Scholarships 101

 A post-secondary education is pricey—that’s no secret. And while student loans can help, they’re not your only option. There’s a lot of money available in the form of scholarships, which generally fall into one of two types: awards and bursaries that post-secondary programs automatically grant to deserving students (no application necessary); and annual scholarships funded by private companies, foundations and other organizations that you need to find and apply to on your own. Here are some proven tips and tricks to make tackling the scholarship game easier.

Identify what makes you special 

Students who’ve had a lot of success winning scholarships are often able to confidently describe what sets them apart from the competition. Start by compiling a list of every activity you’ve been involved in during high school, including jobs, extracurriculars, sports, volunteer opportunities, and even competitions you’ve placed in and awards you’ve won. If you’ve gone on exchange, participated in special educational activities or started a club or enterprise, write those down as well. This list will help you identify your most impressive accomplishments, which is crucial as scholarships emphasize merit, as opposed to bursaries, which primarily consider financial need. Don’t forget to include any family or personal affiliations with businesses or clubs.

Alongside that list, consider elements of your story that might catch the attention of the scholarship committee. For example, have you been challenged by extenuating circumstances? Some scholarships are intended to fund education for people who have health conditions or suffered a specific kind of loss, in recognition that these challenges make accessing an education much harder. 

Keep your list of personal achievements and challenges in an easily accessible file, and update them if anything changes. It’ll come in handy if a scholarship application requires you to write a paragraph or essay about your personal story, or submit a bullet-point list of achievements and interests.

Consider all the options

Online databases will be your first stop for finding scholarships. They typically help you narrow your search with personalized filters. ScholarTree, for example, matches students to eligible scholarships—all they have to do is create a profile and then  apply to awards directly through the site. Scholarships Canada and Yconic are other great options.

You can also look close to home. Remember those affiliations you listed out? Sometimes being a member of those unions, companies and associations can qualify you for scholarships. Clubs and religious groups also often give awards. Local businesses and professional associations may also offer scholarships. 

Be realistic

You’ll have a much better chance of being awarded a scholarship if you focus on a short list. Consider what your chances are with each opportunity, and how your interests and accomplishments match up to the criteria. Enthusiasm for the scholarship’s mandate helps immensely: if your local orthodontist awards a scholarship for the best essay on the importance of regular dental care, you stand a better chance of winning if you can demonstrate some passion for healthy teeth on your application.

Prestigious, well-publicized scholarships, like the Loran Award, have a very high entry threshold. For 2024, the Loran Scholars Foundation received more than 5,200 applications for the 36 available awards. If you’re shooting for an award like this, you can read through the profiles of past winners and evaluate whether your accomplishments are comparable, so that you only submit an application if you have a good chance. 

Essay-based and poorly advertised scholarships are often much less competitive, as are scholarships with very specific application criteria. Lower-value awards are also often less competitive, as some students may choose not to put the work into applying for a smaller amount of money. 

Ensure you meet the criteria

Many scholarships are targeted at students from specific communities, with specific financial needs and with specific goals. If you’re hoping to apply for scholarships that consider financial need, it’s a good idea to check in advance whether you qualify. Each award and institution may define financial need slightly differently, so gather recent tax returns, income figures (including annual household income, parental income and your own income) and details about any governmental student aid you’ve been granted. In some cases, you might simply need to tick a box to confirm that you have financial need, or write a short essay explaining your financial situation.

Some scholarships might only be seeking specific family histories or affiliations. Are you from a military family? Are you or your parents affiliated with workplaces or unions? These details may matter in your scholarship search. 

Know your options as a university student

Scholarships aren’t just for incoming students. Once you become a post-secondary student, a whole other world of opportunities opens up to you. In addition to admissions awards, your institution may offer prizes that recognize your achievements in your university courses or programs. Many are automatic-consideration, meaning that you can receive a fun little surprise worth a month’s rent. In addition to these in-course awards, it’s worth checking what kind of awards your program or department may offer, in case there are other funds you may be eligible to receive. 

If you get involved at your post-secondary institution, you may also be eligible for community leadership awards. These often require an application, so ask your academic adviser about them early on so that the deadlines don’t slip past you. 

Get help

The scholarship application process can be overwhelming, and it helps to have good advice. Your high school guidance counsellor should have up-to-date tips about awards you might be eligible for. They may also know what hoops you need to jump through if you need a school representative to nominate you for an awards application process.

Alternatively, if you’ve already accepted an offer at a post-secondary institution, find out if you have access to an academic adviser or financial aid officer. You may be able to get a phone appointment the summer after your senior year of high school and receive invaluable tips on how to find the financial support you need.