include the name of the organization, the dates of involvement, and your total hours and a description of your role.  

  • School related leadership, clubs, extra-curricular, arts and athletics activities you have participated in from grades 10-12

  • Community based volunteering, clubs and arts and athletics

  • Academic or other achievements and awards

  • Seminars or conferences attended

  • Career exploration activities or events that you have participated in

  • Paid work experience
     

  1. Consider who you will ask for a reference.  

  • Contact the individual to ask if they feel they can give you a good reference. 

  • Provide them with a list of your activities and achievements

  • Give them lots of time to complete the reference

  • Be sure to thank them!

    Please see the How to get a Great Reference by Janet MacDonald of mycampusGPS.ca for more help with reference letters!
     

  1. Write a Career Statement.  You will need this for your SD33 Application. Save it as a word document so that you can print it when needed or copy and paste it into the application. For detailed instructions and examples, please see How to Write a Career Statement and Sample Career Statement.
     

  2. Optional - Write a working copy of a scholarship essay. Not all scholarship applications require an essay, but many online ones do. 

    Refer to How to write a Winning Scholarship Essay and Powerful words for Scholarship Essays. Scholarship essay topics vary, but many of them will address leadership and volunteering. They may include questions such as the following:

  • Describe an important leadership experience or important initiative you undertook.

  • Describe your most important contribution to your school or community.
     

  1. Review the Financial Aid section of universities and colleges you are interested in. Make note of deadlines. GET A CALENDAR!
     

  2. Sign up for updates from at least one of the following websites and browse the internet for scholarships. Website such as My Blueprint and Ed Planner BC include scholarship information. 

  3. Be sure to follow sss_careers on Instagram!

  4. Personalize your own scholarship list. Review the lists of Financial Awards, Provincial Scholarships, Entrance Scholarships and Online Scholarships found on the Sardis website and make note of the ones that apply to you! 
     
  5. Apply for a Social Insurance Number if you do not already have one. You will need this to claim the awards you win. Application details are available here: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/sin/apply.html