Tips for Getting Scholarships – Going to school or studying abroad is a dream for some people, understanding foreign cultures that are different from Indonesian culture, strengthening foreign language skills, finding new interests or interests, expanding friendship networks and even career opportunities, and adding life experiences are myriad the advantages that you will get by studying abroad. But unfortunately, there are still many who think the cost of studying outside is expensive with a process that is not easy. However, there are lots of scholarships available.
Even though it’s easy to get scholarship information at this time, accurate tips and careful planning are still needed to get it. Moreover, the limited number of scholarships is inversely proportional to the number of scholarship applicants, which always increases every year.
Tips and Tricks to Get Your Dream Scholarship
No doubt, there are lots of scholarship applicants who have to be disappointed when they fail to get the desired scholarship. Here are tips on how to get the scholarship you want, Sinaumed’s . Let’s check these out !
1. Make a List of Scholarships You Want
It is important to make a list of scholarships that you will apply for. Don’t hesitate to find out, starting from the types of scholarships, the qualifications needed, the study programs offered, to the scholarship deadline itself. Make a spreadsheet to make finding and classifying scholarships easier.
Some points that you need to enter into the spreadsheet such as the name of the university, country, language used, study program and so on. Make a list of as many scholarships as possible and apply, apply, apply again until you succeed.
If you are applying for more than one scholarship, it’s a good idea to also plan your time. Write down the registration schedule, the submission deadline, the selection process, up to the announcement date for each scholarship that you register. That way, you can ensure and comply with procedures according to the schedule of each scholarship.
2. Choose a Country with Few Applicants
This one tip is powerful enough to be able to get a scholarship abroad. Don’t just choose countries with booming scholarship applicants. Let’s say England is in demand by 500 applicants, so your chance of getting a scholarship is at 1:500.
Make a list of countries with fewer applicants and find out more about the scholarships that country provides.
3. Frequently Check the Official Website of the Scholarship Giving Institution
In order to find suitable scholarships, you must first know which school or university you are going to. After that, frequently check the website of the scholarship awarding institution. Usually the admin will provide information about scholarship announcements far from the deadline date.
After the announcement is printed on the website page, now is the time for you to pay close attention to all the requirements of the scholarship institution. Don’t forget to note the limit for sending applications, Sinaumed’s.
4. Understand the Vision and Mission of the Organization
Make sure you already know the aims and objectives of the scholarship before adapting it to what you need. For example, if you want to take a research or research scholarship, an athletic scholarship for a certain sport, or a certain study program scholarship.
The more suitable the criteria for prospective scholarship recipients are with your needs and conditions, the greater the chance of penetrating the intended scholarship. In addition, before starting to apply for scholarships, it would be better if you understand the scholarship provider organization itself.
Understand what their vision and mission are like. Also find out what things seem to be a concern of the organization. Identify all the information you can about the organization and build your application according to their needs. It is important for you to know how they evaluate candidate scholarship applicants .
5. Relevant Experience with the Field You Want to Study
Furthermore, have experience that is relevant to the field of study that you want to study in the future. For example, if you want to continue in the field of International Education Development, then you must have previous experience in the field of education, such as having established an educational organization, or having attended conferences in the field of education, and so on. This will be a separate consideration as well as an added value for those who will give you the scholarship.
6. Actively Organized
A student who wants to get a scholarship must have an advantage over other students. One of the tips is to be actively involved in activities as early as possible. Following extracurriculars while in high school, being a member of the student council and other organizational activities during college, have become standard things for scholarship applicants.
But if you haven’t had the chance to do it during school, don’t be discouraged. You can still volunteer in social activities, create innovations and conduct research, as well as appear in creative or cultural events. These things will add value to your Sinaumed’s .
7. Study and complete the requirements
Most of the scholarships are merit scholarships. So, if this type of scholarship is your target, you must maintain academic values consistently, or even better if you continue to experience improvement. In addition, study the requirements and scholarship application criteria carefully.
In order to qualify for the scholarship, you must meet all the required criteria, unless it says ‘optional’, which means only as a complement. Especially if you register for a service bond scholarship from a government agency with specific requirements, you must be sure you can meet the requested criteria.
Make sure the required document requirements are completely complete and in accordance with the criteria. If you miss or miss one document, then all your efforts will be in vain. Therefore, do not underestimate the importance of preparing registration files. These documents will go through a validation process whose validity will be checked one by one by Sinaumed’s .
8. Click Informal Information
Writing informal information is no less important than formal information that you get from official sources. You also need to be “bothered” with the scholarship recipient alumni about their experiences in registering themselves, the selection process, to “stylish” tips so they can get the ideal scholarship.
9. Ask for Lecturer Recommendations
Asking Lecturer Recommendations is no less. Make sure to find a deosen who has more competence in his field. For example, you can ask for recommendations from lecturers who already hold a doctorate degree compared to lecturers who still hold masters degrees.
Also make sure the lecturer has a special position on your campus. The higher the structural position, the more the recommendation will be considered by the organizers of the Sinaumed’s scholarship .
10. Prepare Away Days
Ideally scholarship preparation is 12 months before enrolling. Why? First, with the time lag provided, you can still learn and dig deeper into the information you need. Then you can take advantage of that long time to prepare the files needed. Taking care of a letter is not as fast as you might think. Because just one letter can take 1-2 weeks, you know, Sinaumed’s .
11. English Course
It is very important to have more expertise in foreign languages. Master at least two languages, namely English and the language of the destination country. Keep in mind, until now English is the language with an important element in scholarships.
Almost all scholarships stipulate that scholarship candidates must have a good TOEFL grade or score, which is between 450 – 500. If at this point you still feel you don’t master the language, it’s never too late to study again.
Start with perseverance and discipline, take foreign language courses from scratch Sinaumed’s . It’s important to brush up on your fluency in English or another foreign language as early as possible so you can use the language flexibly and actively when answering questions asked during interviews elegantly, precisely and fluently.
Because almost every scholarship selection requires an interview stage that must be passed by prospective scholarship recipients. Answer the interview questions honestly, relevantly and not rambling with good Sinaumed’s language .
12. Make a Creative CV
Make a creative CV, a CV is a detailed description of educational background, experience, qualifications, and achievements, and everything related to work experience. Through your CV, you can ‘advertise’ yourself that you are the right person to choose.
Pour your creativity into the CV but still adjust it to the desired format of the agency you are applying for. Not only in terms of design, the CV must also be informative so that assessors can easily recognize and assess you.
We recommend that before making a CV, you can find out in advance the appropriate CV format for the needs of scholarship applications as well as personality. Be active and expand your portfolio. Even if your grades are high and meet the standard scholarship requirements, or your CV has been designed as attractive as possible, it’s not certain whether you can easily get the scholarship you want.
We recommend that before pursuing scholarships, you also enrich your portfolio in your CV by participating in various activities, such as campus organizations, actively participating in competitions and seminars. Besides that, it can also be activities outside the campus such as entrepreneurship, volunteering, and so on.
13. Create an ESSAY
Write an essay that really convinces the scholarship giver that you are the right person to get educational funding support. In fact, several institutions that provide scholarships abroad do not require applicants to write essays as a condition for obtaining scholarships. However, if you attach an essay in your CV portfolio, of course you will get more value.
Essays can contain outstanding experiences that have been done, campus life and activities undertaken, and don’t forget to give strong arguments why you deserve the scholarship. Thank God if you already have projections and plans regarding the major you are applying for. Through your personal essay, the assessor will assess you as a positive and productive person. Showing abilities that weren’t asked for is one way to stand out.
14. Create an Anti Mainstream Motivation Letter
The Motivation Letter is one of the requirements that is always needed in a scholarship application. As much as possible avoid mainstream words such as “I want to learn a new culture”, “I am very interested in learning German” and so on.
Instead you can tell some facts such as for example you fell in love with French films or you once had a high school friend from Poland who took part in a student exchange and some other supporting facts that prove that you do have a strong desire and foundation to continue studying at the country. The point is to write an essay that shows that this essay really belongs only to you.
15. Interview practice
The screening process for overseas scholarships has different stages. After successfully passing the administrative stage, usually the next stage is an interview or interview test. At this stage you will be dealing directly with many parties. Not a few people fail at this stage because they are nervous or lack confidence. Therefore, before taking the interview test, you should increase your correct speaking practice so that you get used to it and are not surprised. Also equip yourself with information about the field of study you choose, so that you can give a mature answer to your choice of major.
16. Prepare Mentally
Have you done the things above, but you still don’t have any scholarships that you can pass? Does not matter. Prepare your mind for whatever happens, because even though getting a scholarship is not as easy as you think, the opportunity will not be closed even if you fail.
Keep trying again and again! Instead of being disappointed, make your experience a lesson. Who knows, the lessons you can take can lead you to success for the next scholarship. Remember, scholarships are only for those of you who always try and never give up, Sinaumed’s .
17. Apply Early
One of the bad habits when applying for scholarships is submitting applications at the last minute. Avoid this bad habit and try to apply early. Indeed, there is no guarantee that you will get a scholarship if you send the application in advance.
But at least logically you have to be aware that there are other people on the scholarship provider’s side who will accept and examine your application. People who are given this responsibility will usually be more observant at the start of the scholarship application.
When the deadline approaches, the majority of them will only glance at the application and it is very possible that the plus points in your application escape their sight. So make the best possible application and submit it early .
18. Have a Serving Vision
Next, and no less important, you must have a vision of working for many people in the future. For example, if you want to study medicine, after graduation you must have the vision of becoming a doctor who is useful for the wider community.
Because the institution that gives you the scholarship indirectly seems to be investing in you and wants to be able to provide more benefits to the community with this scientific capital in the future. You have to think carefully about this point and be clear when you enter the interview stage .
19. Take care of your health
Lastly but also most importantly, always take care of your health as best you can. Because you know that many scholarships require prospective recipients to attach a health statement, or even require you to take a physical test as one of the admission selections. Don’t let your health get in the way of getting your dream Sinaumed’s scholarship.
All you need to do is take a few simple steps, such as taking the time to exercise regularly, keep your nutritional intake in check, drink plenty of water at least 8 glasses per day. Get enough rest, and always have positive thoughts Sinaumed’s , don’t get caught up in negative thoughts when problems occur which will only make the body’s condition unstable and cause Sinaumed’s stress.